With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

The motto of the Carmelite Order is: “Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum.” This powerful expression is a direct quote of the words of Elijah from the First Book of Kings, 19:10: “With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.” These words perfectly express the life of the Prophet Elijah, yet for those of us who wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, this motto also perfectly conveys the mission to which we are each called.

From the gift of our Baptism, we are called to be bear witness to reality of the Omnipotent Triune God. Through our sacramental life we are given the grace to know, love and serve Our Lord in this life so that we can spend Eternity with Him in Paradise.

Our Lord loves us with an incompressible, eternal love. He desires our ultimate happiness, which can only reach fruition with lives utterly centered in Him. God both places a deep yearning within our hearts, and also gives us the means to satisfy that longing. It is paradoxical that when we serve God with zeal, we become zealous for His the reality of His Kingdom. Our zealousness grows as His unfathomable love fills our being. Love begets Love, and zeal for the Kingdom of God finds its ultimate expression in charity. He loves us, we respond to that love, and become zealous for God, and in so doing advance His kingdom by ministering to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for Us! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

The premier exemplar of the love of Christ in action is the Blessed Virgin. She is the model of the ultimate expression of faithful service to plan of God. When we call on Our Lady to assist us in reaching our goal to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and love our neighbor as our selves, she will surely respond with all the requisite grace essential for the task.

Please join me praying to the fifth day of the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in preparation for her great feast on July 16.

Fifth Day
O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God’s people.
(pause and mention petitions)
Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

May Our Lady of Mount Carmel wrap her Mantle around your shoulders and hold you close to the Sacred Heart of her Divine Infant Son, Jesus.

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J