The Scapular
It is a gift to you from your Heavenly Mother.
“WHOSOEVER DIES IN THIS GARMENT SHALL NOT SUFFER ETERNAL FIRE.”
– promise of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251
In the year 1251, in the town of Aylesford, Kent in England, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock. She handed him a brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.”
The scapular is a Marian habit or garment. It is both a sign and pledge. A sign of belonging to Mary; a pledge of her motherly protection, not only in this life but after death. As a sign, it is a conventional sign signifying three elements strictly joined: first, belonging to a religious family particularly devoted to Mary, especially dear to Mary, the second, consecration to Mary, devotion to and trust in her Immaculate Heart; third, an urge to become like Mary by imitating her virtues, above all her humility, chastity, and spirit of prayer.
Devotion
True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary consists in three things: VENERATION, CONFIDENCE AND LOVE. By simply wearing the Scapular, we can tell her every moment of the day that we venerate her, love her and trust in her protection.
The Scapular Is a Silent Prayer
As Our Lord taught us to say the Our Father, Our Blessed Mother taught us the value of the scapular. When we use it as a prayer, Our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is good, therefore, to hold the scapular in the hand. A prayer offered while holding the Scapular is as perfect as a prayer can be. It is especially in time of temptation that we need the powerful intercession of God’s Mother. The evil spirit is utterly powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin in this silent devotion.
The Morning Offering
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss the scapular as a sign of your consecration), I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them to the interests of Thy most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Prayer To St Simon Stock
Heavenly Father, you called Saint Simon Stock to serve you in the brotherhood of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Through his prayers, help us, like him, to live in your presence, and to work for the salvation of the human family.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
… St Simon Stock, Pray for Us …
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,
fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity.
(make request)
There are none that can withstand thy power.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
(3 times)
Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands.
(3 times)
കർമ്മല മാതാവ്
കാര്‍മ്മല്‍ മലയിലെ ഏറ്റവും മനോഹരമായ പുഷ്പമേ, ഫലവത്തായ മുന്തിരിവള്ളീ, സ്വര്‍ഗ്ഗത്തിന്റെ തേജസേ, ദൈവപുത്രന്റെ അമ്മേ, നിര്‍മ്മലകന്യകേ എന്റെ ആവശ്യനേരങ്ങളില്‍ എന്റെ സഹായത്തിനെത്തണമേ. സമുദ്രതാരകമേ എന്നെ സഹായിക്കുകയും നീ എന്റെ അമ്മയായിരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യണമേ,
പരിശുദ്ധ മറിയമേ, ദൈവമാതാവേ ആകാശത്തിന്റെയും ഭൂമിയുടെയും രാജ്ഞിയായിരിക്കുന്നവളേ, എന്റെ ഈ പ്രത്യേക ആവശ്യം
( ആവശ്യം പറയുക)
എനിക്ക് സാധിച്ചുതരാന്‍ ഏറ്റവും താഴ്മയോടെ എന്റെ ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ അടിത്തട്ടില്‍ നിന്ന് ഞാന്‍ പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥിക്കുന്നു.
ഓ എന്റെ അമ്മേ പാപമില്ലാതെ ഗര്‍ഭവതിയായവളേ ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്കോരോരുത്തര്‍ക്കും വേണ്ടി പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥിക്കണമേ.
(3)
മാധുര്യമുള്ള അമ്മേ എന്റെ ഈ ജീവിതാഭിലാഷം അമ്മയുടെ കൈയിലേക്ക് വച്ചുതരുന്നു. ആമ്മേന്‍
(3)