The celebration of the Virgin of Carmen is a tradition in Spain and in many places in Latin america. On July 16, the Virgen del Carmen it is taken in procession in a boat by many beaches and ports of the country. However, it is a tradition that has a source and that has led to the Virgen del Carmen to be the patron saint of seafarers.
Each July 16 in the Spanish ports, and several countries of Latin america repeats the maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen. Whether on board of a proud fishing boat, a merchant or a yacht. The Lady leaves to be accompanied by a whole fleet that walks by rivers, estuaries and coasts in a major event with a backdrop of religious and civil. But where does the tradition of the Virgen del Carmen is the patron saint of seafarers?
The origin of the devotion
According to the story, the July 16, 1251, in an environment of cross, in the monte Hakkarmel (Carmel), Israel, is the Virgin mary appeared to st. Simon Stock. An English that would later be the founder and superior of the carmelite Order. On that day, the image of Mary we gave Simon the habits that are characteristic of the order and the scapular.
It was not until centuries later, in 1587, pope Sixtus V instituted the veneration marina Carmen, with the publication of the Litany of the blessed Virgin Mary. Since then, the devotion spread throughout the church, with great acceptance on the part of the new faithful americans.
Where does the tradition?
One of the aspects that generates more curiosity among those who are coming to this tradition is the source of the Virgin of Carmen. Dating back to the year 1251, time in Israel in the monte Hakkarmel is the Virgin mary appeared to St. Simon Stock. St. Simon was an englishman who would end up founding the Carmelite order. In that appearance seems to be that the virgin gave to Simon the habits of the order and the scapular. It would be later, in 1587, pope Sixtus V became the veneration navy the Virgin of Carmen in something building through the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Keep in mind that the Virgen del Carmen is also patron saint of the navy. In fact, one of the aspects that have been influenced in that it is considered as the patron saint of seafarers is the name of Star of the seas that was bestowed on him in the first prayers.
Star of the seas
In Spain, the Virgin of Carmen in addition to being patron saint of seafarersit is also of the Navy. Is your “Star of the seas”. The name could derive from the Latin “Stella Maris”, as a reference to Mary. Although it was the same Simon Stock, to whom it appeared for the first time the virgin, who had called her in your prayers “Star of the Sea” giving place to the marine acogiésemos as a patron saint, along with st. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors and seafarers.
Devotion to the blessed Virgin of mount carmel has been increasing over the centuries. A number of miracles collected in the ship's logs and logs of ships from around the world have helped to increase his devotion. So it turns out that in most of the merchant ships, fishing and recreation, at least you save a little corner in the bridge for carrying a small image of the Virgin of Carmen, or a picture of your face with the scapular position.
One aspect that has been increasing with the passage of time is the devotion that generates the Virgin of Carmen. In fact, there are certain aspects that have influenced this increase followers and, in most of which have been miracles that have been reported. The daily navigation of ships and the logs collected on numerous occasions apparitions of the virgin mary and miracles.
Miracles of the Virgin of Carmen
Throughout time have been reporting a large myriad of miracles and apparitions that have influenced the fame gained by this Lady. Below, we tell you what are the miracles known
The earthquake of Palmi
The November 16, 1894 in Palmi, an Italian city in the region of Calabria, there was a devastating earthquake that destroyed almost all the buildings, but that only caused 9 deaths among the 15000 inhabitants of the town. The miracle attributed to the Virgin of Carmen, which, according to the local press of the time during the days before, she had experienced changes in the color of your eyes and the expression on his face. The inhabitants of the village decided to make a procession with the virgin through the streets of the village, which prevented that were in their homes at the time of the earthquake, in order to avoid thousands of deaths.
Wreck of the “Galileo”
The Galileo he was a merchant ship dedicated to the transport of conch pearl (nacre). A fateful day 1913 the ship with all its crew was caught up in a strong storm, which caused your wreck a few miles from the Caño island (Costa Rica). The owner of the boat, Hermenegildo Cruz, ravaged by the loss of their sailors, and the pain of the families started a prayer to the Virgin of Carmen in his church, along with family, the priest of the village and a large number of neighbors, to pray for the souls of shipwrecked sailors of which nothing was known, and feared to have met the worst fate.
Being all in the temple praying for the souls of the sailors arrived at the port a boat, with the good news that the entire crew of The Galileo it was safe in a nearby town, after being rescued by another vessel. The captain of the ship and its sailors told that it appeared as out of nowhere a woman the boat when it began to storm, and she fed them and went with it, giving them the strength to swim to the beach next, where they were rescued. The captain confessed that the woman had the same face of the Virgin of Carmen venerated in the church of the town.
The Ciudad del Carmen
In Mexico a population bears the name of Ciudad del Carmen. It is located in the region of Campeche, and in fact the very origin of the city is associated with the Virgin. According to the story the July 16, 1717 they managed to expel the pirates of the region with the help of the image of marian, which subsequently gave rise to the construction of a fort to which they put the name of the virgin.
The King of the Ocean
Dated to the year of 1845in the summer. The british vessel Ocean King he was caught by a strong hurricane. On-board travels a minister of his majesty of confession protestant christian, with his family. To be whipped by the wind and the waves the ruler went up to the deck praying and asking for mercy. A young crew member, observing the scene, he took his scapular and after persignarse cast into the sea. Immediately the storm ceased, and there was only one more wave that returned the young man, his scapular. Marvel at the miracle of the british minister became, and embraced the catholic faith.
There are many more miracles associated to the Virgen del Carmen and his protection to seafarers for centuries, what has awakened in all the skippers devotion to his image, and a look of supplication when things get tough. ¡Viva la Virgen del Carmen!
