FLOWER OF CARMEL
Carmel is the lovely mountain rising out of the blue waters of the Mediterranean. It is prominent in Old Testament history and was the scene of some of its most dramatic events.
The word means 'Garden of God'. In biblical times it was lovely - a veritable Garden of wild flowers. It was a figure of beauty among the chosen people. If a young lover wished to tell his beloved how beautiful she was he would say to her "your head is like Carmel".
It gave its name to the great prophet Elijah, who rose up like fire and whose word burned like a torch. Elijah lived and walked in the sight of God and burned with zeal for the glory of his house. In solitude and prayer he found the strength to fight single handed against the royal house of Ahab and Jezabel that had led Israel into idolatry. The word of the Lord that filled his soul was living and effective in him. As a result of the great sacrifice he offered on Mount Carmel, the people of Israel once again returned to the worship of the true God. From the heights of that mountain Elijah looked out over the Mediterranean and prayed for the rain which had ceased on the land of Israel as a punishment for its infidelity. Now he saw rising out of the sea a little white cloud which heralded the coming of the rain which was to bring life to the parched weary land of Israel. Later generations of Christians were to see in this little cloud a symbol of Mary who bore in her virginal womb Life itself, the Fountain of living water for a barren world.
Mary was the living Lantern of that Light which illumines every man. She mirrored all that was prefigured in Elijah and that appeared in Christ, the Splendor of her life is the most authentic interpretation of His message.
Mary's immaculate purity led her to consecrate all her love to God and it gave her life a singleness of purpose that made her soul the living image of Christ. It became fruitful in every virtue and she has become the joyful Mother of many and the beautiful flower of Carmel for all.