Currently in the Carmelite churches and those of the Discalced Carmelites as well as in other churches, Wednesdays are being celebrated in honour of Our Lady, also known as Audience Wednesdays. These Wednesdays begin the first Wednesday after Easter Sunday and last seven weeks. Generally these Wednesdays commemorate the joyous events that occured during Our Lady’s life.

This Marian devotion was heard of the first time in the antiphon found in the 11th century in which five Joys of Mary were listed. A short period after, these increased by two in the famous 11th century hymn Joy Virgin Mother of Christ. With time they increased to 25. The devotion of the Carmelite Wednesdays began in 1500 when a jubilee was being held in Rome and a pilgrimage from Naples started to the tomb of St.

Peter in Vatican City. The Carmelites took with them the icon of Our Lady which was brought from Mount Carmel in the Holy Land and placed in the Vatican Basilica for this occasion. Since there was such a great devotion to this icon, the Pope ordered that it be sent back to Naples as it was obstructing the devotion to the tomb of St. Peter.

The day of its arrival in Naples was a Wednesday, and so this day remained associated with this event and devotion towards Our Lady. From this devotion we can derive two teachings, the intercession and protection of Mary of God’s people that turn to her with great honour and love, and the importance of good catecheses and proclamation of the word of God. These are two elements are associated with Marian Carmelite life. We encourage our Carmelite tertiaries and devotees of Our Lady to take part in these Wednesdays and ask Mary to intercede for them. We also ask Mary to protect our order and send holy vocations for the good of the Church.