The Virgin of Carmen de Cuyo and the Virgin of Carmen de la Legua are invocations of the Virgin derived from the Virgin of Carmen, but each bears the name of the place where it appeared and is commemorated. The devotees of this Virgin are called Carmelites and they have great faith and devotion to the scapular that she carries in one of her hands.
Day of the Virgen del Carmen of Cuyo
Contrary to the rest of the world, which celebrates the central day of the Virgen del Carmen on 16th July, in Argentina it is celebrated on 8th September, just like the Virgen del Valle in Venezuela, since she was crowned in 1911 by Don José de San Martín and declared General of the Andean Army, years later other honours were added to her such as patron saint of the primary school and the 8th Mountain Brigade.
In the following video you can see what the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo is like.
She is venerated in the temple of San Francisco Solano in Mendoza, where her image has been since the XVIII century, although at first she belonged to the Jesuits, it was Pedro de Nuñez who donated the image, but it was General San Martin who decided to make her the patron saint of the army, since most of the soldiers in the region wore the scapular of the Virgin, and that is why the aforementioned general decided to give the image his staff.
Usually she wears a white tunic, the Carmelite habit and a white mantle, but on the day of her feast she is dressed up and wears a crown made of gold and beautiful stones, with twelve stars, and on her chest she wears a sash representing her rank as General of the Argentine Army.
Scapular of the Virgin of Carmen de Cuyo
The scapular of the Virgin has always represented devotion, it has the meaning of protection and care for the one who uses it, it is brown with gold, on one side it has the image of the Virgin and on the other the symbol that represents the Carmelitas.
The Vatican has declared it a sacred sign, the meaning of the use of the scapular is strictly spiritual, whoever uses it must always remember the presence of the Virgin, this scapular means or represents all the virtues that the Virgin has.
The scapular represents the maternal protection and love of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for her children, so that they may have her protection in life and after death. Whoever receives it is admitted to the Carmelite Order and is considered a member of the family of the Mother of God.
Prayer to Our Lady of Carmel of Cuyo
O Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of sinners, special protector of those who wear Your sacred scapular.
I beseech You, for that which His Majesty has magnified You by choosing You to be His true Mother, obtain for me from Your dear Son Jesus the forgiveness of my sins, the amendment of my life, the salvation of my soul, the remedy of my wants and the consolation of my sufferings, if it be convenient for His greater honour and for the glory and good of my soul; That I, O Lady, to obtain it, avail myself of your powerful intercession, and I would have the spirit of all the angels, holy and just, to praise you worthily; and uniting my voice with their affections, I salute you once and a thousand times, saying Hail Mary
Poetry to the Virgin of Carmen de Cuyo
I believe in you, sweet mother of Carmen de Cuyo
From the sanctuary of Mendoza.
I believe in you because I believe in childhood
Which today is protected by your inviolable love.
The childhood that holds in its hands
The banner of a cloth so holy
And in her eyes so pure
Peace, Hope, Duty and Enchantment.
I believe in you because Mendoza proclaims you
General of whom
because in you was forged the hope
in the struggle, the duty and the suffering.
I believe in you, Virgin of the Carmen of Cuyo
that is why I raise my voice and my song
in this poetry that contains
all the love and charm.
I believe in you, Holy Virgin, who gave
to this people of Cuyo.
And these children who look at your face today
Are protected by your love and by your hands.
Such is the devotion to the Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo that the children are encouraged to write poems in her honour to be recited on the day of the main celebration. Novenas are also held in her honour on the days leading up to the celebrations.
