Flos Carmeli (Flower of Carmel)

Sancta Maria

Flos Carmeli,

Vitis florigera

Splendor Coeli

Virgo puerpera

Singularis!

Mater mitis

Sed viri nescia

Carmelitis

Da privilegia

Stella Maris!

Ora pro nobis!

Here is a verse translation:

Holy Mary

Flower of Carmel,
Vine-blossom laden;
Splendour of Heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.

Mother tender,
Who no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea!

Pray for us!

Flos Carmeli. PB 1980s

The two Latin verses are the first of eight that are attributed to St Simon Stock (c1165-1265). He became prior of the new Carmelite monastery at Aylesford in Kent and was always reputed by Carmelites for his personal holiness and his devotion to Our Lady. His feast day is the 15 July. We used to  journey en famille by train and on foot to Aylesford in the 1980s.


I drew this image in the mid-1980s. It measures 26cms by 18 cms. The colours have faded somewhat with the passage of time. This adds, perhaps, to the case for a general Marian rerstoration.