Jul 16 – Memorial for Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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 best known among 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 began with the Carmelites. During the 13th 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 honour 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 everyday, if possible, seven times the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
- Strive to serve God by venerating Mary, and imitating her virtues.
Though not binding under penalty of sin, the breach of these rules deprives us of all merit.
- Patron Saint Index
Isa 26:7-9,12,16-19
Mt 11:28-30
O Lord, you are giving us peace, since you treat us as our deeds deserve.
I am in a season of my life where news of death of friends or sickness is often sent to me. My initial response is usually one of shock and sadness but increasingly, I have learnt that all times and seasons are in God’s hands. This was very difficult to accept for me, but the readings of today remind me that trust in God will guide me in all the actions I do.
Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that we should follow Him instead of the ways of the world. The world offers us a message of enjoyment and pleasure, one which does not often require much ownership of the struggles in our lives. Coming to Jesus does not mean that all our pain disappears. In contrast, it gives us the basis for both the joy and pain which we have. It sounds counterintuitive, but I would ask that we offer up our emotions to God in prayer. This will allow us to make sense of why we are feeling this way, and how we can offer the emotion we are feeling in a spirit of surrender to Jesus.
We can follow the example of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose feast we celebrate today. To follow our Lady is to answer the call to live a Marian life — one which requires a life of recollection and prayer to guide the actions of our daily life.
May you, my dear reader, not lose heart but instead, remember that Jesus and His Mother love you. Surrender all the emotions you have to them and they will take care of you.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all Spiritual Directors.
OXYGEN 
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