From Sunday 7 July to Monday 15 July you are invited to pray the Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelite Order.  Praying to Jesus through Mary has always been part of the prayer life of our Church.  Carmelite Spirituality teaches us to relate to God in prayer as a friend and protector.

The Novena is prayed in the days preceding the The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel which is Tuesday 16 July.  This feast celebrates when Mary appeared at Mount Carmel to St Simon Stock.  Praying to Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back all the way to the Old Testament.  Most notable about Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the institution of the scapular.

Pray the prayer for your intention.

O Most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
(mention your intention here)
O Star of the Sea, help me and
show me herein that you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to help me in the hour of my need.
There are none that can withstand your power!

O Blessed Mother,
I place this cause in your hands.
Amen.

In the image above, Mary is holding out the symbol of her protection: the holy scapular of Carmel, which is worn by all Carmelites and many of the faithful.  It is in reality a garment given to us by our Blessed Mother which makes us her special children.