Feast Day: May 16
Patronage: The Brown Scapular, Carmelite Order, souls in Purgatory (through scapular devotion)
Birth: c. 1165, Aylesford, Kent, England
Death: May 16, 1265, Bordeaux, France
Order: Carmelite
Titles: Confessor, Prior General of the Carmelite Order
Life of Saint Simon Stock
Saint Simon Stock is one of the most venerated figures in Carmelite spirituality, remembered especially for his deep Marian devotion and the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving him the Brown Scapular, a symbol of her protection and of consecration to her service.
Born in England, likely in the county of Kent, Simon is believed to have been drawn to a life of prayer and solitude from an early age. According to Carmelite tradition, he lived for a time as a hermit, possibly in a hollowed-out tree or “stock”—from which he may have derived his name—dedicating himself to penitential and contemplative life.
At some point, he came into contact with the Carmelite Order, which had recently migrated from Mount Carmel in the Holy Land to Europe due to the increasing dangers faced by Christians in the Crusader States. The Order, which originated as a community of hermits on Mount Carmel in imitation of the prophet Elijah, was in the process of adapting its life to the conditions of the West.
Simon Stock joined the Carmelites and was eventually elected Prior General of the Order around 1247, a difficult time of transition. Under his leadership, the Carmelites sought to gain ecclesiastical recognition and secure a stable place in the Western Church. He helped the Order adopt a more mendicant way of life, similar to the Dominicans and Franciscans, while retaining its eremitical and Marian spirit.
The Vision of the Brown Scapular (16 July 1251)
Saint Simon’s most enduring legacy stems from a Marian apparition that, according to Carmelite tradition, occurred on July 16, 1251. While praying to Our Lady for help and protection for his struggling Order, he was granted a vision in which the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him holding the Brown Scapular. She spoke these words:
“Receive, my beloved son, this Scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favour, which I have obtained for thee and thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed in this shall not suffer eternal fire.”
This promise, known as the Scapular Promise, has been interpreted traditionally as a sign of Mary’s maternal intercession and protection, especially for those who live in a state of grace and fidelity to Christ.
The Brown Scapular quickly became a sacramental in the Church, spreading rapidly among the faithful and becoming one of the most popular Marian devotions of the Middle Ages and beyond. It is not a magical token, but a sign of consecration to Our Lady, a call to live a chaste and prayerful life, and a pledge of her spiritual assistance.
Death and Legacy
Saint Simon Stock died in 1265 in Bordeaux, France. His relics were enshrined in the Carmelite Church there, although some portions of his remains have since been transferred to Aylesford, where the Carmelite Order reestablished a presence in modern times.
Though never formally canonized by a pope, he is recognized as a saint in the Carmelite liturgical calendar and in the traditional Roman Martyrology. His memory is especially honored by those devoted to the Brown Scapular devotion, which continues to be promoted as a means of Marian consecration and spiritual discipline.
Spiritual Legacy and Devotion
The spiritual legacy of Saint Simon Stock centers around three key themes:
- Total Consecration to Our Lady – His vision inaugurated a long tradition of scapular devotion that invites the faithful to entrust themselves entirely to Mary, who in turn leads them to Christ.
- Carmelite Spirituality – His leadership helped root the Carmelite Order more firmly in the West, preparing it for future saints like Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.
- Hope in Mary’s Protection – The promise of the scapular, when understood correctly, strengthens trust in Mary’s maternal help, especially at the hour of death.
Traditional Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Scapular Prayer)
O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succor me in this necessity.There are none that can withstand your power.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)