FEAST OF THE DAY
SUNDAY, 16 JULY, 2023
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
In the year 1251, in the town of Aylesford in England, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite. She handed him a brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites and who perpetually wear it.
Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary. In 1726 it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception.
St. Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” St. John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison. St. Therese of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Therese dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.
THE DEVOTION TO HER SCAPULAR AND PROMISES.
The feast we celebrate commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin on July 16, 1251 to St. Simon Stock, the first General of the Carmelite Order.
Mary promised special blessings and indulgences throughout the centuries for all those who wear her scapular. This devotion began in England and has received the solemn approval of the Church and the constant blessings of the Popes.
1. What did Our Lady tell St. Simon Stock in Her Apparition?
“receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy order; it is the special sign of my favor, which i have obtained for thee and for thy children of mount carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”
2. THE PROMISES OF OUR LADY.
Our Lady promised grace and special blessings for those who devoutly wear her scapular. In particular:
She promised The grace of final perseverance, that is, the special help for those who are not in the state of grace to repent in the last moment of their life. Furthermore, the sabbatine privilege is added to this promise. This privilege consists in the early liberation from purgatory, through the special intercession and petition of the virgin mary, which she graciously exercises in favor of her devoted servants preferentially on the day consecrated to her, saturday (from the word “Sabbath”, hence, sabbatine).
In order to benefit from the graces promised by Our Lady, the scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has to be Duly Invested by A Priest.
If worn out, torn, or as preferred, the scapular Can Be Replaced by A Medal with The Image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on One Side and Of the Sacred Heart of Jesus On the other side. Investiture need not be repeated. Only ask a priest to bless the medal.
The scapular is a Sign of our lady's maternal love and protection for us; A symbol of the wedding garment of grace we should have in our soul; And a pledge which carries with it particular obligations such as devotion to her Immaculate Heart and imitation of all Our Lady's virtues, in particular, her humility, chastity (according to one's state in life) and piety.
St. John Paul II recalled in an intimate way the special help and protection he himself received from the Blessed Mother through his devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in an audience with the youth in a parish in Rome dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, saying:
I should tell you – he said to them – that in my youth, when i was about your age, she helped me a great deal. I cannot say to what degree exactly, but i believe it was to a very great extent. She helped me to gain the grace proper to my age in life, the grace to understand my vocation…i owe a great deal in my early youth to my devotion to the carmelite scapular. A mother's constant diligence and concern for the clothes of her children is beautiful to see. she always wants them well-dressed. When her children's garments are torn the mother makes an effort to repair them. The blessed mother of mount carmel and of the holy scapular speaks to us of her maternal care, her concern to clothe us spiritually with the grace of god and to help us always keep our garments white.
“Wear on your breast the holy scapular of mount carmel. There are many excellent marian devotions, but few are as deep-rooted among the faithful and so richly blessed by the popes. Besides, how motherly is the sabbatine privilege (St. Josemaria Escrivá, The Way, 500).”
May our lady of mount carmel be with you always. May she be the star that guides you and never disappears from your horizon. May she lead you now, throughout your life and at its completion to a safe haven (St. John Paul II, Address, 9 November 1982).
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succour me in this necessity; there are none that can withstand your power. O, show me herein you are my Mother.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (3 times)