Day 2 of the Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel
Plus the Feast of Rainha Santa Isabel...
Join us in prayer as we begin the nine day Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel.
For all those celebrating the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt Carmel around the world.
For the Carmelite Order and all Lay Carmelites.
For the needs and intentions of all those praying this Novena, the apostolate of the Fraternal Society of St John the Apostle, Epiphany of Our Lord Shrine, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, and the Diocese of St Petersburg.
Second Day
Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion.
May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness.
(Mention your request here)
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x)
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in thy hands (3x)
Please offer three Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes in thanksgiving.
"As holy sites go, the Sanctuary Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) in East Harlem should be top of list for Catholics visiting New York. There have been several documented miracles that have been performed by the Blessed Mother at this Shrine. The image located here was proclaimed miraculous by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII and crowned during the pontificate of Pope St. Pius X on July 10th, 1904. It is one of the 3 most holy sites in the Americas as coronated by Pontifical Authority. The two others are Our Lady of Prompt Help in New Orleans, and the Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico. OLMC was built by the neighborhood's Italian immigrant parishioners (who upon completing the cathedral in the style of an Italian mountain village basilica, were only permitted to worship down in its basement). The church has been the center of a religious feast in the street out front each July for the past 140 years. At one time was attended by upwards of 500,000 people. Today, services are offered in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish and Latin."
St. Isabel of Portugal: Model of Royal Sanctity and Charity 🌹
The Church, in her wisdom, gives us saints not only as intercessors but as models to imitate. Among royal saints, few shine as brightly as St. Isabel (Elizabeth) of Portugal—a queen whose humility, charity, and devotion to Christ have inspired Catholics for centuries. Her life, marked by miracles and unwavering faith, continues to be venerated, especially in Portugal, where her feast and processions remain a living testament to Catholic tradition.
The Life of St. Isabel: Queen and Peacemaker
Born in 1271 to the royal house of Aragon, Isabel was named after her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and raised in a devout Catholic environment. At just twelve years old, she was married to King Denis of Portugal, entering into the worldly responsibilities of queenship with the spiritual heart of a contemplative. Despite a court rife with intrigue and her husband’s infidelities, Isabel remained steadfast in prayer, penance, and works of mercy (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Her reign was marked by a tireless commitment to peace—most famously, she intervened personally to prevent armed conflict between her husband and their son, riding between armies as a mediator. Throughout her life, she was renowned for her acts of charity: feeding the poor, founding hospitals, and establishing religious houses. After King Denis’s death, she retired to the Poor Clares monastery at Coimbra, dedicating her remaining years to prayer and service.
The Miracle of the Roses 🌹
One of the most cherished stories from St. Isabel’s life is the Miracle of the Roses. According to tradition, the Queen would often leave the palace, cloaked, to bring bread to the poor—acts that drew the suspicion of the king. On one occasion, King Dinis confronted her and demanded to see what she was hiding. When Isabel opened her cloak, the bread miraculously transformed into fragrant roses, even though it was not the season for flowers. This miracle, echoing a similar episode from the life of her relative St. Elizabeth of Hungary, became a symbol of her compassion and God’s favor (Tradition in Action).
Devotion and Procession in Coimbra
St. Isabel’s body rests in the magnificent Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra, Portugal, where she remains an object of deep veneration. Her incorrupt body can still be seen today—a sign, for many, of her sanctity (Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova).
Each year on her feast day, July 4th, Coimbra hosts a grand procession in her honor. The faithful join in prayer, carrying her relics through the city in a tradition that dates back centuries. This procession is not merely a cultural event—it is a public act of faith, a manifestation of Portugal’s Catholic heritage, and a reminder of the queen’s intercession. Devotees pray for peace, the protection of families, and the needs of the poor, trusting in St. Isabel’s maternal care.
Traditional Catholics continue to honor St. Isabel as a model of sanctity in the world, seeing in her life the union of contemplative prayer and active charity. Her example calls us to bring Christ into our families, workplaces, and societies, confident that God’s grace can work miracles in even the most difficult circumstances.