Our Lady of Mount Carmel giving the scapular to Saint Simon Stock
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the scapular. Joseph Stetner (attrib.), 1740. Public domain.

For the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July), here are the prayers and songs of Carmel, gathered to be prayed — each in Latin with an English translation beside it. It opens, as the Carmelites do, with the full Flos Carmeli. This is the companion to the story of the feast: Our Lady of Mount Carmel: the mountain, the scapular, and the promise.

The Latin is the text that Carmel has sung for centuries; the English stands beside it to help you pray and understand. Where a traditional English version exists it is given; otherwise the translation follows the Latin faithfully.

Hymnus · ascribed to St Simon Stock

Flos Carmeli — the Flower of Carmel

Flos Carmeli,
vitis florigera,
splendor caeli,
virgo puerpera
singularis.
Flower of Carmel,
tall vine blossom-laden;
splendour of heaven,
childbearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mater mitis
sed viri nescia,
Carmelitis
esto propitia,
stella maris.
Mother so tender,
who no man didst know,
on Carmel’s children
thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
Radix Iesse
germinans flosculum,
nos ad esse
tecum in saeculum
patiaris.
Strong stem of Jesse,
who bore one bright flower,
be ever near us
and guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.
Inter spinas
quae crescis lilium,
serva puras
mentes fragilium
tutelaris.
Purest of lilies,
that flowers among thorns,
bring help to the true heart
that in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.
Armatura
fortis pugnantium,
furunt bella,
tende praesidium
scapularis.
Strongest of armour,
we trust in thy might:
under thy mantle,
hard-press’d in the fight,
we call to thee.
Per incerta
prudens consilium,
per adversa
iuge solatium
largiaris.
Our way uncertain,
surrounded by foes,
unfailing counsel
you give to those
who turn to thee.
Mater dulcis,
Carmeli domina,
plebem tuam
reple laetitia
qua bearis.
O gentle Mother
who in Carmel reigns,
share with your servants
that gladness you gained
and now enjoy.
Paradisi
clavis et ianua,
fac nos duci
quo, Mater, gloria
coronaris. Amen.
Hail, Gate of Heaven,
with glory now crowned,
bring us to safety
where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.
Hymnus · Vespers of Our Lady

Ave Maris Stella — Hail, Star of the Sea

Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.
Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God’s own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav’nly rest.
Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.
Taking that sweet Ave
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve’s name.
Solve vincula reis,
profer lumen caecis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
Break the sinners’ fetters,
make our blindness day,
chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.
Monstra te esse matrem,
sumat per te preces
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.
Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine,
born for us thine Infant,
hear our prayers through thine.
Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us,
meek and undefiled.
Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Iesum
semper collaetemur.
Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure,
till we find in Jesus
joy for evermore.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus. Amen.
Praise to God the Father,
honour to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one. Amen.
Oratio · the oldest Marian prayer (3rd c.)

Sub Tuum Praesidium

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
We fly to thy patronage,
O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
The Scapular Promise · to St Simon Stock, 1251

Hoc erit tibi et cunctis Carmelitis privilegium: in hoc habitu moriens salvabitur.

“Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of your Order; it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace. Whoever dies clothed in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.”

Consecratio · a personal act

Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Splendour and Glory of Carmel, you look with special tenderness upon those who are clothed in your holy Scapular. Cover me with the mantle of your motherly protection, for to you I consecrate myself this day and for ever.

Strengthen my weakness with your power. Enlighten the darkness of my spirit with your wisdom. Increase in me faith, hope and charity. Adorn my soul with many graces and virtues.

Assist me in life, console me in death with your presence, and present me to the Most Holy Trinity as your devoted child, that I may praise Him for all eternity. Amen.

Flos Carmeli, ora pro nobis.Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

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