JULY 16 - OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
breski1
16 July
Entry
The Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapulæ, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of Saint Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on 16 July 1251, while Saint Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said,
“Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time. Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.”
It is much to be wished that people should everywhere join this confraternity, for the honor of Mary and for the salvation of souls, by a life fitted to that end.
In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:
Shun sin, and, according to his state of life, live chastely.
Say every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
Strive to serve God by venerating Mary, and imitating her virtues.
These rules, it is true, are not binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit; and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly.” (II Corinthians 9:6)
Patronage
Carmelites
–
Bolivia (proclaimed on 3 October 1914 by Pope Benedict XV)
Chile
–
in Argentina
Pedro Ramón Fernández
–
in Brazil
Arcos
Betim
Borda da Mata
Borgo Val di Taro
Boscoreale
Cambuí
Campestre
Campos Gerais
Carmésia
Carmo da Cachoeira
Carmo da Mata
Carmo de Minas
Carmo do Cajuru
Carmo do Paranaíba
Carmo do Rio Claro
Carmópolis de Minas
Carolei
Centralina
Divisa Alegre
Fiumara
Frutal
Lassance
Luminárias
Mariana
Monte Carmelo
Pains
Paraguaçu
Paraopeba
Pezze di Greco
Prata
Serra da Saudade
Uberlândia

in England
Aylesford
Salford, diocese of

in India
Alleppey, diocese of

in Italy
Atripalda
Avigliano
Borso del Grappa
Buonabitacolo
Buseto Palizzolo
Carlopoli
Castiglione Chiavarese
Castiglione di Garfagnana
Cittanova, Veneto
Laurito
Lenzone, Ovaro
Lugugnana, Portogruaro
Paterno, Basilicata
Paterno di Lucania
Petraro, Corigliano-Rossano
Ripacandida
San Fili
San Filippo del Mela
Sciara
Villalba

in Malta
Birkirkara

in Mexico
Catemaco, Veracruz

in Puerto Rico
Haillo

in Venezuela
Higuerote