Here is a post Brian wrote for RoL.

On Thursday July 16th, the Carmelite Order along with the Universal Church will be celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I believe this special day, which honors the Queen of Heaven, is deeply significant for lay Catholics because it calls us to reflect upon three very important spiritual facts. First – Our Lady’s love for us, second – the brown scapular and third – a life of prayer.
A Brief History
The feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel came into existence in the 14th century in commemoration of the “approbation” given to the Carmelite Order by Pope Honorius III. The specific date July 16th was chosen because it was on that day in the year 1251 that St. Simon Stock, the 6th Prior General of the Carmelite Order, had a vision of Our Lady who presented him with the brown scapular saying, “This shall be to you and all Carmelites a privilege, that whoever dies clothed in this (scapular) shall never suffer eternal fire.”

Our Lady Loves Us
When St. Simon Stock was Prior of the Carmelite Order, the Order faced numerous difficulties and challenges. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Simon went to Our Lady because he knew that she loved him, and because she loved him, she would help him. Like St. Simon, we should have great confidence in the love the Blessed Mother has for us. And we should never forget that while Christ was hanging on the cross, He gave us His own mother, to be our mother.
The Spiritual Value of the Brown Scapular
The brown scapular is considered a sacramental, which is a “sacred sign” instituted by the Church that help prepare us to “receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it.” In a society where sin is exalted and darkness is steadily growing, we need spiritual armor to remain in a state of grace and the light of Christ. The brown scapular is Our Lady’s armor. By wearing the scapular we will be clothed with Our Lady’s protection and prayers and be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy.
A Life of Prayer
The Carmelite Order is about many things, but first and foremost it is about “prayer.” Whenever I think about the Carmelites, I think about John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Elizabeth of the Trinity and Therese the Little Flower. These saints are beacons of light that reveal the power and importance of living a life of prayer. The feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a fantastic day for us to renew our commitment to pray daily.
By recognizing the love Our Lady has for us, the protection souls receive by wearing the brown scapular and the importance of prayer we can truly celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in awesome fashion.
God bless!