Deepertruth: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel 7/15/2023

Mount Carmel was the site where the Prophet Elijah challenged the Priests of Baal found in the Bible (1 Kings 18:16-40). I have always loved this story as one of the greatest examples showing who the true God really is.

The Priest's of Ba'al cried louder, cutting themselves with swords, lances causing themselves to bleed. They literally wore themselves out trying to call upon their false god. Finally, at the appointed time, the time of Oblation (3 O'clock) the Pagans gave it up. Elijah called for God's Altar of 12 stones in accordance to the 12 tribes of Jacob to be restored and placed upon it was the Sacrifice. To add insult to injury, Elijah had a trench dug around it filled with water to include throwing water that saturated the wood prepared for the holocaust. The Altar was fully swamped with water. At 3 O'Clock, Elijah cried, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that thou, O lord, art God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back."

St. Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” St. John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison. St. Therese of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Therese dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.