Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival

A devotion born in Messina

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival is one of the most cherished and ancient religious observances in Messina, the capital of the province of the same name in Sicily. The bond between the city and the Virgin of Carmel is truly unique: it was in Messina around 1238 that the Carmelite friars—forced to leave Mount Carmel in the Holy Land due to Saracen invasions—founded their first convent outside the East, the oldest in the entire West. This is why Messina is considered the cradle of the Carmelite Order in Europe.

The Sanctuary Basilica of the Carmine

The heart of the festival is the Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located on Via Antonino Martino, the ancient Via Porta Imperiale. The original building was destroyed by the devastating 1908 earthquake; the current sanctuary, designed by architect Cesare Bazzani, was consecrated on July 15, 1931, and elevated to a sanctuary in 1956 during a Marian Year. Inside, from the frescoed dome to the six decorated chapels, it houses the precious 18th-century wooden statue depicting the Madonna and Child as she hands the scapular to Saint Simon Stock.

The July 16th Program

The day of July 16th, the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, begins with Holy Masses celebrated from dawn throughout the day: the sanctuary becomes a continuous pilgrimage site for the faithful coming to pay homage to the Virgin. At noon, the traditional supplication to the Madonna takes place, while in the late afternoon, a solemn concelebration precedes the most anticipated moment.

• The Novena prepares for the festival in the preceding days with moments of prayer and reflection.
• The Pontifical is presided over by the Archbishop of Messina on the eve or the day of the feast.
• The evening procession with the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Simon Stock travels through the streets of the historic center—Via Antonino Martino, Via Pippo Romeo, degli Angeli, Piazza Lo Sardo, Via Santa Marta, Via Mamertini—accompanied by a brass band and the Marian hymns of the confraternities.

The Scapular and Carmelite Tradition

A central element of the festival is the Carmelite Scapular, a symbol of spiritual protection that, according to tradition, the Virgin gave to Saint Simon Stock in 1251. During the celebrations, the faithful receive and renew their commitment to the scapular, a gesture expressing the deep Marian devotion rooted in the city's fabric. Market stalls, illuminations, and the festive air animating the neighborhood complete a tradition that, from generation to generation, continues to unite the Messinese community around its oldest heritage.