61st Annual Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Nine Consecutive Nights Beginning Saturday July 11th Through Sunday July 19th

During the Novena you may visit our Podcast page to listen into the Novena and view photos.

“Those who look to you All Holy Mother Never lose their serenity No matter what the hardships of life.” -- Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Friends of Carmel,

With Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we invite you to join us in the Solemn Novena beginning on Saturday, July 11th and ending on Sunday, July 19th. Each year hundreds of the faithful come to Carmel to honor their loving Mother Mary and to implore her intercession.

Great is our need to come to our Mother who loves each one of us. Mary wants to save her children and to bring us to her Divine Son. A mother immediately recognizes the dangers that surround her children. Therefore, Mary knows well what we need before we ask her; but she still wants us to bring our lives to her.

One day the Divine Master exclaimed under the impulse of ardent love: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you." [Matt. 11:28]. And a great crowd of men, women and children followed Him, forgetful of everything. The cry of Jesus is echoed by Mary's cry which is none the less compassionate. What tenderness we discover in this our mother, what loving care and desire to help us! Let us entrust to her our every hope, consolation, trail and suffering in our lives. Living with Mary is a great comfort in all of life's hours, for Mary consoles, relieves and even carries us if necessary.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands!

The Order of Carmel has at all times been zealous in spreading far and wide the love of prayer, the desire for evangelical perfection, and devotion to the Mother of Christ.

Their special devotion is to the Blessed Virgin under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel": as they make their journey to the "holy mountain which is Christ", she cherishes them as a loving mother, protects them as a sure patroness, and accompanies them as a faithful sister. The Carmelites, though they are assiduous in meditating on the totality of the mystery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are particularly devoted to contemplation of our Lady intent ofn prayer, or leading her hidden life, or treasuring the words of the Lord in her heart, or doing her works of charity.

Our Lady has always been known by the Carmelite brothers and sisters as "mother and teacher in the Spirit" because she was a perfect disciple of Christ and "is still a mother, continuing to give "God" children ... encouraging them by her love, and drawing them by her example to pursue perfect charity.

Date	Theme	Main Celebrant	Parish	Deacon	Choir
Saturday, July 11th:	Mary, Disciple of the Lord	Rev. Michael J. Houser	Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish	Deacon Anthony Ochoa	Carmelite Sisters – Divine Heart
Sunday, July 12th	Mary, Mother of Divine Hope	Rev. Timothy P. Elliott	Pastor, St. Gianna Parish	Deacon Albert Vaughn	St. Gianna Parish Choir
Monday, July 13th	Mary, Cause of our Joy	Rev. David P. Skillman	Associate Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton	Deacon James Holbrook	St. John the Baptist Parish Choir
Tuesday, July 14th	Mary of Nazareth	Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD	Carmelite Desert	Deacon Norman Werne	St. Mark Parish Choir
Wednesday, July 15th	Mary, the Immaculate Conception	Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD	Hinton, West Virginia	Deacon Richard Vehige	The Choir Boys
Thursday, July 16th	Mary, Queen, Beauty of Carmel	Rev. Daniel Chowning, OCD	Hinton, West Virginia	Deacon Timothy Noelker	Crux Ave Ensemble
Friday, July 17th	Mary, Queen of Peace	Msgr. Timothy P. Cronin	Rector, Cardinal Glennon College Seminary	Deacon Lee Martin	Eyes of the Heart
Saturday, July 18th	Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy	Rev. Mark Chrismer	Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart, Valley Park	Deacon Delfin Leonardo	Filipino-American Friendship Choir
Sunday, July 19th	Mary, Gate of Heaven	Archbishop Robert J. Carlson	Archbishop of St. Louis	Deacon Anthony Yates	St. Mary Magdalene Choir Brentwood

Novena Prayer

To our Lady of Mount Carmel

O most beautiful flower
of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful vine,
Splendor of Heaven
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,
assist me in this my necessity.
O, Star of the Sea, help me
and show me herein
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 succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand you power,
O, show me herein you are my mother.

O, Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause
in your hands.

Amen.