Dear friends,

Beginning on July 16th, the Community of Our Lady of Mount Carmel leaped for Joy with Solemn Vespers and Mass, for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, culminating with the 34th Holy Priesthood Ordination Anniversary of our dear Pastor, Rev. Fr. Robert Seraph Aliunzi on Sun, Jul 20. The Teens and our Seminarians sang the tune of the Angels, and the Christian faithful resounded with joy. Like those who received the investiture of the Brown Scapular, we say, 'Yes, we commit ourselves to Mary's protection.'

The Mother brings us close to her Son Jesus Christ, and Christ gives us His mother - "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27).

Let us embrace the Love of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a gift to us by her Son, Jesus Christ Himself (Our Savior and Brother), and let us develop and cherish the culture of family devotion to Mary by praying the Holy Rosary in our homes and in church whenever possible. Keep our promises by observing the requirements of the Brown Scapular. Let us develop the habit of visiting Jesus in the Church and in the Adoration Chapel. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved.

I take the phrase, "Blessed are you among women," to share more about our invaluable privilege as Catholic Christians deeply connected with Mary, the Mother of God. The verse "Blessed are you among women" is found in Luke 1:42. It is spoken by Elizabeth to Mary when Mary visits her after the angel Gabriel announces Jesus's birth. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and declares, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!". Mary brought Jesus in her womb into Zechariah and Elizabeth's Home, and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the Child in her womb leapt for joy! Luke 1:41

Again, the phrase "Blessed are you among women is echoed in Luke 1:28, where the angel Gabriel greets Mary with "Hail, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!".

When Elizabeth confirmed Mary’s calling with the words, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1:42), in response, Mary sang the Magnificat. The song is a theological revolution – the proud are scattered, the lowly are lifted, the hungry are filled, the rich are sent empty away (Lk 1:51-53). This is a reminder that God is always on the side of the marginalized, and at the divinely appointed time, he brings about social reversals.

The Lord is inviting you and me to live a life of Holiness. Leviticus 11:44, 1Peter 1:15-16 Are you afraid of anything? The Angel Gabriel said unto Mary,"...Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." Luke 1:30. The unique place and role of Mary in our Christian life doesn't need a lot of Theology or academic gymnastics, but rather faith, hope, and Love. Mary expresses these virtues in the Magnificat she utters after Elizabeth's inspired words, "Most Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb," Luke 1:42.

As the old saying goes, "There is nothing comparable to the comfort of being in the arms of a woman." I hope this doesn't move your eyebrows!

The Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel embracing the child Jesus, in her arms, constantly reminds me of what it feels like to be in the arms of that woman (my mother) and indeed other women that God has put into our lives to care for us and protect us from any harm. Let each and every one of us remember and pray, thanking God for the gift of our Biological Mothers, without whom we would not be. And let us respect all the Women.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Blessed woman and mother. The words of the Angel Gabriel confirm this during the Annunciation: "Hail, Favored One, the Lord is with you. "Luke 1:28. "To be blessed" generally means to receive favor, grace, or good fortune, often from a divine source, and that for you and me means from God. Mary is also conceived without sin, unlike other people, and this contributes to her being more blessed among women. Her role as the Mother of God's Son adds more weight to this Blessedness, and yet all women are also Blessed in their different ways by God.

The Blessed Virgin Mary remains a sure role model for all who are Blessed and remains a role model for all of us, her sons and daughters. According to a popular legend, Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251, and gave him the Brown Scapular with the following words: “This will be for you and for all Carmelites the privilege, that he who dies in this will not suffer eternal fire,” Mary promised her protection to all those who would wear the blessed habit and lead a life of prayer and sacrifice.

Pope St. Pius X (1903-1914) declared that the common people could have the same blessings if they would wear the metal scapular medal carrying the picture of Our Lady of The Scapular on one side and the Sacred Heart on the other. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel challenged us both to imitate the simple and ascetic life of the Blessed Virgin Mary with her trusting faith in God and her humility, and to seek her guidance and maternal protection in our Christian lives.

Let us continue praying and asking humbly for the intercessions of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, that we too may be blessed and granted the grace of deep faith, hope, and Love in God, and happy 34th Holy Priesthood ordination Anniversary, Rev. Fr. Robert Seraph Aliunzi.

Jesus, I trust in you!

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