Dear Friends in Christ our King,
Mountains have always held a sacred meaning in Scripture. They are places where man is drawn close to God. From the sacrifices of Noah and Abraham to the supreme sacrifice of Christ on Mount Calvary, mountains are where Heaven and earth meet. In Christian tradition, Mount Carmel became home to hermits who honored the prophet Elijah’s legacy and chose the Blessed Virgin Mary as their patroness, calling her Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We celebrate this feast in this month of July.
Mary, like a mountain, offers paths that lead upward, paths marked by her virtues. Her humility, patience, and charity serve as a model for all of us striving for holiness. We cannot climb to Heaven by our own strength, but by following in Mary’s footsteps, we ascend step by step. She helps lift our minds above earthly distractions and refocuses our hearts on God. She is our Mother of Good Counsel, guiding us to choose what is right and eternal.
Mountains also provide refuge and strength, and so does Mary. When we are tempted or fall, she strengthens and lifts us. And to help us on this spiritual climb, Mary has given us two powerful tools: the Brown Scapular and the Rosary. Like ropes and footholds for a mountain climber, they are our spiritual lifelines. The Rosary helps us pray and climb heavenward, bead by bead, and the Scapular is our sign of belonging to her and of her loving protection.