THE ORDER OF BLESSING & CONFERRAL
OF THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
THE ORDER OF BLESSING
The blessing of and enrolment should preferably take place within a community celebration.
The enrolment implies affiliation to the Carmelite Family and its spirituality.
Priests and deacons have the faculties for blessing Scapulars.
Other authorized persons may conduct the enrolment.
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: Through the Son, born of Mary, every blessing comes to us from God our Father.
May his grace and peace be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: God uses ordinary things as signs to express his
extraordinary mercy toward us.
Through simple things as well we express our gratitude,
declare our willingness to serve God,
and profess the resolve to live up to our baptismal consecration.
This Scapular of our Lady of Mount Carmel is a sign
of the motherly love of the Virgin Mary,
which reminds us of her care for the members of the Carmelite Family,
especially in moments of great need.
It is a love which seeks a reciprocal love.
This Scapular is a sign of communion with
the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
dedicated to the service of our Lady for the good of the whole Church.
With this Scapular you express the desire to take part
in the spirit and life of the Order.
The Scapular is a mirror of the humility and purity of Mary:
through her simplicity she invites us to live modestly and in purity.
By wearing the Scapular day and night,
it becomes a sign of our constant prayer
and of our special dedication to the love and service of the Virgin Mary.
By wearing the Scapular,
you renew your baptismal vow to put on our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Mary, your hope of salvation will be safeguarded,
because in her the God of Life has made his abode.
Or
[This scapular is a sign of entrance into the confraternity
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, approved by the Church.
The scapular thus expresses our intention of sharing in the spirit of that Order.
That intention renews our baptismal resolve to put on Christ with the help of Mary, whose own greatest desire is that we become more like Christ in praise of the Trinity, until, dressed for the wedding feast, we reach our home in heaven.]
READING FROM SCRIPTURE
The following or another suitable passage from scripture may be used.
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.
2Corinthians 4:13-5:10
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed,
and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that
he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and us by
his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more
grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the
glory of God.
That is why there is no weakening on our part, and instead, though this outer
man of ours may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day. Yes,
the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the
carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And
so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are
invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are
eternal.
For we know that when the tent we live in on earth is folded up, there is a house
built by God for us, an everlasting home not made by human hands, in the
heavens. In this present state, it is true, we groan as we wait with longing to put
on our heavenly home over the other; we should like to be found wearing
clothes and not without them. Yes, we groan and find it a burden being still in
this tent, not that we want to strip it off, but to put the second garment over it
and to have what must die taken up into life. This is the purpose for which God
made us, and he has given us the pledge of the Spirit.
We are always full of confidence, then, when we remember that to live in the
body means to be exiled from the Lord, going as we do by faith and not by sight
– we are full of confidence, I say, and actually want to be exiled from the body
and make our home with the Lord. Whether we are living in the body or exiled
from it, we are intent on pleasing him. For all the truth about us will be brought
out in the law court of Christ, and each of us will get what he deserves for the
things he did in the body, good or bad.
The celebrant may now give a homily or words of instruction.
INTERCESSIONS
The celebrant introduces the intercessions which may be from those given below
or adapted as necessary.
Celebrant:
Relying on the intercession of Mary, who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave
the Word our flesh, so that we might share in the grace of our firstborn brother
and live for the glory of God, let us pray to the Father, saying:
All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.
Or
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
Father, you willed to have your beloved Son take on our humanity so that in him
we might share in your own life; grant that we may be called and truly be your
children.
R/
You wished Christ to be like us in every respect, but without sin, so that in
following him we might share in his filial image; grant that we may follow Christ
so as to please you in all things.
R/
You call those who are clothed in the wedding garment of the kingdom to the
feast of your grace where you reveal yourself to them; teach us to serve you
loyally.
R/
Through St Paul you urge us to be the sweet fragrance of Christ’s goodness in
the world; let us become the sign of Christ’s presence for our brothers and
sisters.
R/
You clothe us with the robe of righteousness and holiness, so that through the
Holy Spirit we may live for you and show forth the holiness of your Church;
through Christ make us grow in holiness so that we may work together
generously for the salvation of others.
R/
You continually bestow on us in Christ every spiritual blessing until, clothed in
the wedding garment, we go out to meet Christ at his coming; grant that,
through the prayers of Mary, we may pass from death to life.
R/
3
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Celebrant: O God,
the author and perfector of all holiness,
you call all who are reborn of water and the Holy Spirit
to the fullness of the Christian life and the perfection of charity.
Look with kindness on those who devoutly receive this scapular
in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As long as they live
let them become sharers in the image of Christ your Son
and, after they have fulfilled their mission on earth,
with the help of Mary, the Virgin Mother,
receive them into the joy of your heavenly home.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The celebrant then sprinkles with holy water.
Other appropriate readings from Scripture:
a) From the Old Testament:
Proverbs 8:17-21: I love those who love me.
Isaiah 61:10-11: He has clothed me with a mantle of justice.
2Kings 2:7-13: The mantle of Elijah fell on Elisha.
Baruch 5:1-5: Clothe yourselves with the beauty of God.
Ezekiel 16:8-14: Your beauty was perfect.
b) From the New Testament:
Mark 5:25-34: The woman touched the garment of Jesus and was cured.
Luke 2:4-8: Mary wrapped her Firstborn in swaddling clothes.
Romans 12:1-2: This is your spiritual worship.
Galatians 4:4-7: God sent his Son born of a woman.
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24: Clothe yourselves with the new man.
Ephesians 6:10-17: Take strength from the Lord.
4
CONFERRAL OF THE SCAPULAR
The celebrant puts the scapular on each recipient and says the following prayer
for each individually or for all together:
Celebrant: Receive this scapular
as the sign of your acceptance into the confraternity
of the religious family of the Order of Carmelites,
which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Live in such a way that,
with the help of the Mother of God,
you may more and more put on Christ,
who redeemed us by his blood,
for the glory of the Trinity
and for the service of the Church and of your neighbour.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: By being clothed with this scapular
you have been accepted into the religious family of Carmel,
consecrated in a special way to the imitation and service
of the Virgin Mother of God,
that you may live for Christ and his Church
in the contemplative and apostolic spirit of the Order of Carmel.
So that you may more completely achieve that goal,
I admit you, in virtue of the power entrusted to me,
into a participation in all the spiritual favours
belonging to the Order of Carmel.
The celebrant outlines the obligations and duties proper to membership of the confraternity.
CONCLUDING RITE
Celebrant: May almighty God bless you with his gentle kindness
and give you the vision of his saving wisdom.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May he continue to nourish you with the teaching of faith
and enable you to remain steadfast in doing what is right.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May he turn your steps always toward him
and lead you along the pathway of peace and charity.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: And may almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Or
Minister: May almighty God bless, keep us safe from all evil,
and lead us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Adapted from: ‘Book of Blessings,’ The Liturgical Press: Collegeville. 1989
OF THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
THE ORDER OF BLESSING
The blessing of and enrolment should preferably take place within a community celebration.
The enrolment implies affiliation to the Carmelite Family and its spirituality.
Priests and deacons have the faculties for blessing Scapulars.
Other authorized persons may conduct the enrolment.
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: Through the Son, born of Mary, every blessing comes to us from God our Father.
May his grace and peace be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: God uses ordinary things as signs to express his
extraordinary mercy toward us.
Through simple things as well we express our gratitude,
declare our willingness to serve God,
and profess the resolve to live up to our baptismal consecration.
This Scapular of our Lady of Mount Carmel is a sign
of the motherly love of the Virgin Mary,
which reminds us of her care for the members of the Carmelite Family,
especially in moments of great need.
It is a love which seeks a reciprocal love.
This Scapular is a sign of communion with
the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
dedicated to the service of our Lady for the good of the whole Church.
With this Scapular you express the desire to take part
in the spirit and life of the Order.
The Scapular is a mirror of the humility and purity of Mary:
through her simplicity she invites us to live modestly and in purity.
By wearing the Scapular day and night,
it becomes a sign of our constant prayer
and of our special dedication to the love and service of the Virgin Mary.
By wearing the Scapular,
you renew your baptismal vow to put on our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Mary, your hope of salvation will be safeguarded,
because in her the God of Life has made his abode.
Or
[This scapular is a sign of entrance into the confraternity
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, approved by the Church.
The scapular thus expresses our intention of sharing in the spirit of that Order.
That intention renews our baptismal resolve to put on Christ with the help of Mary, whose own greatest desire is that we become more like Christ in praise of the Trinity, until, dressed for the wedding feast, we reach our home in heaven.]
READING FROM SCRIPTURE
The following or another suitable passage from scripture may be used.
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.
2Corinthians 4:13-5:10
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed,
and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that
he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and us by
his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more
grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the
glory of God.
That is why there is no weakening on our part, and instead, though this outer
man of ours may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day. Yes,
the troubles which are soon over, though they weigh little, train us for the
carrying of a weight of eternal glory which is out of all proportion to them. And
so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are
invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are
eternal.
For we know that when the tent we live in on earth is folded up, there is a house
built by God for us, an everlasting home not made by human hands, in the
heavens. In this present state, it is true, we groan as we wait with longing to put
on our heavenly home over the other; we should like to be found wearing
clothes and not without them. Yes, we groan and find it a burden being still in
this tent, not that we want to strip it off, but to put the second garment over it
and to have what must die taken up into life. This is the purpose for which God
made us, and he has given us the pledge of the Spirit.
We are always full of confidence, then, when we remember that to live in the
body means to be exiled from the Lord, going as we do by faith and not by sight
– we are full of confidence, I say, and actually want to be exiled from the body
and make our home with the Lord. Whether we are living in the body or exiled
from it, we are intent on pleasing him. For all the truth about us will be brought
out in the law court of Christ, and each of us will get what he deserves for the
things he did in the body, good or bad.
The celebrant may now give a homily or words of instruction.
INTERCESSIONS
The celebrant introduces the intercessions which may be from those given below
or adapted as necessary.
Celebrant:
Relying on the intercession of Mary, who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave
the Word our flesh, so that we might share in the grace of our firstborn brother
and live for the glory of God, let us pray to the Father, saying:
All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.
Or
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
Father, you willed to have your beloved Son take on our humanity so that in him
we might share in your own life; grant that we may be called and truly be your
children.
R/
You wished Christ to be like us in every respect, but without sin, so that in
following him we might share in his filial image; grant that we may follow Christ
so as to please you in all things.
R/
You call those who are clothed in the wedding garment of the kingdom to the
feast of your grace where you reveal yourself to them; teach us to serve you
loyally.
R/
Through St Paul you urge us to be the sweet fragrance of Christ’s goodness in
the world; let us become the sign of Christ’s presence for our brothers and
sisters.
R/
You clothe us with the robe of righteousness and holiness, so that through the
Holy Spirit we may live for you and show forth the holiness of your Church;
through Christ make us grow in holiness so that we may work together
generously for the salvation of others.
R/
You continually bestow on us in Christ every spiritual blessing until, clothed in
the wedding garment, we go out to meet Christ at his coming; grant that,
through the prayers of Mary, we may pass from death to life.
R/
3
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Celebrant: O God,
the author and perfector of all holiness,
you call all who are reborn of water and the Holy Spirit
to the fullness of the Christian life and the perfection of charity.
Look with kindness on those who devoutly receive this scapular
in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As long as they live
let them become sharers in the image of Christ your Son
and, after they have fulfilled their mission on earth,
with the help of Mary, the Virgin Mother,
receive them into the joy of your heavenly home.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
The celebrant then sprinkles with holy water.
Other appropriate readings from Scripture:
a) From the Old Testament:
Proverbs 8:17-21: I love those who love me.
Isaiah 61:10-11: He has clothed me with a mantle of justice.
2Kings 2:7-13: The mantle of Elijah fell on Elisha.
Baruch 5:1-5: Clothe yourselves with the beauty of God.
Ezekiel 16:8-14: Your beauty was perfect.
b) From the New Testament:
Mark 5:25-34: The woman touched the garment of Jesus and was cured.
Luke 2:4-8: Mary wrapped her Firstborn in swaddling clothes.
Romans 12:1-2: This is your spiritual worship.
Galatians 4:4-7: God sent his Son born of a woman.
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24: Clothe yourselves with the new man.
Ephesians 6:10-17: Take strength from the Lord.
4
CONFERRAL OF THE SCAPULAR
The celebrant puts the scapular on each recipient and says the following prayer
for each individually or for all together:
Celebrant: Receive this scapular
as the sign of your acceptance into the confraternity
of the religious family of the Order of Carmelites,
which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Live in such a way that,
with the help of the Mother of God,
you may more and more put on Christ,
who redeemed us by his blood,
for the glory of the Trinity
and for the service of the Church and of your neighbour.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: By being clothed with this scapular
you have been accepted into the religious family of Carmel,
consecrated in a special way to the imitation and service
of the Virgin Mother of God,
that you may live for Christ and his Church
in the contemplative and apostolic spirit of the Order of Carmel.
So that you may more completely achieve that goal,
I admit you, in virtue of the power entrusted to me,
into a participation in all the spiritual favours
belonging to the Order of Carmel.
The celebrant outlines the obligations and duties proper to membership of the confraternity.
CONCLUDING RITE
Celebrant: May almighty God bless you with his gentle kindness
and give you the vision of his saving wisdom.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May he continue to nourish you with the teaching of faith
and enable you to remain steadfast in doing what is right.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May he turn your steps always toward him
and lead you along the pathway of peace and charity.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: And may almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Or
Minister: May almighty God bless, keep us safe from all evil,
and lead us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Adapted from: ‘Book of Blessings,’ The Liturgical Press: Collegeville. 1989
