Diocese of Miri: Feast day of our Lady of Mount Carmel Mass 2017

Feast day of our Lady of Mount Carmel Mass
by the Most Rev Bishop Richard Ng,
Bishop of Miri Diocese and assisted by Fr Gregory Hon.

Venue : Carmelite Chapel, Brighton Road Miri
Date: Monday, 17th July 2017 Time: 7.30pm

According to the traditions of the Carmelite order, on July 16, 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite. During the vision, she revealed to him the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, popularly known as the "Brown Scapular." A century and a quarter later, the Carmelite order began to celebrate on this date the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The feast celebrates the devotion that the Blessed Virgin Mary has to those who are devoted to her, and who signal that devotion by wearing the Brown Scapular. According to tradition, those who wear the scapular faithfully and remain devoted to the Blessed Virgin until death will be granted the grace of final perseverance and be delivered from Purgatory early.

The Discalced Carmelites or Barefoot Carmelites is an Order belonging to the Catholic Church with its roots in Northern Palestine. It follows the holy Prophet Elijah who withdrew from the world in order to pray and intercede for God’s people on Mount Carmel.

The Miri Carmelite Monastry was founded by Sister Margarita in 1985. Over the years, a few nuns had passed on and were buried in the monastery grounds.

These nuns live in a cloistered (enclosed) environment and follow a completely contemplative life. After their Rite of Profession (to consecrate themselves to the Holy Order), the nuns are only allowed to contact with their earthly families only once a month. Although not allowed to come out of the monastery, they can be attended to medically when extremely necessary or when equipment cannot be brought into the monastery.

This way of life is the spiritual heritage handed down to the Carmelite nuns by St Teresa of Avila (1515 to 1582), a Spaniard and founder of the Carmelite Order. The Carmelite Monastery has been serving the Miri congregation and anyone who desires to have prayers said for him or her. Many non-Catholics also visit the monastery for special prayers and help.