Fr Hermann Duncan O.Carm
In the Carmelite churches and those of the Discalced Carmelites as well as in other churches, Wednesdays, which are also known as 'Audience Wednesday' are being celebrated in honour of Our Lady. These Wednesdays start on the first Wednesday after Easter Sunday and last seven weeks. In 1917, the Marian poet Fr Anastasio Cuschieri O.Carm in 1917 had written that after extensive research, he could not find any historical information on how these devotional Wednesdays came about. Many studies have been conducted since then, and in 1979 a book was published about "L-Erbgħat tal-udjenża" (Audience Wednesdays) in Maltese by Fr Valentine Borg Gusman O.Carm and Fr Eugene Tonna O.Carm.
Generally, these Wednesday's commemorate the joyous events that occurred during Our Lady's life. This Marian devotion appeared for the first time in the 11th century in the antiphon 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 rose to 25.
The devotion of the Carmelite Wednesdays began in 1500 while a Jubilee was being held in Rome and a pilgrimage from Naples visited 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 of Our Lady, the Pope ordered that the icon be sent back to Naples as it was obstructing the devotion to the tomb of St. Peter. It is said that during the pilgrimage many miracles occurred, till it arrived amid great joy in Naples. The day of its arrival was a Wednesday, and so this day remained associated with this event and devotion to 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 associated with Marian Carmelite life that is based on the knowledge we have of Mary and imitation of what the Gospel tells us that "Mary kept all these things (mysteries of Christ's life) pondering them in her heart ".
We encourage our Carmelite tertiary 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.