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Novena Prayers 

Both Tea at Trianon and Vultus Christi have novena prayers and meditations available if you would like to pray them in preparation for the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Star of the Sea

This ancient title of Our Lady goes back to St. Jerome, in reference to the passage from 1Kings 18: 41-45, when atop Mt. Carmel, Elijah beheld a “little cloud rising from the sea” which presaged the rains that would end the drought in Israel.  (Jerome originally referred to Our Lady as “Stilla Maris” or “drop of the sea” - which some theorize may have been lost in transcribing the texts over the years.)  The Fathers interpreted this cloud as prefiguring the Virgin prophesied by Isaiah who would bring forth the Messiah.  Carmelite hermits agreed and built a chapel atop Mt. Carmel naming it “Stella Maris”.  Hence, the title “Stella Maris” and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel may be considered synonymous.

If the Marian symbol of the “little cloud” seems obscure, it may help to understand it’s significance through another passage from Isaiah:  “Drop down dew , you heavens, from up above, and let the clouds rain down the just one: let the earth be opened, and bud forth the Saviour…”- Is. 45  (This passage may also help us understand better the original “Stilla Maris” title attributed to St. Jerome.) 

St. Bernard on Our Lady, Star of the Sea.

Devotion to Our Lady under this title is not confined to Carmel of course, and St. Bernard’s words give witness to this:

“If the winds of temptation arise;
If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation -  look to the star, call on Mary;
If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary.”

The Patronage of Our Lady

Aside from the obvious, that being the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel as the patroness of the Carmelite Order (and all those associated with that Order through the wearing of her Scapular) she is considered the patroness of the Middle East as well.  Not only that, due to her association with the prophet Elijah (who cleansed Israel of the false prophets of Baal), and the prophetic charism of the Order of Carmel; the Blessed Virgin is also venerated as the destroyer of all heresies: 

“Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, Thou alone hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”  - Matins, Little Office of BVM

Therefore, devotion to Our Lady under the title, Mt. Carmel seems to me to be especially relevant and urgent in these days when the Middle East is in such conflict, and heresies seem to flourish all around us.  It is also well known, the primary sign of our devotion and consecration to Our Lady remains the Scapular of Mt. Carmel.

Prayer of St. Simon Stock

O Beautiful flower of Carmel,

Fruitful vine,

Splendor of heaven,

Star of the Sea,

Holy and singular,

Who brought forth the Son of God,

Still a Virgin remaining,

Assist us in our necessities.

Help and protect us.

Show thyself our Mother.

Reading Tanquerey on the subject of chastity, I came across some interesting passages.

Distrust of self:

“This distrust must last to the very end of life.  Solomon was no longer a youth when he let himself be caught by the love of women.  It ws old men who tempted the chaste Suzanna.  The evil spirit that assails us in mature life is all the more dangerous, because we thought him conquered.” - The Spiritual Life

Further on, there is counsel for priests and religious, which more or less surprised me.  If this counsel would have been heeded there may not have been so many who left Holy Orders to get married, nor those who took advantage of kids in recent decades.

The flight from dangerous occasions: 

“The mutual attraction that exists between the sexes creates dangers for those vowed to celibacy.  Hence, useless meetings must be dispensed with, and when meetings are necessary, the danger must be made remote.  This is why the spiritual direction of women must be conducted exclusively in the confessional.  Two things we must protect, our virtue nd our good name.  The one and the other make extreme reserve imperative.”

“Children (or youth) of graceful appearance, of a joyful and affectionate nature, may likewise be a source of danger.  One loves to look at them, to caress them, and, if one be not on guard one may be led to familiarities that perturb the senses.  This disturbance is a warning given us by God, to make us understand that we must desist and that we have proceeded too far.” - The Spiritual Life 

(Art: Detail, Allegory on Chastity, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi)