from Stanley Bantwal
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Jul 21: The Carmelite fathers of St Joseph’s Monastery celebrated the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel at Infant Jesus Shrine Bikarnakatta on Sunday July 20. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the director of the Father Muller charitable institutions Fr Patrick Rodrigues along with 30 other priests as concelebrants. Fr Anthony Lobo, the parish priest of Sacred Heart church Suratkal, in his inspiring homily appealed the congregation to take Mary as the model in family, social and missionary life. He recalled the journey of Blessed Virgin Mary with Jesus right from the beginning of the birth of Jesus to the death on the Cross. He asked the faithful to take the Word of God as the lifeline for their mission.

The renovated grotto of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was inaugurated on this occasion by Fr George Santhumayar, superior of the Monastery.

During the days of Novena as a preparation for the feast, thought-provoking sermons were preached on the theme “Mary the first apostle of Christ.”

It can be recalled that Prophet Elijah defended the purity of Israel’s faith in the living God at Mount Carmel. Towards the end of the 12th century AD, a group of hermits established themselves on Mount Carmel and afterwards set up the Carmelite Order to lead contemplative life. They came to be known as “The Brothers of Blessed Virgin Mary”. They regarded Blessed Virgin as their mother and their model in leading the contemplative life and sharing the fruits of the same to others. The solemn commemorations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel were first celebrated in England in the 14th century.