Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel: A Figure of Courage and Strength

Last July 16, 2025, the Carmelite Monastery in Lanang called the faithful into devotion and reverence. It was the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a day wrapped in deep spiritual tradition, love, and the quiet strength that radiates from Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Her image stood inside the monastery crowned and tender, holding the Child Jesus and offering the Brown Scapular, an invitation not only to devotion but to courage.

This devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel reaches far back—beyond centuries, into the sacred history of Mount Carmel in Israel. In the Old Testament, it was on this mountain that the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven and proved the power of the true God. Here too, Elijah prayed for rain after a long drought, and from the sea arose a small cloud, interpreted by many early Christians as a sign of Mary—the one who would bear Christ, the living water. In the 12th century, Christian hermits who settled on Mount Carmel built a life of solitude and prayer, honoring Mary as their Lady. From them grew the Carmelite Order, and in 1251, tradition tells us that the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock, giving him the Brown Scapular as a symbol of her protection and promise. From that sacred mountain to quiet monasteries around the world, the devotion has remained a gentle, enduring force in the hearts of the faithful.

During the 6:00 am Pontificial Mass, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D., presided over the Mass and it was concelebrated by other priests. Despite being a working day, Devotees and massgoers occupied the inside and outside of the chapel. The Archbishop delivered a homily that, though softly spoken, echoed deeply in the hearts of those present. He shared how people visit the Carmelite Monastery because they are struggling. We pray, often, to run away from pain. But Mary, when Jesus was crucified, stood at the foot of the cross. He invited us to imagine her not as a distant, untouchable figure, but as a mother, eyes filled with tears, heart torn, yet standing still. The Archbishop’s message was a powerful reminder that true strength is not found in escape, but in presence.

He reflected on how Mary, in her moment of unimaginable grief, chose not to run away. She could have. No one would have blamed her. She could have looked away, turned her back, and shielded herself from the horror of her son’s suffering. But she did not. She stayed. She stood beneath the cross and received another mission: to be our mother, too. Like many others, we pray for my burdens to be taken away. But the Archbishop’s words brought clarity to a different kind of prayer—not to be rescued, but to be strengthened.

In that sacred space, with sunlight pouring through the stained glass and the scent of incense hanging in the air, it radiated not only devotion, but transformation. We who came with heavy hearts left with a quiet resolve. We had not run from our crosses; we had faced them—and with Mary as our example, we were reminded that courage often looks like staying, weeping, and still saying yes to love.

The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is more than a date on the liturgical calendar. It is a call. A reminder that holiness is often found not in escape, but in endurance. And Mary, our Mother, is not simply a figure of comfort instead she is a witness of strength. When life demands more than we think we can give, may we look to her and say not, “Lord, take this cross away,” but, “Lord, help me carry it with love.” Just like Mary did.