Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

My Dear Parishioners,

Whoever has ears ought to hear. The word “ought” indicates a moral obligation, a moral duty. The word “ought” is usually used in relation to things that are good for us: you ought to pray more, you ought to lose weight, you ought to limit your time on the computer, you ought to eat better, you ought to follow the doctor’s advice, you ought to pay off your credit cards, you ought to drive slower, you ought to practice more if you want to get better….

When Jesus Christ uses the word “ought,” He of course wants us to have the best and avoid the worst. The best that He desires for us is an ever-deeper relationship with Himself. What He wants us to avoid is the loss of that relationship and the loss of Eternal Life.

In order to hear what we “ought” to do and what we “ought” to avoid, we need to have our hearts in tune with our ears: But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold (Matthew 13:23). We also need a teaching that moves past the ears and touches the soul. What we hear from Our Blessed Savior is not just good advice but the words of Eternal Life: Simon Peter answered Him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

Moreover, the word that Our Blessed Savior spoke almost 2,000 years ago is still being spoken, because the Word is a real and living Person: And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because He existed before me.'” From His fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:14-17)

To the Praise and Glory of God, the Word remains with us and still speaks to us through His Catholic Church, which is the Body of Christ: And He (God the Father) put all things beneath His feet (Jesus Christ) and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way (Ephesians 1:22-23).

We are so blessed that Jesus continues to speak to us though the Church, the Sacraments, the Sacred Scriptures, His good priests and nuns, the lives of the Saints, and the Devotional life of the Church. He is so good and gives us every opportunity to hear. Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!

Thursday, we will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In observance of the Feast, I am including a Litany of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in this newsletter.

Through the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother, especially under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph, may we always have the Word of God, present, and audible, to us.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, and our Patron, pray for us!

Fr. Michael J. Pawelko, Pastor

Litany of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God’s gifts, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners, pray for us.

For those hardened in vice,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who grieve thy Son,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who neglect to pray,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who are in their agony,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who delay their conversion,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those suffering in Purgatory,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who know thee not,
With confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing,
R. Intercede for us with thy Divine Son.

Let Us Pray:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God’s tenderest mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence we prostrate ourselves before thee, beseeching thee to obtain for us our intentions in this Litany. In return we solemnly promise to have recourse to thee in all our trials, sufferings and temptations, and we shall do all in our power to induce others to love and reverence thee and to invoke thee in all their needs. We thank thee for the numberless blessings which we have received from thy mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be our shield in danger, our guide in life, and our consolation at the hour of death.

Amen.