FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL.
COME TO ME. I WILL UNBURDEN YOU.
THE GOODNEWS:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11 - 28 - 30).
Thursday 16th July 2026 in the 15th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
What words do we associate with Mount Carmel?
The Prophet Elijah, the Carmelite Order, St. Simon Stock.
On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Simon Stock, the Superior General of the Carmelites in England and gave him the brown scapula.
Mary promised her protection to all those who wear the scapula. This is the origin of the devotion of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapula. The brown scapula is one of the numerous sacramentals of the Church.
Some years ago, a friend of mine gave me a Brown Scapula. I hung it on the wall in my Prayer Area.
On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel a couple of years ago, I was inspired to put on that Brown Scapula just for the feast day.
After the feast, I continued to wear it day and night.
After some years, it fell apart from constant use. I prayed to Our Lady for inspiration on how to replace it.
The prayer was answered immediately. That instant answer was a sign for me that the Blessed Mother wants that scapula round my neck.
It has been many years now. The Brown Scapula gives me much comfort.
Here is a credible testimony on the Brown Scapula.
St. Claude de la Colombière, SJ renowned Jesuit and spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Sacred Heart fame, said:
"Because all the forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin, all its various modes of expression cannot be equally pleasing to her, and therefore do not assist us in the same degree to Heaven -- I say without a moments hesitation that the Brown Scapular is the most favored of all!"
He also adds: "No devotion has been confirmed by more numerous authentic miracles than the Brown Scapular."
Do not neglect any of the Sacramentals of the Church: holy water, crucifix, Rosary, Bible, holy pictures, etc.
We have a gracious invitation from Christ Jesus in today's Gospel. (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).
But how do we respond to this invitation O Christ?
We come to Jesus Christ in:
Prayer.
His word.
Eucharist.
Spiritual Reading Spiritual Communion
Reconciliation.
When we encounter Him in the poor.
What are the labors and burdens that we bring to Christ the Doctor to heal?
First, we bring our burdens of sin.
We are overwhelmed with fears, worries and doubts about our:
Health.
Family.
Finances.
Job.
Tools and Possessions.
Food.
Future.
We bring all the above to Jesus in confident trust that He promised to help us and will not fail.
How does Christ give us the promised rest?
He cancels our debts of sins and relieves us once and for all from guilt.
Sometimes He heals our bodies and finances. At other times, He gives us a supernatural perspective from which to view our woes.
People go to the Shrines of Our Lady of Fatima, Lourdes in France and Guadalupe in Mexico for physical healing.
Many such people receive spiritual conversion and decide to stay behind to minister to pilgrims sicker than themselves. This is the work of grace.
What yoke does Christ invite us to take upon ourselves?
The yoke of Christ is the Gospel of Christ.
The yoke of Christ is the Sermon on the Mount.
Christ Himself says that this yoke is both easy and light.
John the Apostle says that to keep the commandments is not burdensome. (1 John 5:3).
Paul writes of the weight of glory that awaits us after some light suffering. (Romans 8: 18; 2 Corinthians 4: 17).
"Learn from me," pleads Christ. Christ is the Teacher and the Lesson. Learn to be with me. Learn to be like me.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11: 30)
What makes the yoke easy and the burden light is grace. The grace of God makes easy what is most difficult and revolting to nature.
Grace makes light what is most burdensome.
This is the secret of the saints. Saints suffer imprisonment, persecution and even death because they have the grace of God to help them.
Without this grace, it is impossible for human nature to embrace these crosses.
Jesus Christ has promised us His grace if we embrace Him and His teaching. With His grace on our side, all things become possible.
"My grace is sufficient for you. For power is made effective in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9).
With our daily bread of this grace given at the beginning of each day, we are equipped to live fully for Christ in these areas of human struggle: health, family, finances, job, tools, food and future. Lord, give me this day my daily bread of your grace. Amen!
Live the mystery of Divine Providence everyday with:
Proverbs 3: 5 - 6:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths."
Now that you know this, do it and you will be wise.
We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
"Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Save us." (Litany of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ).
For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:
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