These are the words that inspire us to describe our feelings about the centennial celebration of the Procession in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Haifa. The traditional Marian procession, popularly called “Talaat al-Adhrà” (the ascent of the Virgin)brings together Christians from all over Galilee, but also from the Center of the country (Jaffa, Lod and Ramleh), and parishes from the areas of Ramallah , Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
We remember a historical event that fills us with holy pride: the first procession in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sunday in Albis April 27, 1919. It was organized to solemnly bring back to the sanctuary of Stella Maris the statue of the Virgin of Carmel that had been deposited at the parish of Haifa to protect it during the First World War.
Our Lady was accompanied by a huge crowd that thanked her for her tireless protection because she had protected the city of Haifa in a special way during the war. From that moment, the veneration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has continued in all its splendor. The summit was in 1931, during the transformation of the basilica, with the unforgettable procession in which participated Father General and the many Carmelite Fathers gathered in General Chapter at Mount Carmel.
Even today, Carmel rejoices and celebrates, because for centuries, María has chosen a dwelling place here, manifesting herself to us as our sure hope, “spes nostra, salve”, especially in times of trial. The civil history and the history of our Carmelite Order are a proof of this. Four successive monasteries of Carmelite fathers have been built beside the cave of Saint Elijah on the promontory; one after the other were destroyed by the invaders.
The actual Sanctuary, Stella Maris, is an expression of the tenacious will of the Carmelites, brothers and nuns, to honor Mary, Regina Decor Carmeli. The statue of the Virgin, carved in cedar wood of Lebanon in 1932-33, resembles as much as possible the old one dating from 1820, from which some parts have been preserved: in particular the head. The attitude is the same, full of majesty and solicitude for us, her children. She is known and venerated as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.