Virgin of Mount Carmel devotion observed in Spain and Italy

The Virgin of Mount Carmel is a Marian devotion rooted in the biblical Mount Carmel, located in historic Palestine. According to tradition, the prophet Elijah challenged the priests of Baal on the mountain, after which the site became associated with the Carmelite Order, founded in the early 13th century. The order’s habit includes the brown scapular, a symbol of Marian protection that was granted to Saint Simon Stock in 1251 and later approved by the Pope in 1587.

The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July. In the Basque coastal towns of Spain, the day is marked by festivities honoring the patroness of fishermen, while in Italy the devotion is observed through prayers, novenas and the wearing of the scapular. Papal bulls in 1726 and 1950 extended the celebration to the universal Church, encouraging the faithful to view the scapular as a sign of protection and charity.