THE THANKSGIVING DAY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
(16th of every month except July).
1) SOME INFORMATION CONCERNING THE THANKSGIVING DAY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
1. In our tradition, after the Monthly Novena (of Prayers and Masses) to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we gather with grateful hearts to thanks the Mother and Queen of Carmel forobtaining answers to our prayers and petitions and also in anticipation of what she would do for us in the future. In other words, giving thanks to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is part of our devotions to her. By displaying this thanksgiving attitude of the Samaritan leper (cf. Lk 17:14-19) who returned to give thanks to Christ, we, the children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,show that we are different from the ‘ungrateful’ nine lepers, who just went their way after being cleansed.
2. Hence, the 16th of every month is set aside as the Thanksgiving Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is a day we spend in giving thanks to Carmel’s Beauty and Queen for dispensing generously God’s gifts to us, her devoted children.
3. On this day, all those who have made petitions to Our Lady of Mount Carmel gather with grateful hearts to thank Our Lady of Mount Carmel her for obtaining answers to our petitions, for constantly praying for us, for shielding us and protecting our body, our soul and our properties from the evil attack etc.
4. We carry out our thanks giving to Our Lady of Mount Carmel by carrying out three special spiritual activities:
a. saying the Thanksgiving Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
b. burning the written Prayer Petitions/Requests to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and
c. celebrating the Votive Mass of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
2) THE THANKSGIVING DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
[“He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honours me.” (Psalm 50:23)].
1. Sign of the Cross
2. Invocation of the Holy Spirit
V/ Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
R/ And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V/ Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created,
R/ And Thou shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray
O God, who, by the light of the Holy Spirit, didst instruct the hearts of thy faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
V/ Thou, O Lord, will open my lips,
R/ And my tongue shall announce Thy praise
V/ Incline unto my aid, O God,
R/ O Lord, make haste to help me.
V/ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
R/ as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
3. Opening hymn: Thank You, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Chorus: Thank you Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
We give you thanks, Our Mother and Queen.
1. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our Intercessor.
2. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our sure Companion.
3. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our anchor of hope.
4. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our Aid in danger.
5. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our tender Mother.
6. Thank you (3x), Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
We give you thanks (3x) Our Light in darkness.
4. Opening Prayer:
Thanksgiving prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, you have indeed shown yourself to be our Mother. Accept our grateful hearts as we come before you to thank you for all the benefits, graces, blessings, and favours received; for your unceasing protection and care; and for all the good things that have happened to us and our loved ones through your help. Thank you also for guiding us and leading us to your Son. May we be united eternally with him. Amen.
5. The Rosary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel [Start with the Apostles’ Creed]
V/ Most Sacred Heart of Jesus R/ Have mercy on us!
V/ Immaculate Heart of Mary R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Joseph, our glorious father R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. John the Evangelist R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Dominic de Guzman R/ Pray for us!
V / St. Louis-Marie de Montfort R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Bridget of Sweden R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Teresa of Jesus R/ Pray for us!
V/ All Saints of Carmel R/ Pray for us!
6. The Litany of intercession to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
7. Renewal of Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel through
the Brown Scapular
O Mary, Virgin Mother of God and Patroness and Protectress of the Carmelites, I herewith repeat and renew the covenant that I made with thee when I received thy blessed Scapular; namely, to serve thy Divine Son and thee, my beautiful Queen, faithfully and generously through the course of my life.
With all the gratitude of a child, I thank thee for having been pleased, by thy holy Scapular, to receive me as thy child and heir. I promise thee that I will always be thy most dutiful child, that I will inwardly honour thee at all times, and that I will use every effort to imitate thee in piety and virtue.
Therefore, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, be my shield in danger, my guide in life and my consolation at the hour of death. Grant that this holy Scapular may ever be to me what thou didst intend it to be when thou gave it to mankind; namely, a mark of signal protection, a shield against sin, a sign of virtue, and a means of sanctification and salvation. May all this be done in my favour, through the merits of thy Son, my Saviour and Lord of Carmel, Jesus Christ. Amen.
8. The Prayer of St. Simon Stock to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendour 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 that 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 succour me in this my necessity. [Make your request here]. There are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee [3 times]. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands [3 times].
V/ Most Sacred Heart of Jesus R/Have mercy on us!
V/ Immaculate Heart of Mary R/ Pray for us!
V/ Mother and Ornament of Carmel R/ Pray for us!
V/ Virgin and Beauty of Carmel R/ Pray for us!
V/ Sister and Princess of all who wear the Scapular R/ Pray for us!
V/ Grace and Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Joseph, chaste spouse of Mary, and our glorious Patron R/ Pray for us!
V/ St. Simon Stock, Receiver of the Scapular R/ Pray for us!
V/ All Saints of Carmel R/ Pray for us!
9. Prayer to the Princess and Mother of Carmel
Beloved Princess and Mother of Carmel, you are the fruitful vine and the most blossoming and gracious mother. We are your children and devotees who seek your protection and intercession. Make us fruitful in all our daily tasks and endeavours. Most beautiful Mother, as you wrapped Jesus in the swaddling clothes, so wrap us in the holy Scapular, the heavenly garment of grace and power. Obtain for us God’s favours and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Guide and bless us always. Lead us to Jesus your Son and Prince of Carmel. Amen.
10. Prayer to all the Saints of the Carmelite Order
O glorious saints and blessed hosts of heaven, who have had the privilege to belong here below to the brotherly Order of Mount Carmel, intercede for us with Jesus and with Mary, so that the number of those who wear the holy Scapular of Mount Carmel may increase every day, so that they all may wear it in worthy and holy fashion, so that the kingdom of Christ may grow more and more, so that the ever beneficial devotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel may increase, so that the number of those who plunge into hell may decrease, so that every Saturday the doors of purgatory may open to the faithful of the Scapular, and thus increase the ranks of thy fortunate companions and brothers in heaven. Amen.
11. Scripture Reading and a short reflection.
[Now, Our Lady of Mount Carmel exhorts and speaks to her beloved children. The person giving the reflection is simply her mouth piece The reading may come from any of these passages]:
-Lk 1:46-48 (Mary’s soul glories God and her spirit rejoices in Him),
-Lk 1:49-50 (The Almighty does great things for Mary),
-Lk 1:51-52 (The strength of God’s arm),
-Lk 1:53-55 (The Almighty fills the hungry with good things).
12. The Scapular Consecration Prayer:
O Mary, Immaculate Queen of Carmel, Mother of God, and my Mother, by my holy Scapular, I am entirely thine. Assist me this day, and obtain for me the grace to live faithfully my Scapular Consecration, whereby my heart, my mind, my body, my whole being, is thine without reserve, forever. Amen.
13. We fly to you
We fly to you, Our Lady and Our Mother of Carmel, with entire confidence! Your Son, Jesus, has given you power over His Heart. Take us, your children, and place us in that Divine Heart, so that our souls may be purified from all that is displeasing to Him, that henceforth our hearts may be like yours, in their love of God and neighbour. Amen.
14. Sign of peace
15. The final blessing (if a priest is present)
16. Closing hymn: The Lourdes’ Magnificat: (Song No.201)
17. Sign of the Cross (if a priest is not there to give the final blessing).
3) BURNING OF PRAYER INTENTIONS/PETITIONS
[“All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.” (Wis 7:11)].
[The burning of Prayer Petitions is usually presided over by the Chaplain of the Confraternity in whose absence, another priest is requested to assist. This is done in front of the Grotto of Our Lady or at a suitable place where the devotees can gather around the petitions. It is our sacred duty to “turn back, praising God with a loud voice” after receiving answers to our petitions through Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s intercession].
Prayer before burning the Prayer Petitions
Almighty and merciful God, we ask that you accept our offerings, prayers and written intentions and petitions which we place in the hands of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and are about to burn to the glory of your name. As the fire consumes them, may the smoke that burns out of them rise into your presence like incense and like the sacrifice of Abel, the just; the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith; the Sacrifice of Elijah, your holy Prophet and the inspirational father of the Carmelites, all the worthy offerings of your holy men and women; and the holy sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph and the prayers of the Saints of Carmel, may you look upon us and these petitions with a serene and kindly countenance. May we be worthy of your acceptance, favours and blessings. Though Christ Our Lord. Amen.
[The Priest sprinkles the petitions with holy water and pours some incense on the prayer petitions before burning them. Meanwhile, the devotees pray the Memorare and sing some appropriate songs].
The Memorare
Remember of Most Gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, Oh Virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
[After singing, all pray the We fly to thy patronage].
We fly to thy patronage
Oh holy Mother of God…
[While praying We fly to thy patronage, the priest sprinkles the people with the holy water and then blesses them].
The Solemn Blessing:
Priest: The Lord be with you
All: And with your spirit.
[The deacon (or, in his absence, the priest) gives the invitation in these words: Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing. Then the priest extends his hands over the people as he sings or says]
Priest: The Father chose Mary to be the Mother of his Son.
May He make you also her faithful children. R/. Amen.
Priest: God the Son was born of Mary and was obedient to her.
May He grant you to love her as he did. R/. Amen.
Priest: The Holy Spirit overshadowed her and made her fruitful with the Word.
May He fill you also with the divine presence. R/. Amen.
Priest: And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down upon you and remain with you now and for ever. R/. Amen.
Closing hymn: The Scapular Consecration Prayer