Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a popular Saint of the island. More Puerto Ricans are named Carmen and Carmelo than Providencia, the Patron Saint of Puerto Rico. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel liberates the souls of Purgatory and this icon empowers spiritists to work with her in elevating the souls of those who suffer in the spirit world. The icon serves also as a visual coded message, as well, since many times it is used to signal a practitioner of “Mesa Blanca” as Puerto Rican spiritist’s practice is known.