Memorial
(optional) of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)
Although the celebration is optional, today many
Catholics remember Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
She is associated with the protection of the faithful from sin and its
consequences. To this effect many wear a
brown scapular, originally an article of clothing meant to shelter one from the
elements. It is worth asking why we
look to Mary for help in need and not directly to Christ.
The simple truth is, however, that we cannot look to Mary
without looking to Christ. She is, after
all, his mother. More to the point, she
stands for the Church ever since Jesus formed it from the cross. There he gave his mother to his beloved
disciple and him to her. She is the
Church’s most distinguished member, the one most faithful to God. Since the Church is the Body of Christ, she
represents him in his physical presence on earth.
As we looked to our mothers for help in our infancy, we
look to the Church today. The Church guides
us to justice. Its sacraments provide us
assistance to overcome life’s greatest challenges. Its members support us along the way to eternal
life. When we think of the Church in
this way, we may give it the face of Mary.
Today we proclaim that Our Lady of Mount Carmel represents the Church
protecting us from every evil.
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