OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

...AND THE SABBATHINE PRIVILEGE

The story of Our Lady of Mount Carmel took place long ago. It has to do with the scapular, coined from a Latin word, “Scapulce,” meaning a “cloth worn over the neck and shoulders.”

Simon Stock (nicknamed “Stock” because he was hermit who lived in the hollow of a tree) was in England. Simon was a very devout person and one day while at prayer, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and said: “You will soon join an Order not yet in existence in England.” Simon joined the Carmelites and his group was often harassed and vilified.

On July 16, 1251, the Blessed Mother appeared and gave Simon a brown scapular, to be worn as a sign of devotion to the Mother of God. It would give its wearers a Special Grace, a Sabbathine Privilege. Mary told Simon “This will give you and all Carmelites the privilege, that he who dies in this will not suffer eternal fire.” Those who follow the Carmelite tradition, which requires being formally enrolled as a Carmelite, living chastely and includes adherence to a life of repetitive daily prayers, will, after their death, be freed from Purgatory very quickly and will leave Purgatory no later than the Saturday after their death.