76th Annual Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Saturday, July 13 – Sunday, July 21, 2024
Rosary in the Chapel at 7:15
Benediction in the Chapel at 7:40
Mass on the grounds at 8:00
Mary and Prayer
Our Holy Father has designated 2024 as the Year of Prayer. Responding to the Holy Spirit working through Pope Francis, we invite you to join us as we enter deeply into this time of grace, preparing our hearts for next year’s Jubilee Year of Hope. For the only way to know the hope that is our call is to open ourselves to this gift through prayer.
It should go without saying that we turn to Our Lady for help. She is, after all, the living image of the Church at prayer. Of prayer, St. Therese says,” Prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven” (Manuscrits autobiographiques, 25r. qt. in Catechism of the Catholic Church 2558). During her life on earth Mary lived this “surge of the heart” perfectly and without interruption; it is in this sense that she was prayer. Never was she not in loving communion with God. Yes, her Immaculate Heart was always open to God in prayer. It was by her prayerful acceptance and privileged place in God’s divine plan that Jesus Christ, the Hope of the World, took on flesh being miraculously conceived in Mary’s womb.
Contemplating these mysteries in our hearts, we are given eyes to see and ears to hear (cf. Matthew 13:16) the path Our Lord points out for us, and so we walk it with confidence. We hear Jesus saying to us, “I desire to pour into your hearts the abundance of hope that I have to give. I desire to give myself to you, for I am your Hope. In order to receive this fullness of me, you must turn to my mother. You must pray like her so that you, also, can receive me.”
We are privileged as Carmelites to share with you these nine spiritual days. Being under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and belonging to her Order whose charism is prayer, we feel this is an especially Carmelite year during which Our Lady, under this ancient and beloved title, will intercede for us all in powerful ways. In this Year of Prayer, we lean on our mother to guide us on the path of prayer she knows so well. We trust she will attend to all our needs and prepare our hearts most perfectly to receive her Son, the answer to all our prayers.
Celebrants/Speakers
Saturday, July 13 Rev. Jeffrey Fennewald
Sunday, July 14 Rev. Charles Samson
Monday, July 15 Rev. Mitchell Baer
Tuesday, July 16 Rev. Jacob Wessel
Wednesday, July 17 Rev. Lawrence Herzog
Thursday, July 18 Rev. Charles Archer
Friday, July 19 Rev. Joseph Martin
Saturday, July 20 Rev. Robert Lawson
Sunday, July 21 Rev. Timothy Elliott
Prayer for the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor 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 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 succor me in this my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.