60 Second Novena, Day 7: Queen of Carmelites

This novena in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16 is based on the titles of Mary that are specifically Carmelite.

Novena Day 7: Queen of Carmelites

“What I want to hear about Mary, is that she is just like one of us.”
- Saint Therese of Lisieux

Ever since Saint Therese wrote an essay called “More Mother Than Queen” Carmelite art rarely shows Mary wearing a crown. We all agree with the Little Flower. But this idea that Mary “is just like one of us” didn’t start with Therese; rather, it goes almost all the way back to the origin of the Carmelite Order. Here’s a short essay I wrote about this a couple of months ago for Mary’s month of May.

Carmelites like to think of Mary not watching from heaven but kneeling right beside them in the chapel when they’re pouring out their heart. Carmelites like to think of Mary not watching from heaven saying “you poor thing” when we’ve fallen but grabbing our arm and helping us to our feet and handing us a Kleenex to dry our tears. And, surely, you have heard Mary sing a lullaby?

And, by the way, the Carmelites aren’t removing the crowns from pictures and statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mary is doing that.
—-
Novena Prayer composed by St. Simon Stock