Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to Our Lady as the Patroness of the Carmelite Order. Her title comes from the Mountain in northern Israel,  where the Carmelites were first established. The first Carmelites built a chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Mount Carmel. They also consecrated themselves and their order to the Blessed Virgin and imitated her in a life of silence and prayer; calling themselves the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

According to the Carmelite tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the Carmelites as they prepared to leave Mount Carmel, in the thirteenth century, she promised to remain with them as their patroness and be their "star of the sea"  and  guide them through the difficult waters of life