La Bruna Cards with Matching Envelopes. The cards and envelopes are made from 100% recycled paper. Card dimensions: 4.5 x 6.

“La Bruna” - The Earliest Icon of Carmel.

The back of the card features the following text: The icon belongs to, and can be found at, the Carmelites’ Basilica Church in Naples, Italy. It bears the title “La Bruna” or “the dark one” because it darkened over the centuries with soot from oil lamps, candles and vigil lights. Painted in the 13th century, it was restored to its original beauty in 1974. The style of the icon expresses the tenderness of the Virgin as she lifts her Child to her cheek. The Greeks named this type of icon “the sweet kiss” icon. The single star with its distinctive tail on the right shoulder of Our Lady make this icon unique. After many miracles were attributed to her intercession, the Carmelites approved the image for use in every chapel of the Order in 1524; hence, “La Bruna” has been intimately associated with the Carmelite Order since that time. This touching image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is frequently imitated in other depictions of Mary, as the Queen and Beauty of Carmel, around the world. Devotion to “La Bruna” is also connected to the Carmelite tradition that dedicates Wednesdays to Mary.