Family Formation

This week’s lesson on sacramentals mentions the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  In order to wear the scapular and be eligible for its promises, you should be enrolled.  This involves a very simple ceremony which only needs to be done once with your first scapular (and doesn’t have to be redone when it wears out and you need a new one), and can be done by any priest who is familiar with the prayers.  The words for the blessing are below and are also often packaged with the scapular.

Priest - Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.

Respondent - And grant us Thy salvation.

Priest - Lord, hear my prayer.

Respondent - And let my cry come unto Thee.

Priest - The Lord be with you.

Respondent - And also with you.

Priest - Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, sanctify by Thy power these scapulars, which for love of Thee and for love of Our lady of Mount Carmel, Thy servants will wear devoutly, so that through the intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protected against the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace. Thou who lives and reigns world without  end.  Amen.

THE PRIEST SPRINKLES HOLY WATER AND INVESTS PERSON(S) WHILE SAYING:

Receive this blessed Scapular and beseech the Blessed Virgin that through Her merits, you may  wear it without stain. May it defend you against all adversity and accompany you to eternal life. Amen.

AFTER THE INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:

I, by the power vested in me, admit you to participate in all the spiritual benefits obtained through the mercy of Jesus Christ by the Religious Order of Mount Carmel.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, bless you, He who has deigned to join you to the confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Of Mount Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent so that you my enter into possession of your eternal heritage, through Christ our Lord.

Respondent - Amen.

The first Scapular must be blessed and imposed by a Priest using the (above) formula contained in the Roman ritual for reception into the Confraternity of the Scapular.

PILGRIMAGE:

A journey to a sacred place for the purpose of venerating it or to ask for heavenly aid, and ultimately to come to know God better. Christian pilgrimages were first made to sites connected with the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Shortly after, pilgrimages started being made to Rome and other sites associated with the Apostles, Saints and Christian martyrs, as well as places where there had been apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

As you’re learning about sacramentals this week, consider planning a visit to some holy place as part of a family vacation this summer.  Local to Minnesotans is the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul at the Cathedral, and later this spring we’ll be learning more about an approved Marian apparition site in Wisconsin.  You can find many more by doing an internet search for “shrines in the USA.”  Adding an element like this to your vacation is a great way to take your faith with you as you travel and have summer fun!

The scallop shell is a symbol of the most famous Catholic pilgrimage site, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, dedicated to Saint James.