Saturday, July 16, 2016

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Overlooking the city of Haifa and the blue Mediterranean Sea, the fabled Mount Carmel is a holy place, the home of prophets and hermits, and the inspiration for the Carmelites who imitate Mary's contemplative life, and like her, nourish her "children" through the service of prayer
In 1251 Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, Minister General of the Carmelites who changed the Order from hermits to mendicants,  and gave him the scapular...a cloth which fits over the front and back of the religious habit of some Orders.  It has been modified to two pieces of square brown or green cloth connected with a thin "shoe-lace".  It symbolizes a pledge on the part or the bearers to entrust themselves totally to her protection and remain faithful to the spiritual life and the need for prayer.
When Jesus entrusted Mary to John's care at the foot of the cross...he also entrusted all of us to her care.  She has been faithful to her role as our Mother over the centuries, and her title, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is another reminder of her motherly presence, for she watches unceasingly with a mother's loving care over the brethren of her Son, and lights us along our pilgrim way to the Mount of God's glory, our beacon of comfort, and the embodiment of all our hope as members of the Church. (Preface of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.)  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Bro. Rene

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