Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded in 1607 by King Henry IV of France. In 1608 he appointed Grand Master of the Order of St. Lazarus Philibert Marquis de Nérestang the Grand Master of the Ordre Militaire et Hospitalier de Saint- Lazare et de Nôtre Dame du Mont Carmel. The union with the Lazarus Medal was intended to prevent extinction of the older order. The Pope Paul V had been in a bull his approval and blessing for the union of the two orders. The Order called future "Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem." The papal blessings also meant the material security: the oversight of all French hospitals, so all hospitals, military hospitals and the management of similar institutions. Also, taxes could be collected from the commanderies in favor of the Order. The donated in Palestine orders were designed for the care of sick pilgrims and later found in Europe a rich field.

In the bull of the Pope gave it to the king the right to appoint the Grand Master of the Order. He allowed the marriage of knights, with widows and instituted the vow of obedience. The Knights were encouraged to carry and use weapons against the enemies of the Church.

The Order was named after the Carmel in Israel and joined in the Carmelite religious family.

Religious symbolism

The religious symbol is a narrow confess ändertes and to the cross arm ends wedge-shaped incised nasty eight-pointed, golden, red green enamelled cross with gold lilies in the cross angles. The obverse of the central shield is surrounded with gold -ray image of the Virgin Mary on blassviolettem reason. In the lapel of St Lazarus is depicted rising from the grave on green medallion. The motto of the Order was: Oieu & mon Koi!

As a neck medal decoration was worn on a wide green band. In ceremonies a purple coat was applied as religious clothing. On the front was a cross embroidered in green and gold.