Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Our Lady Mt Carmel

Contact Information
Bill DiCiccio, Sr. 724-775-8291

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a spiritual devotion group formed
to encourage and perpetuate devotion to Mary and her Scapular

The parish community of St. Frances Cabrini celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on July 16 of each year. Celebrations include a procession and outdoor praying of the rosary. Scapulars are distributed as part of the feast day celebration.
On the third Wednesday of every month, parishioners devoted to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel gather after the morning or the evening prayer for the rosary.

History of the Scapular

Throughout time, prayer and Carmel have been synonymous and the Carmelites have contributed greatly to the spiritual life and holiness of the Church. Tradition tells us that in 1251, Our Lady appeared to the Prior General of the Carmelite Order, St. Simon Stock at Aylesford, England. In this apparition, Our Lady gave him what we call the brown Scapular... a garment that has become the symbol of the bond between Our Lady and the Order of Carmel. The Carmelites have always been her devoted servants.
But Our Lady did not give the Scapular just to the Carmelites. She gave it to the whole world so that all her sons and daughters could wear an outward sign of her love for them. As a "cloak" of grace and love, the Scapular represents the protection and security we find in our heavenly mother's love. Our Lady has given us her Scapular to wear; a garment of special concern a sign of belonging. Her Scapular is a mantle of grace and love.
Mary expressed her total openness to the will of God when she said, "Be it done to me according to your word." The message of the Scapular is to always follow Christ in faith, hope and charity. Christ is the source of all truth and holiness, and the graces we receive through Mary's intercession come from Him, to lead us to Him.
The Scapular is a constant reminder of Mary's presence in our lives. Through the symbol of the Scapular we strive to live and die as friends of God. This is the substance of the Scapular Promise.
When we are baptized, we "clothe ourselves in Christ," and our new dignity is symbolized by our white christening gown, a garment we are urged to bring unstained to the judgment seat of God. At our First Communion, we usually add a new "cloak," that of Our Lady's Brown Scapular. The beautiful custom of enrolling children in the Scapular puts them, in their innocence, under the tender care of their heavenly mother.
The Scapular, a monastic apron, is still part of the Carmelite habit. The smaller form, most familiar to Catholics, consists of two panels of cloth joined by string and worn over the shoulders. The Church considers the Scapular a miniature religious habit and, as such, is a highly indulgenced sacramental.
Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, is very devoted to Our Lady and has a special place in his heart for the Scapular: "Through the Scapular, those devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel express their desire to mold their existence on the example of our Mother, Patroness, Sister, Most Pure Virgin, to accept God's word with a purified heart and devote themselves to the zealous service of others."
We wear Our Lady's Scapular as a loving response. a "YES"! to her desire that we keep Jesus as the center of our lives and bring Him to others.

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A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

115 Trinity Drive
Center Twp., Aliquippa, PA 15001 724-775-6363 Phone
724-775-3848 Fax