MARY, MOTHER OF CARMELITES

From its beginnings, Mary is the Mother of Carmel, its Queen and Beauty.
The early hermits built a little oratory dedicated to her in the midst of their cells, calling themselves the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
For them, for us, Mary is mother and sister, model and guide.
Her presences pervades our whole Carmelite lives. This gives a special
Marian tone to our prayer and our community life.

In Our Lady we contemplate the ideal of the Carmelite Order lived to perfection. Her example inspires us to follow in her footsteps.
She takes the lead among the Lord's poor and little ones.
She best exemplifies contemplative life in the Church.

Our Lady's altar in our Chapel at Kilmacud

Mary humbly and wisely welcomed the Lord's Word and pondered it in her heart.
	Mary was wholly responsive to the impulses of the Holy Spirit.
Mary is the valiant woman who follows Christ faithfully and shares in the joys and sorrows of his Paschal Mystery.