More than eight centuries before the birth of Christ, the Israelite king Ahab turned away from God and led the people to worship and serve idols (1 Kings 16: 30-33). As a result, God allowed a drought to ravage the land for three years (1 Kings 17: 1). It broke after the prophet Elijah purified Israel of the false and idolatrous prophets and prayed for rain to come and water the earth once again. He did so on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18: 17-46) which is located about sixteen miles due west of Nazareth where Jesus grew up.
On Mount Carmel Elijah “crouched down to the earth and put his head between his knees” and prayed. In time there appeared “a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then, “the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell” (1 Kings 18: 42-45).
Saints and spiritual authors saw this small cloud which grew, covered the earth, and brought life-giving rain as a figure or sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This humble young woman who said “yes” to God’s plan to save the world, brought forth from her womb Jesus. He is, as the prophet Isaiah wrote, the Just One who brings salvation: “Let justice descend, you heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the clouds drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let righteousness spring up with them!” (45: 8). Jesus is the source of “Living Water” that gives eternal life. According to the Gospel of John, “Jesus stood up and exclaimed, ‘Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7: 37-38).
Following the example of Elijah, early Christians went to Mount Carmel to pray. Centuries later, on July 16, 1251, Our Blessed Mother appeared in England to St. Simon Stock who shared the ideals of those early Christians as a member of the Carmelite order. She promised that all who wore the brown habit of the Carmelite Order would receive special protection and blessings. In time this great promise was extended to all the faithful, not just Carmelites, by means of a small scapular that represents one’s devotion to Mary under the title Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Like the “habit” of the Carmelites who hold fast to the ideals of pure worship and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary through whom the world received Jesus, the source of Living Water, all those who wear the scapular commit themselves to developing good “habits”. They desire to be children of Mother Mary and to be clothed in her virtues, especially her humility, purity, charity, and trust in God.