« Let us rejoice in the Lord. We celebrate this feast day in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The angels take part in the joy of this solemnity and they acclaim in chorus the Son of God. My heart is vibrating with words of choice. It is for a king that I say my poem ». Antiphon of the mass of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
On 16th July 1251, Our Lady appeared to Saint Simon Stock, superior of the Order of Mount Carmel. She promised him a special benediction, not only for religious but also for all those who would wear the habit of the order. « I give you, dear Son, this habit of your order, it is a privilege that I have obtained for you and for all children of Carmel. Whoever dies wearing this piece of cloth will be preserved from the fire of hell. It is a mark of salvation, of protection against all dangers, a guarantee of peace and eternal alliance». Many spiritual favors have been granted to those who wear the scapular (Bull « Sabbatina », John XXIII, 1317). The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was Introduced in 1332 for all Carmelites. Then, in 1726, Pope Benedict XIII extended this feast to the universal church.
The scapular is a piece of cloth worn by all members of the Carmelite Order. But laymen can wear it in a reduced size. It is then composed of two sides, one worn on one’s chest and one worn on one’s back. It depicts Jesus showing His Sacred Heart and Our Lady handing the scapular while holding the infant Jesus.
This scapular must be imposed by a priest. Whoever wants to wear it, must wear it every day, respect chastity according to his state of life and have a particular devotion to Our Lady. Then this garment confers a protection against all sorts of dangers and especially a protection against everything contrary to his or her salvation.
Here is, on this great feast of Our Lady and in the following days, the opportunity to
- make or renew the consecration to her Immaculate Heart. On June 13, 1917, Mary said to the children of Fatima: “Jesus wants to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. Whoever embraces this devotion, I promise salvation; these souls will be cherished by God, like flowers placed by me to adorn his throne.”
- recite the prayer for the consecration of the human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Prayer of Leo XIII). On May 25, 1899, Leo XIII wrote in his encyclical Annum Sacrum: “Here, in our days, another favorable and entirely divine omen presents itself to our eyes: it is the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, surmounted by a cross which shines in the midst of the flames. In him should be placed all our hopes. It is to him that we must ask and from him that we must expect the salvation of humanity. “
Personal consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you.
I, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property.
Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”
Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin, Give me strength against your enemies.
by St.Maximilian Kolbe 1917
Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Your altar. We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known You; many too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Your Sacred Heart.
You are King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
You are King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
You are King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism; refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Your eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Your chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.
Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: “Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and Honor forever.” Amen.
by Leo XIII 1899