Day 3 of the Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel
Plus the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, Patroness of Colombia
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.
Third Day
O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. May we always wear it with honor by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues.
Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours.
(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."
Our Lady of Chiquinquirá: A Beacon of Faith and Restoration
The story of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá begins in the late 16th century in what is now Colombia. A simple painting, created by the pious hands of Alonso de Narváez, depicted the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, with Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Andrew the Apostle on either side. This humble piece of sacred art, painted on coarse cotton cloth, was placed in a chapel in the small town of Chiquinquirá.
Over time, however, the painting fell into neglect. Exposed to the elements and left forgotten, the once-vibrant image faded into obscurity, its colors dimming and its figures nearly erased. Yet, God was not finished with this image, nor with the faith of His people.
In 1586, a devout woman named María Ramos took it upon herself to restore the chapel where the painting hung. Though the image was almost unrecognizable, she prayed before it daily, offering her Rosary and trusting in Our Lady’s intercession. Then, one day, the miraculous happened: the faded painting was restored to its original brilliance. The Virgin’s serene face, the Christ Child’s blessing hand, and the vibrant colors of the figures reappeared before the eyes of those present. The image had been renewed—not by human hands, but by divine grace.
This miracle marked the beginning of a profound devotion to Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, who was later declared the Patroness of Colombia. Her image, now enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Chiquinquirá, continues to draw pilgrims from around the world.1
Pontifical approbations
Pope Pius VII declared her Patroness of Colombia in 1829, with a proper liturgical feast.
Pope Pius X granted the image a decree of Canonical coronation on 9 January 1910. The rite of coronation was executed on 9 July 1919 due to delayed preparations and political climate in the country.
Pope Pius XI raised her sanctuary to the status of minor basilica via the Pontifical decree Exstat in Colombia in 18 August 1927.[5]
Pope John Paul II visited and prayed at her shrine in 3 July 1986.2
A Message of Hope for Our Times
The story of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is as relevant today as it was in 1586. In a world that often feels broken, where faith can seem dimmed and neglected, her miraculous image reminds us that God’s grace is never far away. Just as He restored that faded painting, He can restore our hearts, our families, and our Church.
Our Lady of Chiquinquirá calls us to trust in her intercession, to pray the Rosary with confidence, and to believe in the power of God to renew all things. As we celebrate her feast, let us place our trust in her maternal care and ask her to lead us ever closer to Christ.
May Our Lady of Chiquinquirá intercede for us and for the restoration of faith in our world. Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, ruega por nosotros!
https://catholicsaints.info/our-lady-of-chiquinquira/
https://www.catholic365.com/article/9305/our-lady-of-the-rosary-of-chiquinquirathe-miraculous-story-of-the-patroness-of-columbia.html