The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

"Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light." (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).

Thursday 16th July 2020, 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. What is a sacramental?

"Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy." (CCC 667).

Sacramentals dispose us to receive the Sacraments with deeper faith. If you bless yourself regularly with holy water, your faith in the Sacraments grow. Examples of Sacramentals: Bible, Crucifix, Rosary, Statues, Some medals, etc.

In our Gospel for today, Jesus invites all the tired and burdened souls to Him. He promises that His yoke and burden are tailor-made for each of us.

The Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit instituted the use of Sacramentals like the Brown Scapula, the Miraculous Medal and so forth to help excite our faith and dispose our hearts to the reception of the Holy Sacraments.

"When you remember Me, I will be there." Every blessed object which elevates our hearts and minds to Jesus is useful for our journey to eternal life.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com