Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo, commonly referred to as Virgen del Carmen or Nuestra Señora del Carmen, is one of several invocations of the Virgin Mary.
Its name derives from the named Mount Carmel in Israel, in the city named Haifaun, derives from the word Karmel or Al-Karem and which could be translated as ‘garden’.
There are now active Carmelite orders distributed throughout the world, male and female, which revolve around this Marian figure.
In Spain, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica she is the patron saint of the sea, she is also the patron saint of the Spanish Armada.
She is considered Queen and Patroness of Chile, its armed forces and police; She is patron saint of the State Police and the National Army of Colombia and pilots in Colombia; in Bolivia she is the patron saint of the nation and its armed forces; in Peru she is “Patroness of criollismo” and “perpetual Mayor of the City of Lima”, and in Venezuela she is the patron saint of the army and drivers.
She was also the patron saint of the Andean Army, led by General José de San Martin, who conceived the independence of Argentina and Chile.
This invocation gives the name to all those who are called Carmelo, Carmen or Carmela to celebrate their name day on the feast day of the virgin, July 16.
Almost all the cities on the Spanish coast pay homage to the cult of the Virgin of Carmen with organization processions and colorful marine processions, carrying her image every July 16th.
(from: Wikipedia – Photo: M. Bertuccelli)
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