We have been given a powerful gift through the Blessed Virgin Mary to save souls and bring our loved ones who have fallen away back to Jesus. Through The Flame of Love Prayers and Devotion, Mary teaches us how to “blind” Satan so that people can come back and receive God’s grace. The “blinding” of Satin causes him to lose power over persons and situation so that people can respond to God’s graces again. In today’s world, there is sin and evil everywhere, this is why this devotion is so much needed! It contains powerful prayers to bring loved ones back to Jesus.

The Flame of Love prayers were given to Elizabeth Kindelmann, a Secular Carmelite who was a widow and mother of six. She lived in Hungary in from 1913-1985. Around 1962, she started to receive inner locutions from Jesus and Mary and was told to keep a diary and write the messages down. This diary which has been approved by the church and has received the Imprimatur from Cardianal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Budapest, Hungary gives us a plan or formula for saving souls! The complete diary is available online at The Flame of Love U.S. Web Site.

2 Powerful Prayers that Blind Satan

The Unity Prayer is a prayer that completely unites us to Jesus and asks that we become one with him. Unity with Christ is what the Saints desired most. Praying this prayer is very powerful. Jesus told Elizabeth, “Through this prayer, Satan will be blind, and souls will not be led into sin.” Say this prayer several times a day to blind Satan so that your prayers will be more effective.

The Petition of the Virgin Mary is the second prayer that blinds Satan. This prayer is included into the Hail Mary when you pray the rosary or when you are saying a Hail Mary alone. When Elizabeth was questioned by the bishop about adding this to the Hail Mary, she told him what Jesus said to her on February 2, 1982. “Our Lord explained, ‘Because of the Holy Virgin’s efficacious pleas, the Most Blessed Trinity granted the outpouring of the Flame of Love. For her sake, you must place this prayer in the Hail Mary so that, by its effect, humanity is converted.'”

The Unity Prayer and the Petition of the Virgin Mary are powerful prayers! When used frequently, they help to bring loved ones back to Jesus through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Other Ways to Blind Satan

Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother recommended other ways to further blind Satan. Used with the before mentioned prayers the Devotion of the Flame of Love is very powerful.

1. Go to Confession Regularly
2. Attend Mass as much as possible and offer the Holy Mass for souls. Participation help the most to blind Satan.
3. Night Vigils will save the souls of the dying.
4. Visit the Blessed Sacrament
5. Offer Up Daily Chores for the Glory of God

On April 12, 1981 Our Lady and The Lord spoke together these words to Elizabeth, “Through you, we ask for a great mobilization of the whole world.” and “Our petition is urgent. No time for delays. Let priests and their people gather in spiritual oneness. This outpouring will reach even the souls of the non-baptized.”

There are also particular requests for fasting on certain days and promises attached. You can find out more about the practices and promises of the Flame of Love Devotion at Countdown to the Kingdom web site. Father Jim Blount, highly recommends the prayers and Flame of Love Devotion.

Let us do our research and take up our spiritual weapons against evil! It is up to us to work together with our Lord to save souls! The Flame of Love Devotion contains powerful prayers to bring loved ones back to Jesus!

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How Do We Grow Closer to God?

Prayer is probably the best way to grow closer to God (besides Holy Communion)!

You’ve probably heard this before, but a wonderful way to pray is by reciting, The Rosary.  The Rosary can help us to grow closer to God. Did you know that the Rosary is the “Prayer of the Gospel”? We don’t just say the words, Hail Mary Full of Grace… We mediate on the life of Christ. The beads help us to keep count and timing while we do this. The Rosary is a very powerful prayer and recommended by our Blessed Mother. Millions of people have prayed the rosary throughout history and many people pray the rosary today on a regular basis. The greatest Saints in history prayed the rosary. If you want to learn to pray the rosary or why you should pray the rosary, a great book to jump start and motivate you is The Secret of the Rosary by Saint Louis De Montfort. This timeless classic not only shows how to pray the rosary, but why you should pray the rosary. St. Louis De Montfort explains the meaning behind the rosary and tells stories about people throughout history who were devoted to the rosary. Every Catholic should read this wonderful and inspirational book.

Did you know that there are different ways to pray the rosary?

A physical rosary is made up of 5 decades of 10 beads each. The 10 beads (Hail Mary Beads) are separated by 5 Our Father Beads. Each time a person prays 5 decades or one physical rosary, they meditate on one of the four mysteries.  The mysteries are classified as: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and the Luminous. Saint John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary in 2002. The other three mysteries have been around since somewhere between 1410 and 1439 when Dominic of Prussia introduced them. Some people pray one Mystery a day which includes five decades. Many religious orders pray all of the Mysteries daily, which would be 20 decades (or four physical rosaries). Some people, like Saint Padre Pio, prayed the rosary all day long. There were days when he prayed 36 rosaries a day. This sounds like a lot, right?! You may want to pray the rosary daily but wonder how you can fit it in with your daily tasks. 

How do you fit the rosary in with your daily activities as a busy mother?

If you are a busy mom, you can break the decades down and pray a decade several times during the day. For example, you can pray the first decade before you get out of bed in the morning, the second decade after the kids go to school, the third and fourth decades as you are doing your tasks around the house, and the fifth decade while waiting for you kids to come out of the school at pickup time. Some people like to take a decade and meditate on only one decade for a long period of time. Some Saints were known to meditate on only one bead for a long period of time. 

There are also helpful methods to keep our attention and minds from wandering while praying the rosary.

Father Richard Rooney in his booklet, Let’s Pray (Not Just Say) the Rosary, gives “prayer pictures” for each bead. In other words, he describes what we should be mediating on. We read the description with each bead and then meditate on it while saying the Hail Mary. Another great booklet that has methods for keeping our attention during prayer is How to Say Your Rosary with St. Louis De Montfort. It has two methods for reciting the rosary that help to keep attention to the devotion. The first method is entitled, “A method of saying the Most Holy Rosary, so as to draw upon our souls the grace of the mysteries of the Life, Passion and Glory of Jesus and Mary”. The second method is called, “A Compendium of the life, Passion and Death of Jesus and Mary”.  A few other prayers and exclamations are included in this booklet. 

How do I make the most of praying the rosary? 

While you are meditating on the beads, you can offer a prayer intention per bead, decade, or the whole rosary. In addition, you can add the following to the O My Jesus Prayer: O My Jesus, Forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy…. and bind my family to your sacred heart and to the immaculate heart of the Blessed Mother. It is perfectly fine to add your own prayers at the end of each decade. Another great prayer to add is the prayer for the Holy Souls or recently deceased: “Eternal rest, grant unto the Holy Souls (or specific name), O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon them (or him/her). May the souls of all the faithful departed, through Your mercy, rest in peace. Amen”. This prayer can be said any time you say your rosary, not just at funerals. 

Praying the Rosary, is a great way to grow closer to God. The Blessed Mother always brings us to her son and through the rosary, we are reliving the events that took place in His life. The rosary takes your mind off the daily events and places you in the midst of Jesus and His Blessed Mother. I challenge you to pull out your rosary and find new ways of renewing and praying this beautiful prayer. Refresh your mind and soul with new methods and insights into praying the rosary. 

©Copyright 2021 CatholicMoms.com. All Rights Reserved.

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The time is now to pray for the Presidential Election and our Country. With Covid-19, the shutdown of the economy, and turmoil and looting in cities, it is easy to see that we are living in turbulent times. We have been turned upside down with the wearing of masks, closing of schools and many cancellations. We don’t know when this will end or what is coming next. The up coming election is a point in time that may lead to further distress.

We know that as Christians, we can trust in God to take care of us. We also know that we need to ask for His help. Let’s put this into God’s hands by praying the 54-Day Miracle Novena. This 54-Day Miracle Novena is powerful and has a deep history of positive outcome. This Novena was first given to a young girl named Fortuna Agrelli by the Blessed Mother in 1884. Why a 54 day Novena? The 54 days are made up of three novenas of Rosary in petition (27 days), and three novenas for thanksgiving (27 days). 

Please watch the videos, and print out the flyers to distribute, and tell your family and friends to pray for the Presidental Election. You can also go to the Queen of Peace Web Site to sign up for daily reminders.  The 54-Day Miracle Novena takes place : AUGUST 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 7, 2020.

Please join us in Praying for the Presidential Election! 

Printable Flyers and Calendars

URGENT! SPREAD THIS VIDEO ACROSS THE NATION. 54-day Miracle Novena for Peace with the Election.

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY LIKE YOU’VE NEVER PRAYED IT BEFORE! JOIN THE 54-DAY-MIRACLE ROSARY.

Pray Along- Joyful Mysteries: 54-Day Holy Rosary Novena at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

The Saints Market Clearance Sale is happening now. Please visit our Catholic Moms EBay Store to see our listings. 

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Why should you simplify your life this year? Have you though about it? Perhaps Saint Francis of Assisi can offer some insights.

If we had any possessions we should be forced to have arms to protect them, since possessions are a cause of disputes and strife, and in many ways we should be hindered from loving God and our neighbor. Therefore, in this life, we wish to have no temporal possessions. – St. Francis of Assisi

Simplify to Enrich Your Life!

Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy by Jusepe de Ribera, (1639)

Simplicity is a spiritual practice that can greatly challenge our way of life and greatly enrich our way of life. St. Francis and his followers saw the discipline of simplicity as a garden from which all other spiritual virtues grow. They saw it as an important prerequisite to our being both fully human and fully spiritual. Francis saw wealth and our attachment to possessions as something that enslaves our souls and hinders communion and union with God. It might be easier to simplify our life if we thought about our possessions in a different way, as Saint Francis did.

Jesus, at His Sermon on the Mount said: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do no labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Hopefully, with Faith, we can take Jesus at His word. This doesn’t mean, get rid of every stitch of clothing you own… that would be very impractical. It means… don’t be so concerned. Do you really need 20 pairs of shoes? How about 2 or 3?

Distinguish Between Your Wants and Needs

How do we decide what we really need and what we want? Not all wants are bad… we are spiritual creatures who desire beauty and joy and other intangibles to thrive. What is bad is excessive wants and excessive indulgences.

Here is a simple formula: Food is a need. Specific types of foods cooked specific ways are wants… especially when we become attached to a “certain food” and must have them on a regular basis. Try to remember that food is fuel. Then when you have an occasion of a special meal or special food you will appreciate it all the more.

Clothing is a need, however, designer clothing and only wearing specific brands is a want. Clothing is to provide covering and warmth… not to make a statement (unless it’s one of simplicity or modesty).
Moderation

The book of Sirach speaks on moderation: Moderate eating ensures sound slumber and a clear mind next day on rising… In whatever you do, be moderate, and no sickness will befall you.
One way of simplifying your eating may be to Fast one day per week. Jesus fasted. St. Francis fasted and many of the other Saints fasted. There are many physical as well as Spiritual benefits to fasting. Also, food tastes better when we eat it in moderation. Fasting on bread and water helps one to empathize with the hunger of the poor, and it enhances the power of the mind.

Simplify your wardrobe with moderation. Focus on having a few basic outfits that can be modified, instead of having a “crammed full closet” of expensive and hardly worn clothes. If you don’t wear them… give them to the poor! Store up your treasure in heaven. Storing clothes for some future event doesn’t work… they disintegrate!

“One goes more quickly to heaven from a hut than from a palace.” – St. Francis of Assisi

If You Really Love Something… Give It Away!

If you have a favorite item that you have become very attached to… give it away. You will feel such freedom! It is never a good idea to become attached to things. We want to be dependent on God alone. If you can’t take it to Heaven… it’s probably something you don’t really need.
The practice of simplicity is not easy or simple. It is hard to give up things… things you want, things that are sentimental, and things that make your life easier… but the reward will be spiritual closeness to God and freedom.

God’s Pruning Shear

“Simplicity is God’s pruning shear, which cuts back the tangled branches of our lives, enabling us to begin living freely, sharing generously, and loving deeply.” – John Michael Talbot

Pray about simplifying your life. Ask God to show you ways to simplify.

John Michael Talbot suggests the following prayer: “God, give me new eyes to see my life as you see it. And give me a new heart to sense the difference between my wants and my needs. Give me compassion for the suffering of the world and a willingness to help those who are hurting. Amen.”

The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot inspired this article and can give you more ideas on “How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality into Your Daily Life”.

Have a Blessed New Year! Remember to Simplify and to Pray More!
Renée Winkeljohn
CatholicMoms.com & SaintsMarket.com

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The Christmas Crib or Crèche

The crib used in the manger scene in it’s present form is credited to Saint Francis of Assisi. The animals in the nativity scene, usually the ass and ox, are traditionally part of the picture. Saint Francis was following tradition when he had these animals placed near the manger.
You can involve your family by waiting until Christmas Eve to place the Christ Child in the crèche. Leave your nativity scene set up through Epiphany. On the Feast of Epiphany add your wise men to the scene. Family members, especially children, will look forward to this tradition!
If you don’t have statues, use pictures. Set up a Christmas “bulletin board” and place the pictures at the appropriate times. You might want to play a game to determine who gets to put the Christ child into the crèche or on the board.

The Christ Candle

Light a large candle on Christmas Eve to symbolize the coming of Jesus. Let it burn throughout the night.
Let your children help you pick out a “Special Candle” for your Christ Candle. It can be very large or very beautiful and unique. Something that stands out.

The Christmas Tree

The origin of the Christmas Tree goes back to medieval Germany. One popular form of entertainment at that time was the “mystery play”. One of the most popular “mysteries” was the Paradise play. The Paradise play represented the creation of man, the sin of Eve and Adam, and their subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eden. A fir tree hung with apples represented the Garden of Eden. The tree symbolized both the “Tree of Life” and the “Tree of Discernment of Good and Evil”. After the suppression of the mystery plays in churches, the Paradise Tree, found its way into the homes of the faithful.
Today in Germany, Christmas Eve begins in the late afternoon. The family gathers to decorate the Christmas tree, using real candles. The candles are lit after all the other ornaments have been hung. There is usually music around the tree and a nativity play in which is preformed early in the evening. After presents are exchanged, the family has a Christmas Dinner together. The children go to bed and are then awakened in time for Midnight Mass.
Let your children put on a Christmas Program for your family in front of the Christmas tree. The older children can help the younger ones. They can make a “program” with Christmas Carols for all of the adults to sing. If there is a piano player in your family, “draft” him or her to help out.

Midnight Mass

Today Mass is said on Christmas because it is generally believed that Christ was born at that hour. The Church has never officially stated that Midnight is the time for the first Mass, it has only prescribed that the Mass be said “in nocte” (during the night).
If you are worried your children might be too tired to attend Midnight Mass, give them a nap earlier in the day! The excitement will build all day that they will be attending Midnight Mass with Mom and Dad! In some churches Confession is offered right before Midnight Mass and would be a wonderful time to make that last offering of yourself to Jesus before the Celebration of His Birth.

Exchanging Gifts

Exchanging Christmas Gifts is a combination of two old European customs. The first custom was that the children would wake up and Christmas presents would be arranged under the Christmas tree. They believed that the Christ Child had come in the night of December 25th or on Christmas Eve and left the presents. The second custom, which most Americans celebrate, is that of Saint Nicholas. Traditionally, children looked forward to Saint Nicholas coming in the night of his Feast Day on December 6th. He left gifts in their stockings; they were usually hung on the fireplace to dry.
Most Americans celebrate the tradition (with a few modifications) of Saint Nicholas. We call him Santa Claus and he comes on Christmas Eve.
This year, find out about the life of the Actual Saint Nicholas. Pray a novena to him as a family or have your children draw pictures of him. Find Saint Nicholas Prayer Cards and put them in the stocking this year with the other goodies.
If you open gifts on Christmas Day, exchange one gift every Christmas Eve. Talk about how gifts of the Christmas Feast were given to the baby Jesus by the wise men. Bring Jesus into the holidays every chance you get!

The Poinsettia

The Poinsettia, also called the “flower of the holy night”, is a native plant from Central America. It is widely used in churches and homes at Christmastime, because the flaming star of its red bracts resembles the star of Bethlehem. The Poinsettia was named after the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett. Upon his return to the United States, he brought this flower with him to his home in South Carolina, where it flourished.
Happy Birthday Jesus
A wonderful way to celebrate Christmas with young children is to have a Birthday Party for Jesus. This is usually done on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Bake a cake and decorate it with “Happy Birthday Jesus”. Sing happy birthday and then exchange a special gift in his honor. If you have a wooden statue of Jesus that is small, bake it into the cake. You children will be thrilled when they find it!

Christkind Letters

A beautiful Austrian Tradition is to write a letter to the Christkind, the Christ Child. These letters are written by children and adults. They contain resolutions and wishes for gifts.
Be sure to ask your guardian angel to deliver your letter to the Christ Child! The Austrians believe they are delivered in this manner!

My wish for all of the Catholic Moms and friends who visit this site is a very beautiful and Holy Christmas Season! Keep Christ in the center and you will build memories and treasures in your children’s hearts.

Have a Blessed Christmas,
Renee Winkeljohn
CatholicMoms.com and SaintsMarket.com

Leave a comment and let us know what some of your favorite traditions are! 

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Advent is a time to get ready for the Christmas Feast Day. There are many ways to get ready including: prayer, daily devotions, novenas, and fasting. We as Catholics have many helpful tools such as: advent wreaths, nativity scenes, Christmas movies and movies about the Saints, cooking, and decorating our homes.

Prayer Should Increase

During this busy time, it is essential that we set aside a special time for prayer and mediation. Not only is this a very stressful time… but it is easy to lose the meaning of Christmas in all the preparations. Set aside time to pray alone and time to have devotions with your family. An Advent Wreath is a great tool for family devotions. Each week, gather around your wreath and pray… then light one Advent Candle on the wreath. The children will look forward to this devotion and will always remember it.

We can also set up a Nativity Scene in our home. Save the baby Jesus and the three Wise men for the appropriate time. On Christmas Day, put baby Jesus in the crèche; on the Feast of Epiphany, put the three Wise men in your Nativity Scene. The Nativity Set can also be used as a devotional tool. Pick readings from the Gospel and read them around the Nativity Set. Let the children arrange the figures accordingly to the verse.

Spend Time with Family

Family time is very important during the Advent Season. Cooking, watching movies, playing cards or board games and just spending time together is important. Slow Down! Take the time to enjoy the season. Let the children help decorate the tree. Make a special treat and watch a Christmas Movie. Some of my favorites include: “A Wonderful Life”, “Going My Way”, “Home Alone”, and “The Santa Claus”, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” …. “Shrek the Halls” has a good message about putting up with relatives and family. It’s ok to watch movies that are about Santa and other fun holiday things… just make sure that the message is clear about the reason we celebrate this season! Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords is Born!!! Pick out some Nativity movies to watch and mix them in.

Decorate Your Home and Make Special Foods

Beautiful things and foods make us love this season. Hang the most beautiful picture of the Holy Family that you can find in a prominent place. Our Catholic Faith is beautiful… take full advantage of it this Christmas Season. Hang greenery and lights… this is a wonderful Celebration! The King is born! Prepare for the King by: setting up a Christmas tree, hanging special decorations, light the outside of your home, at Christmas Dinner use special China, play Christmas music… make sure some of it is religious hymns, light candles and light a special candle for the Christ Child, make special foods, play the piano, think of a special cooking or crafting project to do with your kids or god children.

The King is Coming, Prepare for Him!

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The glory of these forty days we celebrate with songs of praise;

For Christ, by whom all things were made,
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw the loving God who gave the law.
And to Elijah, fasting, came the steeds and chariots of flame.
So Daniel trained his mystic sight, delivered from the lion’s might. And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became the herald of Messiah’s name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to be full oft in fast and prayer with Thee;
Our spirits strengthen with Thy grace, and give us joy to see Thy face.

– Pope Gregory the Great

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular

Signs in Ordinary Human Life 

Did you know, the Brown Scapular is a sign of Christian Faith and Commitment?  The world in which we live is full of all types of material things which have symbolic meanings, such as light, fire, and water.

There are also, in every- day life, experiences of relationships between human beings, which express and symbolize deeper realities such as sharing a meal (as a sign of friendship), taking part in a protest march (as a sign of solidarity), joining together in a national celebration (as a sign of identity).

We need signs and symbols to help us understand what is happening at present, or what happened before, and to give us an awareness of who we are, as individuals and as groups.

Signs in Christian Life

Jesus is the great sign and gift of the Father’s love. He founded the Church as a sign and instrument of his love. Christian life also has its signs. Jesus used bread, wine, and water, to help us understand higher things, which we can neither see nor touch.

In the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments (baptism confirmation, reconciliation, matrimony, orders, the sacrament of the sick) the symbols, (water, oil, the laying on of hands, the rings), all have their own meaning and bring us into communication with God, present in each of them.

As well as liturgical signs, the Church has others related to some event, to some tradition, or some person. One of these is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Scapular is a Sign of Mary

One of the signs in the tradition of the Church from many centuries ago is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is a sign approved by the Church and accepted by the Carmelite Order as an external sign of love for Mary, of the trust her children have in her, and of commitment to live like her. The word scapular indicates a form of clothing which monks wore when they were working.

With the passage of time, people began to give symbolic meaning to it: the cross to be borne every day as disciples and followers of Christ. In some religious orders, such as the Carmelites, the Scapular turned into a sign of their way of life. The Scapular came to symbolize the special dedication of Carmelites to Mary, the Mother of God, and to express trust in her motherly protection as well as the desire to be like her in her commitment to Christ and to others. Thus it became a sign of Mary.

The Carmelite Scapular

This Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel is available at the Saints Market Catholic Store: Click to View…

 Some Practical Rules

• • People are enrolled in the scapular only once in their life. This is done by a Priest or an authorized person.
  • When you replace your scapular, you do not have to be enrolled again. You should, however, get it blessed by a Priest just like you would normally do with a sacramental.
  • The scapular can be replaced afterwards by a medal which has on one side the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other, the image of Mary.
  • Kiss your scapular daily. Pope Benedict XV, granted 500 days indulgence for devoutly kissing your scapular.

• • The scapular holds us to live as authentic Christians in line with the teaching of the Gospel, to receive the sacraments, to profess our special devotion to the blessed Virgin, which should be expressed each day, at least, by saying the Hail Mary three times.

Pope John Paul II and the Brown Scapular

Pope Reveals He Wears a Carmelite Scapular – Sends Letter to Mark a 750th Anniversary

VATICAN CITY, MAR. 27, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II wrote a letter for the 750th anniversary of the reception of the scapular by the Carmelite order, in which he reveals that he has worn a smaller version of the scapular since his youth. The scapular was received by Carmelite Superior General Simon Stock in 1251. The Virgin Mary appeared to him and assured the eternal salvation of all those who wear the scapular with devotion.

The Holy Father sent a letter to the generals of the two Carmelite branches: Father Joseph Chalmers, of the old, or “shod,” branch, and Father Camilo Maccise, of the discalced branch (reformed by St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross). The Pope reminded the Carmelites that in his apostolic letter “Novo Millennio Ineunte,” he entrusted the third millennium to Mary.

John Paul II wrote, “I have learned that the Carmelite order, in its two branches, the old and the reformed, wishes to express its own filial love to its Patroness, dedicating the year 2001 to her, invoked as the Flower of Carmel, Mother and Guide in the Path to Holiness.

“This Marian devotion, expressed “in the humble sign of the scapular, consists in the consecration to her Immaculate Heart,” he stressed.

Popular scapulars consist of two small squares of woolen cloth joined by strings and worn around the neck. The original, large scapulars worn by some religious orders came to symbolize the cross and yoke of Christ.

In his letter, the Holy Father made a personal revelation: “I, too, have carried the Carmel scapular over my heart for a long time!” 

When he was a university student in Krakow, Poland, before entering the seminary, Karol Wojtyla considered entering the Carmelite order, after reading St. John of the Cross’ works. The latter’s mystical writings so fascinated Wojtyla, that he based his doctoral thesis on them.

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