FEAST OF ST SIMON STOCK, 16TH MAY 2009

Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, splendour caeli, virgo puerperal singularis.

Flower of Carmel, tall vine blossom laden; splendour of heaven, childbearing
yet maiden, none equals thee.
Thus begins the Carmelite hymn Flos Carmeli said to have been composed by
St Simon.
The feast of our parish patron saint goes hand in hand with celebrating and
proclaiming the glories of Mary. To be under the patronage of St Simon Stock is to
be assured of the protection of Mary, the Mother of God, whom the Carmelite Order
looks upon as patron, beauty and sister, and whose purity of heart Carmelites seek
to imitate by doing away with all that leads away from Jesus.
All men and women on this earth have the power to do good or to do evil, to
transgress or not transgress as the Lesson from the Book of Wisdom puts it in
today‟s Mass: from our first parents who used this power to such sad effect; through
all the great patriarchs and prophets of the people of Israel, and all the apostles and
saints who have preceded us down the ages.
The Virgin Mary alone can with certainty be honoured as one who had the
power to transgress and yet did not transgress.
And yet she is a sign of certain hope that we too can be faithful and confident
in the midst of the trials we experience in this vale of tears.
St Simon is held by the Carmelites as one of their most famous – even if also
their most obscure – early Carmelite saints.
He is described as an Englishman, the sixth prior general of the Carmelites,
who prayed to the Virgin Mary for assistance for his Order, and who in return
received a vision of Our Lady holding the Carmelite scapular as a pledge of
salvation. Very few facts are known about him, but since a cult developed around his
tomb in Bordeaux, he must have developed a reputation for holiness. (cf. „Holy Men
and Women of Carmel by Johan Bergström-Allen, Veronica Errington, and Fr. Tony
Lester, O.Carm at http://www.carmelite.org/saints/carmsaints.pdf).
The scapular is now worn by many who trust in Mary‟s protection. Strongest of
armour, we trust in thy might: under thy mantle, hard press’d in the fight, we call to
thee. (Hymn Flos Carmeli)
Pope Pius XII in a letter to the Carmelites in 1950, the 7th centenary of the
institution of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, commended this devotion:
“The Holy Scapular, which may be called the Habit or Garment of Mary, is a
sign and pledge of the protection of the Mother of God. But not for this reason,

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however, may they who wear the Scapular think that they can gain eternal salvation
while remaining slothful and negligent of spirit…
“May they all see in this keepsake of the Virgin herself a mirror of humility and
purity; may they read in the very simplicity of the Garment a concise lesson in
modesty and simplicity: above all may they behold in this same Garment, which they
wear day and night, the eloquently expressive symbol of their prayers for the divine
assistance; finally may it be to them a Sign of their Consecration to the Most Sacred
Heart of the Immaculate Virgin.”
“Blessed is the man who is found blameless” the Book of Wisdom teaches.
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes;
truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come
and serve them” says Jesus in today‟s Gospel.
By St Simon‟s example and with his intercession, we trust in our sweet/gentle
Mother who in Carmel reigns (Hymn) and we pray to her: Share with your servants
that gladness you gained and now enjoy. (Hymn)
Hail Gate of Heaven
with glory now crowned
bring us to safety
where thy Son is found
true joy to see.

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