Ave Maria Meditations

O Most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,

fruitful vine, splendor 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 aid me in my need;

there are none that can withstand your power.

O show me herein you are my Mother.

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O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

(and for those who do not have recourse to thee, especially the enemies of the Holy Church)

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Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

(state your petition)

Amen.

Song of Gratitude to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

By St. Therese of Lisieux

From the first moments of my life,

You took me in your arms.

Ever since that day, dear Mother,

You’ve protected me here below.

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To preserve my innocence,

You placed me in a soft nest.

You watched over my childhood

In the shade of a holy cloister.

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Later, in the days of my youth,

I heard Jesus’ call!…

In your ineffable tenderness,

You showed Carmel to me.

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“Come, my child, be generous,”

You sweetly said to me.

“Near me, you’ll be happy,

Come sacrifice yourself for your Savior.”

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Close to you, 0 my loving Mother!

I’ve found rest for my heart.

I want nothing more on earth.

Jesus alone is all my happiness.

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If sometimes I feel sadness

And fear coming to assail me,

Always supporting me in my weakness,

Mother, you deign to bless me.

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Grant that I may be faithful

To my divine Spouse Jesus.

One day may his sweet voice call me

To flyaway among the elect.

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Then, no more exile, no more suffering.

In Heaven I’ll keep repeating

The song of my gratitude,

Lovable Queen of Carmel!

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The Story of the Devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

OUR LADY of MOUNT CARMEL  (1251)

According to the most ancient Carmelite chronicles, the Order has its origins with the disciples of the prophets Elias and Eliseus. They lived in caves on Mount Carmel. They honored the Queen of Heaven as the Virgin who is to give birth to the Saviour. When the reality replaced the symbol, the pious ascetics of Carmel were converted to the Christian Faith. In the 12th century, many pilgrims from Europe who had followed the Crusaders came to join the solitaries. A rule was established and the Order began to spread to Europe.

Amid the many persecutions raised against the Order of Mount Carmel, newly arrived in Europe, Saint Simon Stock, General of the Order, turned with filial confidence to the Blessed Mother of God. As he knelt in prayer on July 16, 1251, in the White Friars’ convent at Cambridge, She appeared before him and presented him with the well-known brown scapular, a loose sleeveless garment destined for the Order of Carmel, reaching from the shoulders to the knees. It was given as an assurance, for all who died wearing it, of Her heavenly protection from eternal death. An extraordinary promise indeed, but one requiring a life of prayer and sacrifice.

Devotion to the blessed habit spread quickly throughout the Christian world. Pope after Pope enriched it with indulgences, and innumerable miracles put their seal upon its efficacy.

At Lourdes in 1858, the Virgin chose to make Her last apparition on July 16th, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the day the Church commemorates Her apparition to Saint Simon Stock. And at Fatima on October 13, 1917, it is as Our Lady of Mount Carmel that Mary appeared when She said farewell to the three children. Throughout the ages, the Queen of Carmel has always kept a faithful watch over the destinies of Her cherished children on earth.

THE BROWN SCAPULAR – A SIGN OF DEVOTION TO MARY

The Brown Scapular is a Roman Catholic devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is worn as a sign of love and devotion for the Mother of God. The Carmelite Order, to which the Scapular belongs, originated on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land and the Scapular is itself a reflection in miniature of the habit (scapular: a sleeveless outer garment falling from the shoulders) which the monks wear as a sign of their vocation and devotion. Over the years the scapular, at least for lay people, became much reduced in size to but small pieces of wool cloth suspended front and back.

MARY’S PROMISE TO THOSE WHO WEAR THE SCAPULAR

Our Lady gave St. Simon a scapular for the Carmelites with the following promise, saying : Receive, My beloved son, this habit of thy order: this shall be to thee and to all Carmelites a privilege, that whosoever dies clothed in this shall never suffer eternal fire …. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace. Another important aspect of wearing the Scapular is the Sabbatine Privilege. This concerns a promise made by Our Lady to Pope John XXII. In a papal letter he issued, he recounted a vision that he had had. He stated that the Blessed Virgin had said to him in this vision, concerning those who wear the Brown Scapular: “I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death and whomsoever I shall find in Purgatory, I shall free, so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”

CONDITIONS AND RITUALS ATTACHED TO THE SCAPULAR

According to Church tradition, there are three conditions necessary to participate in this Privilege and share in the other spiritual benefits of the Scapular: wear the Brown Scapular, observe chastity according to your state in life, and pray the Rosary. In addition to the Sabbatine Privilege, enrollment in the Brown Scapular also makes a person part of the Carmelite family throughout the world. They therefore share in all of the prayers and good works of the Carmelite Orders. Participation in the Carmelite family also, of course, places you in a special relationship with the Carmelite saints, especially St. Elijah, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, and, most importantly, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In order to receive the spiritual blessings associated with the Scapular, it is necessary to be formally enrolled in the Brown Scapular by either a priest or a lay person who has been given this faculty. Once enrolled, the enrollment is for life and need not be repeated. Anyone, adult or infant, who has not previously been enrolled may be enrolled in the Brown Scapular.

VALUE AND MEANING OF THE SCAPULAR

Many popes and saints have strongly recommended wearing, the Brown Scapular to the Catholic Faithful, including St. Robert Bellarmine, Pope John XXII, Pope Pius Xl, and Pope Benedict XV. For example, St. Alphonsus said: “Just as men take pride in having others wear their livery, so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her servants wear Her Scapular as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to Her service, and are members of the Family of the Mother of God.”  Pope Pius XII went so far as to say: “The Scapular is a practice of piety which by its very simplicity is suited to everyone, and has spread widely among the faithful of Christ to their spiritual profit.” In our own times, Pope Paul VI said: “Let the faithful hold in high esteem the practices and devotions to the Blessed Virgin … the Rosary and the Scapular of Carmel” and in another place referred to the Scapular as: “so highly recommended by our illustrious predecessors.”

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

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O Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel,

I come today to consecrate myself to you,

for my whole life is but a small return

for the many graaces and blessings

that have come from God to me through your hands. Since you look with special kindness

on those who wear your Scapular,

I implore you to strengthen my weakness

with your power,

to enlighten the darkness of my mind

with your wisdom, and to increase in me

Faith, Hope and Charity

that I may repay each day

my debt of humble homage to you.

May your Scapular bring me your special protection

in my daily struggle to be faithful

to your Divine Son and to you.

May it separate me from all that is sinful in life

and remind me constantly of my duty

to imitate your virtues.

From now on, I shall strive t

o live in God’s Presence,

and offer all to Jesus through you.

Dearest Mother, support me by your never-failing love and lead me to paradise

through the merits of Christ

and your own intercession. Amen.

The post July 16th: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #090716 ( 06min) Play – St. Simon Stock had an apparition from Our Lady of Mt Carmel where the Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel was given to the Church, but it is not a pass to lazy piety.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

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The post Jul 16 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #140516b ( 13min) Play – Fr. Elias notes that there are many saints who have their feast day today, including St. Margaret of Cortona, St. Simon Stock, and St John Nepomucene and that the Lord says in the Gospel that there are many places he has prepared for us in heaven. Based on this he tells us that there are many different types of saints and reminds us that we too can become saints and should strive to do so.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Margaret of Cortona – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday 4th Week of Easter
1st: act 13:26-33
Resp: psa 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11
Gsp: joh 14:1-6

Audio (MP3)

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The post May 16 – Homily – Fr Elias: Saints of Many Stripes first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150516b ( 15min) Play – Fr. Elias on the lives of two very different saints Margaret of Cortona and Simon Stock whose feasts are celebrated today. St. Margaret lived a life of sin until she converted and then lived a life of great penance in the Third Order of St. Francis and St. Simon Stock who lived a life of great holiness from early in his life and who founded the Carmelite Order and introduced the devotion to the scapular.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Margaret of Cortona – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Saturday 6th Week of Easter
1st: act 18:23-28
Resp: psa 47:2-3, 8-9, 10
Gsp: joh 16:23-28

Audio (MP3)

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The post May 16 – Homily – Fr Elias: Sts. Margaret and Simon first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150716b ( 15min) Play – Fr. Alan reflects on the role of Our Lady on the founding of the Order of Carmel through St. Simon Stock and how he was given the scapular from her.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Feast – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: zec 2:14-17
Resp: luk 1:46-55
Gsp: mat 12:46-50

Audio (MP3)

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The post Jul 16 – Homily – Fr Alan: Mary and Mt Carmel first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr. Elias on the three Saints that are honored by the Church today and how they in different ways point out the mercy of God. St. Margaret of Cortona the Third Order Franciscan who led a sinful life until she came to her senses and repented. St. Simon Stock who lived a hermetical life and then became a Carmelite and then the minster general. He was given the brown scapular by Our Lady through which Our Lady gave so much mercy to the human race. Finally, St. John Nepomucene who died as a martyr because he would not break the seal of confession, the sacrament of mercy.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Margaret of Cortona – Mem
Readings: Monday 7th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: jam 3:13-18
Resp: psa 19:8, 9, 10, 15 0
Gsp: mar 9:14-29

Audio (MP3)

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The post May 16 – Homily – Fr Elias: Three Saints of Mercy first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Jul 16), Fr. Alan talks about the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a precious gift with a promise of salvation for those who wear it with devotion. Sacraments and sacramentals are distinctive features of the Catholic religion, means and aids to salvation, according to the will of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Opt Mem

Image of Carmelite Sisters in scapulars from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapular_of_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel

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The post Brown Scapular – Precious Gift from Our Mother – Jul 16 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Jul 16, 2019), Father Andre explains how the English translation of today’s Gospel (“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside”- Mt. 12:47) is reconciled with the dogmatic teaching that Mary is the Ever-Virgin mother of only one Son: Jesus Christ.

In the second part of the homily, Father instructs on the value of the Brown Scapular, a unique means of grace sufficient for obtaining eternal salvation. Many cases are known of the grace of final contrition and sacramental reconciliation being given, against all odds, to persons visited by death while faithfully wearing the scapular.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Opt Mem

Readings:
1st: Zec 2:14-17
Resp: Lk 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55
Gsp: Mt 12:46-50

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/0716-memorial-our-lady-mount-carmel.cfm

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and YouTube: https://youtu.be/V9MGcAQe9iY

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The post Death-Defying Scapular of Ever-Virgin Lady of Mt. Carmel – Jul 16 – Homily – Fr Andre first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Elias sings “Flos Carmeli” as the history and nature of the Brown Scapular devotion is explained with text and graphics, including the apparition of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to St. Simon Stock, the Sabbatine Privilege, and the miracle of young Fr. Solanus Casey.

For more information on the Brown Scapular please go to: https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/brown-scapular-information.php
For more information on the Sabbatine Privilege please go to:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13289b.htm
Flos Carmeli sung by Father Elias Mary Mills, F.I.
“Solanus” written by Molly Delaney Druffner

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iCk5mVyvaNY

and Facebook:

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The post Brown Scapular Devotion, History, Promises, Miracles first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr. Elias Mills, FI, Dr. Robert Fastiggi, and Rosalia Vitale Kehrig discuss the veracity of the story that Mary, as Our Lady of Mt Carmel, appeared to St. Simon Stock and gave him the brown scapular. She should know because she researched the subject at the Vatican which lead her to publish an 800-page scholarly book on the subject. Most all of the negative accounts of this apparition are based on one Jansenist heretic, a heresy that was very much against Marian devotion, similar to Protestants.

Rosalia Vitale Kehrig book:
Queenship Publishing: http://www.queenship.org/product/The_Brown_Scapular.html 1-800-647-9882
Marian Catechists: https://mariancatechist.com/product/the-brown-scapular-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Scapular-Lady-Mount-Carmel/dp/1579184561

Ave Maria!

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/czSfuAGrtiY
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The post Giving of the Scapular to St Simon Stock – Band of Mary’s Men #4 first appeared on AirMaria.com.