OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

PRAYERS, SCAPULAR AND NOVENA
 

 

 

 

 

 PLEA FOR DIFFICULT TIMES

I have one thousand difficulties: help me.
From the enemies of the soul: save me.
In my mistakes: illuminate me.
In my doubts and sorrows: comfort me.
In my illnesses: fortify me.
When I am despised: encourage me.
In the temptations: defend me.
In the difficult hours: console me.
With your maternal heart: love me.
With your immense power: protect me.
And in your arms when I expire: receive me.
Holy Mary, flower of Carmel, hear our pleading. Amen.



PRAYER THAT CAN BE SAID FOR NINE DAYS AS A NOVENA:

O Most Holy Virgin of the Carmel. Filled with the greatest trust, like children who go to their mother's heart, we come to implore once again the treasures of mercy that with so much solicitude you have always provided to us. That is why we plead to You in all our dangers and needs sure of being kindly heard. You are the Mother of the Divine Grace, conserve our souls pure; You are the powerful Tower of David, defend the honor and the liberty of our countries; You are a refuge of sinners, break the chains of slavery of error and vice; You are the consolation of the afflicted, assistance of widows, orphans and the helpless; you are the assistance of Christians, conserve our faith and protect our Church, especially its bishops, priests, and religious.

From the throne of your glory, hear to our pleads, O Mother of the Carmel! Open your mantle and cover with it all our countries. We beg you for the success for the magistrates, legislators and judges; peace and piety for the marriages and families, the holy fear of God for the teachers, the innocence for the children, and for the young ones a Christian education. Avert from our nations the earthquakes, epidemics and calamities, avert from our seas the storms, and give abundance to our fields and mountains. Be the remedy for the sick, the strength for troubled souls, the special protection for the dying, and the Redemptrix of the souls of Purgatory.

Hear us, O most clement Mother and allow us to I've united in life to a confession of the same faith and the practice of the same love to the Divine Heart of Jesus, so we may be transferred from our earthly nation to the immortal nation of Heaven, where we will praise you and bless you for ever and ever. Amen.

Origin and privilege of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Scapular of Our Lady of Carmel, owes its origin to a famous apparition of the Mother of God, made to Saint Simon Stock, General of the Carmelites, on July 16 of 1291. Since this saint had for some time unceasingly implored for Mary's protection in favor of his Order, this good Mother appeared in front of him and presented to him a Scapular she had saying: "Receive, my dear son, this habit of your Order; it is the sign of the privilege I have gained for you and for the sons of Carmel; whoever dies wearing this Scapular, will be preserved of eternal fires." It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers and the token of peace and special protection. (Circular letter of Saint Simon Stock to his friars.)

O precious gift! O consoling promise! Whoever dies wearing this habit, will not fall into the fires of hell! Oh! How good you are Mary! May your Most Holy and Immaculate Heart be forever blessed, praised and thanked!

But it's not only during the life of the faithful that were bestowed with the Scapular of the Carmel are assisted by the Most Holy Virgin; even after death, they will suffer the effects of its powerful intercession. A mother so tender couldn't see her dear children suffer for a long time in Purgatory. She appeared in person to Pope John XXII and said: "I, which am the Mother of mercy, will go down to Purgatory on the Saturday after the death of the Brethren of the Scapular, and will free all who I find, and will take them with me to the heavenly glory". They are the same words that the Pope added after his Papal Bull of March 3, 1322. This Papal Bull is called Sabatine and was confirmed later by many Holy Pontiffs.

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Is not:

An object for a magical (amulet) protection, or an automatic guarantee of salvation, or a dispensation for not having to live the demands of the Christian life.

Is:

A "strong" sign approved by the Church since various centuries ago, since it represents our compromise of following Jesus as Mary did: 1) Open to God and his will guided by Faith. 2) Close to the brother in need. 3) Praying constantly and discovering God present in all circumstances. 4) A sign that introduces you into the family of the Carmel. 5) A sign that feeds the hope of an encounter with God in eternal life, under the protection of Mary the Most Holy.

Practice norms:

• The Scapular is imposed once forever, by a Carmelite religious or other authorized person.
• It can be substituted by a medal which represents on one side the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on the other, the Virgin Mary. This medal is blessed when it is changed.
• The Scapular is for authentic Christians who live according to the evangelical norms, receive the Sacraments, and profess a special devotion to the Most Holy Virgin (expressed in the daily prayer of at least three Hail Mary's).

Explanation of the Promise:

Many popes, saints, and Catholic theologians have explained that, according to this promise, whoever has the devotion to the Scapular and wears it, will receive from Most Holy Mary at the hour of death, the grace of perseverance in the state of grace (without mortal sin) or the grace of contrition (repentance). On the part of the devotee, the Scapular is a sign of his commitment to live a Christian life following the perfect example of the Most Holy Virgin.

Placement of the Scapular:

The first Scapular must be blessed by a priest or placed by him while he says:

"Receive this blessed Scapular and as to Most Holy Virgin Mary that by Her merits, you wear it without any stain of sin, and to protect you from all evil, and to take you to eternal life."

The Scapular has three meanings:
1. The love and maternal protection of Mary.
2. Belonging to Mary.
3. The soft yoke of Christ.

Whoever wears the Scapular must identify himself as Catholic.

The Scapular Medal

The Scapular-Medal has on one side the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other side, the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1910, Pope Pius X declared that, a person invested validly in his cloth Scapular could wear the Scapular-medal in its place, provided he had legitimate reasons to substitute his cloth Scapular for the Scapular-medal. This concession was made by a petition made by the missionaries in the tropical countries, where the cloth Scapulars deteriorate quickly. Now, Pope Pius X and his successor, Pope Benedict XV, expressed their profound wish that persons continue wearing the cloth Scapular whenever it was possible, and not to substitute the cloth Scapular for the Scapular-medal without being enough reason. Vanity or fear of professing your faith in public cannot be reasons which will satisfy Our Lady. Persons of this class run the risk of not receiving the promise of the Scapular of Mt. Carmel.

Practical warnings

Once the first Scapular is blessed, the devotee does not need to ask the blessing for posterior Scapulars. The used scapulars, if they have been blessed, should not be thrown in the garbage. They may be burnt or buried as a sign of respect.

Virgin Mary loves in a very special way those who are devoted to Her, those who want to have Her to help them at the hour of death, in life they must win such privilege with a life of rejection to sin and living to give Her honor. To live in sin and wear the Scapular as anchor of salvation is to commit the sin of presumption, because faith and fidelity to the commandments is necessary for all who look for love and the protection of Our Lady.

Conditions for this privilege to apply:
1) Wear the Scapular with fidelity.
2) Observe chastity according to your state of life.
3) Praying the Office of the Virgin (prayers and readings in honor of the Virgin) or pray daily 5 decades of the Rosary.

Pope Paul V in an official proclamation confirmed that all believers could be taught about the Sabatine privilege (liberation from Purgatory the following Saturday after the death of the devotee).

The Scapular and the Virgin of Fatima

It is evident that the Virgin Mary wants to reveal to us the Scapular in a special way. Lucia reported (visionary of Fatima, when living, known as Sister Maria del Inmaculado Corazon), that in the last apparition (October 1917, day of the miracle of the sun), the Virgin came dressed with the Carmelite habit and with the Scapular in Her hand, and reminded that her true children would wear it with reverence. She also asked that those who consecrated themselves to Her, to use it as a sign of such consecration.

Prayer

God Merciful Father who created man and woman, and from the beginning of creation united them in an indissoluble marriage; You who destined that union to the marvelous end of conjugal love, of procreation and education of the children; You that through Jesus' mouth said: "what God has united, man will not separate it".

By the intercession of Most Holy Mary, Queen of the Family, Virgin of the Carmel, and our Patroness, we beg you with all our heart that you make each day more firm in all of us the conjugal knot, so, according to your loving orders, the family organized in the indissoluble marriage be truly the foundation of our society, and the most luminous hope of the future for our world. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Final Prayer

My Mother of Carmel, who told your son Simon Stock these words: "Receive, my dear son, this habit of your Order; it is the sign of the privilege I have gained for you and for the sons of Carmel; whoever dies wearing this Scapular, will be preserved of eternal fires". O my good Mother, let it be for me a sign of salvation, a safeguard in the dangers, and the symbol of peace and special protection as you yourself indicated. So be it.

Let us commend ourselves to the Virgin of Carmel in all our needs and let's use the Scapular, as our Mother asks us. It is important to be worthy of it, it doesn't serve just carry it and live in sin away from the Catholic faith, because it will not serve.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

The Novena is prayed between July 7 to the 15th of July, and the Feast is on July 16th. Pope John Paul II said: "I also carry over my heart, for such a long time, the Scapular of Carmel! That's why, I pray to the Virgin of Carmel to help us all the religious of the Carmel, and the faithful people who venerate Her faithfully, to grown in Her love and illuminate in the world the presence of this Woman of silence and of prayer, invoked as Mother of mercy, Mother of hope and of Grace".

The Sign of the Cross.

ACT OF CONTRITION FOR EVERYDAY

My God and My Lord, prostrated in front of your Majestic Sovereign, with all my being, with all my soul and with all my heart I adore, confess, bless, praise, and glorify you. I recognize you as my God and my Lord; I believe in You, I wait for you, and I trust you that you will forgive my faults, and give me your grace and perseverance, and the glory that you have offered to those who persevere in your love. I love You above all things. I confess to You my supreme ungratefulness and all my faults and sins, of which I repent, and ask you to kindly concede my forgiveness. I am sorry to having sinned against You, for being who you are. I firmly intend with your divine grace, to sin no more, to avoid whatever leads me to sin, confess, do penance, and procure to serve and please you in everything. Forgive me, Lord, so with a clean and pure soul, I may praise the Most Holy Virgin, your Mother and my Lady, and through Her powerful intercession I may attain the special grad that I request in this Novena, if it is for your greater honor and glory, and for the good of my soul. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY

O Virgin Mary, Mother of God and also Mother of sinner, and special Protector of those who wear your sacred Scapular; because His Divine Majesty honored you, choosing Thee to be His true Mother, I beseech you to reach for Me from your dear Son the forgiveness of my sins, the rectification of my life, the salvation of my soul, the remedy for my needs, the consolation of my afflictions, and the special grace that I ask in this Novena, if it suits for His greater honor and glory, and good of my soul: that I, My Lady, to achieve it will require your powerful intercession, and I would like to have the spirit of all the angels, saints and just, to be able to praise you worthily; and joining my voice with their affections, I salute you one and a thousand times, say: (pray three Hail Mary's).

Pray the following prayer for the day it corresponds:

FINAL PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY

Most Holy Virgin of Carmel: I desire that all without exception find shelter under the protective shadow of your holy Scapular; that all be united to You, my Mother, by the narrow and loving ties of this, your loved Insignia. O beauty of the Carmel! Look at us prostrated reverently in front of your sacred image, and kindly grant us your loving protection. I recommend to Thee the needs of our Most Holy Father, the Pope, and the Catholic Church, our Mother, as our nation and of the entire world, my own and of my family and friends. Look thy eyes of compassion so many sinners, heretics, and schismatics how they offend your divine son, and so many unfaithful as they weep in the darkness of paganism. That all of them convert and love you, my Mother, as I wish to love you now and for all eternity. So be it. Amen.

FIRST DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, whose image appeared in that cloud that the great Prophet of God, Elias, saw coming up from the Sea, and with its rain made richly fertile the earth, meaning the purest fertility with which you gave the world your dear Son Jesus, as universal remedy of our souls: I beseech thee, Our Lady, to bestow on me rich rains of help, so my soul may carry abundant fruits of virtues and good works, to be able to serve you with perfection in this life, I will merit enjoy it in eternal life. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen! (say the prayer Hail Holy Queen)

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

SECOND DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, that by your singular love to the Carmelites you favored them with your familiar treatment and sweet words, illuminating them with the lights of your teachings and example which they blissfully enjoyed. I beseech thee, Our Lady, to assist me with special protection, reaching for me from your blessed Son Jesus light to know His infinite kindness and to love Him with all my soul; to recognize my faults and to weep them to know how I must behave in order to serve Him with all perfection; and so all my dealings and conversation always be for His major honor and glory, and betterment of my brothers. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

THIRD DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, who worthily admitted with singular love the filial gift of the Carmelites, that between all mortals were the first ones that in your honor built a temple in Mount Carmel, where they fervently concurred to give you worship and praise. I beseech thee, My Lady, to reach that my soul may be live temple of the Majesty of God, adorned by the virtues, where He will live forever loved, adores, and praised by me, and that never I will have temporary and earthly unorganized affections. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

FOURTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, My Most Holy Mary, that to show your most special love to the Carmelites, you honored them with the sweet name of being your children and brothers, encouraging with such singular favor your trust, to look in you, as a loving Mother, the remedy, the consolation, and the shelter in all their needs and afflictions, moving them to the imitation of the exalted virtues. I beseech thee, My Lady, that your cast your eyes on me, as a loving Mother and reach for me the grace to imitate you, so as to be worthily called also your son, and that my name be inscribed in the book of predestination of the children of God and brothers of my Lord Jesus Christ. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

FIFTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, that to defend the Carmelites, your sons, when the holy Religion of the Carmelites was under pressure to be extinguished, always showing the love and singular predilection with which you guard them, you asked the Holy Pope, Honor III, to kindly receive them and confirm their institution, giving him as sign that it was your will and your Divine Son's will, the sudden death of two who specially were against them. I beseech thee, My Lady, to defend me from all my enemies of soul and body, so with quietness and peace, I will live always in the holy service of God and yours. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

SIXTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, that to distinguish the Carmelites as special children of yours, you enriched them with the singular jewel of the Holy Scapular, linking to them so many graces and favors for those who devotedly wear it and fulfilling with their obligations, seek to live in a manner that imitating your virtues, they show they are your sons. I beseech thee, My Lady, that you reach for me the grace of living always as true Christian and loving brother of the Holy Scapular, so I may merit to fulfill the fruits of this beautiful devotion. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

SEVENTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, that in your Holy Scapular you gave all that wear it, a firm shield to defend themselves of all the dangers of this world and of the wiles of the devil, crediting this truth with so many and such singular miracles. I beseech thee, My Lady, that you be my powerful defense in this mortal life, so in all my tribulations and dangers, I may find security, and in the temptations I will come out victorious, always having your special assistance to achieve it. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

EIGHTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, you hold your special protection at the hour of death for those who devotedly wear your Holy Scapular, so they can achieve through this way the true penitence of leaving this life in grace of God, and to free themselves from the sorrows of hell. I beseech thee, My Lady, to assist me, protect me, and console me in the hour of my death, and reach for me true penitence, perfect contrition of all my sins, lighted love of God, and ardent desire of seeing Him and enjoying Him, so my soul does not get lost or condemned, but that it goes safely to the eternal happiness of the glory. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

NINTH DAY

START WITH THE ACT OF CONTRITION AND THE PRAYER.

PRAYER. O! Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, that by extending your love to the Carmelites, even after death, as Most Merciful Mother of those who wear your Holy Scapular, you console their souls when they are in Purgatory, and with your prayers you get them to come out of those sorrows as soon as possible, to go and enjoy God, our Lord, in the glory. I beseech thee, My Lady, you reach for me from His Divine Majesty, that I fulfill with the obligations of a Christian and the devotion to the Holy Scapular, so I may receive this most singular favor. So, My Lady, I humbly beseech thee, saying: Hail, Holy Queen…

Petition: ask for the special grace that you wish to receive in this Novena. End with the Final Prayer for Every Day.

Flower of Carmel
Vine Blossom-laden,
splendor of heaven,
child-bearing yet maiden,
none equals Thee.

Mother so tender,
whom no man didst know,
on Carmel's children
they favors bestow,
Star of the Sea.



 

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