Thursday, April 2, 2009

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Bracelet


Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or of the Scapular

July 16

The Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapular, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of Saint Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics 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, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and July 16, 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."


PRAYER

O Most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein 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 this necessity. There are none that can withstand Your power.

O show me herein You are my Mother. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

O show me herein You are my Mother. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

O show me herein You are my Mother. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in Your hands.


I created this bracelet in honor to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel using this beautiful picture with Baby Jesus. I usually take several pictures of the same bracelet to choose the best ones to place in my listings. When I arranged the bracelet on an amethyst stone and began taking pictures and when I uploaded the pictures I noticed something in the medal, like a white glowing in it then on the second picture it shows a different image, like the image already formed.


These are the enlarged pictures. What I was amazed to see, on the last enlarged picture is of what appeared to be a man, but I realized that resembles an icon of St. Michael that I have with Him holding a round shield and raising his hand with a sword. I can't really say it is, but it does resembles him a lot.
I use it as a reminder that they are so close to us that we must pay more attention to their appearances and only a prayer away.

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