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Friends of the Rosary,
Today, July 16th, is the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a feast instituted for the Carmelites in 1332 and extended to the whole Church by Benedict XIII in 1726. It’s the feast of the worldwide devotion of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Brown Scapular.
In Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah defended the beauty and purity of Israel’s faith in the living God.
In the twelfth century, hermits withdrew to that mountain and later founded the Carmelite order, devoted to the contemplative life under the patronage of Mary, the holy Mother of God.
Today is the principal feast day of the Carmelite Order.
Since the Carmelites were still under constant harassment by the Saracens, the sixth General of the Order, St. Simon Stock, pleaded with the Blessed Virgin for some special sign of her protection. On July 16, 1251, she designated the scapular as the special mark of her maternal love.
The scapular is common to many religious Orders, but it is a special feature of the Carmelites. A smaller form of the scapular is given to lay persons in order that they may share in the great graces associated with it.
This sacramental is a sign of one’s decision to follow Jesus, as Mary did, the perfect model for all the disciples of Christ. It’s also an expression of our belief that we will meet God in eternal life, aided by Mary’s intercession and prayer.
While sacramentals prepare us to receive grace if we are in the right disposition, the Church emphasizes that only sacraments can confer sanctifying grace.
The Scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession.
In New York City, there is Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine in East Harlem, established in 1881 and home to one of the oldest festivals in America. Also, Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY, annually holds the Festival of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Paulinus of Nola (Festa Del Giglio).
Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play
Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play
