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Our Lady of Mount Carmel
A guest blog post by friend and writer Marla H. Thurman
Has anyone else ever noticed that if Mary comes to visit, a person’s chances of becoming a saint increase exponentially?
The Blessed Mother has quite a history of seeking out the small and disenfranchised. She has appeared to children, to laborers in the fields, and to humble priests and nuns all over the world.
It should be no surprise, then, that in the thirteenth century Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelites, appeared to an 84 year old hermit who lived in the hollow of an oak tree.
And yet, people doubt the story of Simon Stock.
The meeting of the saint and the Mother of God is one disputed by church leaders. Perhaps there never was a Simon Stock, lately a saint. Maybe the story is just a tool the Carmelites used to encourage a devotion to the Blessed Mother.
Real or legend, Simon Stock is a beautiful example of how to live out one’s vocation. He prayed without ceasing. He was unconcerned with material goods. He devoted himself to being like Mary. When he and his Carmelite friars were persecuted by government and church officials, Simon turned in complete trust to Mary to save them all. And save them she did. Not only did they survive that earthly persecution, they received a promise from Our Lady herself that if they persevered in their vocations they would absolutely go to Heaven.
The promise still stands, not just for the Carmelites, but for any and all of us who listen to God’s call and respond to the best of our abilities. We can’t all see Mary, and we can’t all be canonized, but we can sincerely strive to be all God intended. Our Lady of Mount Carmel wouldn’t ask for less.
Note: Primetime, an ABC news magazine, had a story Wednesday, June 22 about Mary appearing at a Pennsylvania tree stump! Maybe she was looking for the next Simon Stock! Check out “The Miracle Mysteries” on Hulu from ABC
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{ 6 comments }
Thoughtprovoking post, Marla! It makes me think that sometimes we should consider all there is for us to learn from the Simon Stocks and Juan Diegos of the world. Typically in these Marian contexts, we think of Mary, but I think that she speaks to and through ordinary simple people like Simon, Juan, Bernadette, and the children at Fatima and Medjugordje (incorrect spelling, sorry) provide a whole other set of messages for us.
Thanks for illuminating these ideas!
“The promise still stands, not just for the Carmelites, but for any and all of us who listen to God’s call and respond to the best of our abilities. We can’t all see Mary, and we can’t all be canonized, but we can sincerely strive to be all God intended.”
You really do cut to the chase here, Marla! When you take out all the decorations and sweet piety, we’re left with this simple, direct challenge . . .
If you have not read it, I would suggest people read “The Madonna of 115th Street,” by Robert Orsi, about the Festa of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel–really, an American invention. Great read, and great social history! [He's also written about another American invention in "Thank You, St. Jude"--but I think 115th Street is a better book.]
Love it, Marla! A good example, well written, of the power of faith, especially in the face of official opposition. Thank you!
How poignant and wonderful that you point out that Mary goes to the very lowly and the often despised. Your account moves me to tears. Quietly is her way and we have to learn that in doing her and God’s work, we should not seek self-elevation but the way of the Spirit, so as to do good works in silence and without expectation of any reward or recognition. Our ego will fight back on this point, so therein lies our struggles.
hey eileen, thanks for the comment. mary is a major challenge to me in my life, as i am decidedly un-mary-like. i’m loud and raucous, and often irreverent. but when i look at mary’s approach to us, i think she might even pray for me now and then.