130th Anniversary Triduum
In the Catholic Church, it’s customary to assign a patron saint to local churches and cathedrals. Doing so reminds us that: 1) We are members of the universal Body of Christ, 2) We are called to join the angels and saints in heavenly glory one day, and 3) We can call upon these saints to intercede for us, particularly at Mass. In a cultural context, patron saints hold immense significance for the Italian people. Throughout Italy’s rich history, saints were assigned to be patrons of the various comune and were honored with grandiose celebrations on their feast days. This combination of religious and cultural traditions makes our practice of the Catholic Faith unique.
As our name suggests, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is our principal patroness. It was her to whom our church was first dedicated in 1894 and her whom we honor every July. The Sorrowful Mother became our secondary patroness in 1904 when the new church building was dedicated and the Servites (for whom she is the principal patroness) officially took charge. Yet, we house many other saints and historically, we have honored them with traditional feasts. There is no limit to the amount of patrons an individual or church may have; therefore, we consider every saint venerated – both past and present – within our halls as additional patrons. It is fitting then that in the month of March, our primary anniversary is sandwiched between two of our additional patron saints: Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph.
Thus is becomes a triduum of sorts beginning with Saint Patrick’s feast on March 17th and ending with Saint Joseph on March 19th. These three days symbolize the progress of the Italian church, from its inception to its founding and beyond.
St. Patrick: March 17th
Statue of St. Patrick on the south side retable, Mt. Carmel Church
“‘Wonderful is God in his saints’ (Ps. 1xvii. 36). All the virtues, theological and moral, in their fulness, adorn and beautify the soul of every saint. As in ever well-preserved garden, the admiring eye of the beholder is won by some choice flower, exhaling round about a sweet fragrance; as in the heavens, star excels star in brilliancy and beauty; so God, from time to time, raises up in His Church mighty Saints, and places them, so to speak, aloft on a pinnacle, that the lustre of their sanctity and good works may shine upon His people in all ages. Such a Saint is the Apostle of Ireland, whose fame will live, not only amid the Irish race at home and abroad, but throughout the Catholic Church to the day of judgement.
In the supernatural, as well as in the physical order, the infinite wisdom of God suits the means to the end. God gives grace and sanctity to His servants to fulfil the mission and office for which they are destined by heaven. The higher the mission, the greater the work, in the same proportion is the abundance of God’s graces to His servants. St. Patrick’s heavenly mission was to convert from paganism to the most exact observances of the Gospel, a whole nation; and by his prayers, let us add, to confirm for ever in the faith the Irish race; hence all the graces of the Apostolate, in their full plenitude were showered upon the soul of our glorious Apostle. Every virtue was his, yet some shone out more conspicuously than others. Of these we shall mention only a few; first, his faith and confidence in God; secondly, his eminent spirit of prayer; thirdly, his spirit of penance, and awful austerities; and lastly, his fiery, burning zeal, like St. Paul’s, for the spread of the Gospel and the salvation of souls.” —excerpted from St. Patrick: His Life, His Heroic Virtues, His Labours, and the Fruits of His Labours by Very Rev. Dean Kinane, P.P., B.G., 1920
Our story begins with St. Patrick, to whom the first Catholic Church of North Denver is dedicated. Its congregation was mainly Irish, but the pastor, Father Joseph Carrigan, ministered to all Catholics in the area. Realizing the need for an Italian church, Father Carrigan helped bring a young priest from Campania, Italy to Denver. Father Mariano Lepore mobilized the Italians of North Denver and they immediately began planning their own church. Until it could be built, Father Carrigan graciously housed Father Lepore at St. Patrick’s.
As described above, St. Patrick had a burning zeal for the salvation of souls. It is therefore, partly due to his intercession, that our church was established in order that the Italians would not leave the Faith and continue to pass it on for generations.
Litany of St. Patrick
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.*
St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland,*
St. Patrick, vessel of election,*
St. Patrick, model of bishops,*
St. Patrick, enemy of infidelity,*
St. Patrick, consumed with zeal,*
St. Patrick, example of charity,*
St. Patrick, glory of Ireland,*
St. Patrick, instructor of little ones,*
St. Patrick, our powerful protector,*
St. Patrick, our compassionate advocate,*
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Patrick.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, Who didst send Thy blessed servant St. Patrick to instruct and save Thy people, and didst infuse into his heart so great a share of Thine own tenderness, charity, and zeal, listen, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which we now offer up in union with the prayers of this glorious patron and father in heaven, and grant us, through his intercession, the intentions of this Novena, and the grace rather to die than to offend thee. Amen.
Dedication: March 18th
The first Mt. Carmel Church
Father Lepore arrived in Denver in 1891, but the Italians of North Denver started fundraising for their own church in 1889. By 1893, the official drawings were complete (drawn by Damascio & Pellini). An article in The Rocky Mountain News, Vol. 34, April 20, 1893 describes it thus: “The auditorium will have a seating capacity of 500 and the basement will be arranged to supply 500 pupils with religious instruction.” A rendering in that same article shows what the first Mt. Carmel Church looked like – wood-framed with a stone exterior.
Despite threats of violence and arson, the Italians managed to build their church. We were fittingly dedicated on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1894, a day commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. “This church will fill a much needed want in Denver, where hitherto Italians have received no religious instruction in their own language” (“Dedication of Mount Carmel,” Rocky Mountain News Vol. 35, March 18, 1894). Now here we are celebrating our 130th anniversary thanks to the efforts of Fr. Lepore, the Mount Carmel Society, and the Italian-Catholics of North Denver.
St. Joseph: March 19th
“After the Lily of Israel, the next most exquisite flower in the Garden of God’s Church is St. Joseph. After the moon, shedding her pale, silvery light upon the world, the figure and emblem of Mary Immaculate, the next brightest and most brilliant star in the celestial firmament is St. Joseph. After the Mother of God, the next purest, most holy, most sanctified soul ever created by the Almighty is St. Joseph, “the husband of Mary,” and reputed father of Jesus…
Statue of St. Joseph on the main retable, Mt. Carmel Denver
St. Joseph, first after Mary, learned the Mystery of the Incarnation and adored the WORD MADE FLESH. St. Joseph watched over the Mother and the Child from Nazareth to Bethlehem. St. Joseph, first after Mary, adored and loved the Divine Infant in the crib at Bethlehem. St. Joseph saved the life of the Saviour of the world, by flying at the bidding of an Angel into Egypt from the cruel Herod. Countless times did St. Joseph carry in his arms and press to his bosom the Divine Babe. For thirty years, St. Joseph was privileged to supply, by the labour of his hands, the wants and comforts of Mary and Jesus. For thirty years St. Joseph lived in the school, and in perpetual presence of Jesus, and saw infinite intelligence, wisdom, and sanctity beaming in His divine eyes. Lastly, our Patriarch died in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
By his heavenly mission, therefore, St. Joseph was exalted in dignity and sanctity above all the sons of men, and, like the Baptist, was sanctified in his mother’s womb, and confirmed in grace.” —excerpted from St. Patrick: His Life, His Heroic Virtues, His Labours, and the Fruits of His Labours by Very Rev. Dean Kinane, P.P., B.G., 1920
As Italians hold St. Joseph in high esteem, so do we here at Mt. Carmel. Not only due to cultural or religious tradition, but also because he is the “chaste guardian of the Virgin,” “diligent protector of Christ,” and “protector of Holy Church.” Our church has survived every calamity of the 20th century, the sharp decline in vocations and church attendance, and an ever-changing neighborhood. 130 years is no small feat, especially for a small ethnic Catholic church. We give thanks to the many saints whose intercession helped us make it this far; but we especially give thanks to St. Joseph, who served as our guardian and protector all these years. Let us all continue to pray that he will intercede for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and its parishioners and help us forge an even brighter future.
Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.*
St. Joseph, *
Renowned offspring of David, *
Light of Patriarchs, *
Spouse of the Mother of God, *
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, *
Foster father of the Son of God, *
Diligent protector of Christ, *
Head of the Holy Family, *
Joseph most just, *
Joseph most chaste, *
Joseph most prudent, *
Joseph most strong, *
Joseph most obedient, *
Joseph most faithful, *
Mirror of patience, *
Lover of poverty, *
Model of artisans, *
Glory of home life, *
Guardian of virgins, *
Pillar of families, *
Solace of the wretched, *
Hope of the sick, *
Patron of the dying, *
Terror of demons, *
Protector of Holy Church, *
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. He made him the lord of His household.
R. And prince over all His possessions.
Let us pray:
O God, in your ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate as our Protector on earth: Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.