Mary is the Mother and Solace of all Priests

Cardinal Cipriani speaks so movingly here, and what he says is true, from his heart and soul. Everyone should read his words which are valuable for both the faithful laity and for the refreshment and encouragement of priests who trust in Mary, knowing that Mary unceasingly intercedes for them with Christ.

http://www.zenit.org/article-23246?l=english

Cardinal Urges Devotion to Rosary and Scapular
Archbishop of Lima Puts Evangelization in Mary

LIMA, Peru, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani invited Lima's faithful to take the rosary and the Carmelite scapular to all homes in the context of the city's Great Mission.

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Cardinal Cipriani reminded the faithful that "we have all come to this shrine to renew our dedication to the Virgin. We want to say to our Mother: Do not leave us, we need your fortitude, affection, purity, guidance and consolation."

"In this appointment we have every year in the shrine, on the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we come to fulfill our promises. Here I am, Mother! I give you my life, my marriage, my priesthood, my youth. I give them to you with all the pain, anticipation and hope. I trust in you," continued the 64-year-old cardinal.

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"People must be taught to pray the rosary," he said. "It must be given to them and prayed in families, in streets, in schools, in hospitals and in churches. Mary wants this. Explain to people what the promise to Mary consists of; put the scapular on them, take it to all homes."

"Lima's Great Mission is in Mary's hands; our conversion is in Mary's hands; peace in the world is in her hands; the unity of the family, the protection of life, young people are in Mary's hands," Cardinal Cipriani said. "Therefore, we must come with those two great Marian instruments: the rosary and the scapular, you will see how people will change."

Cardinal Cipriani also encouraged the faithful to approach Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with confidence and to undertake with her the Way of the Cross: "Do not forget that Mary's great secret was to be beside the Lord on the Cross. Do not be afraid when you think you cannot; love the Cross."

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Cardinal Cipriani prayed to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the world's priests. "Mother of priests, take care of them and make them saints. May abundant vocations come, they are needed, to be able to take Jesus to all hearts."

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What Cardinal Cipriani said is so beautiful.

By the way, a word about scapulars. I want to reassure people that they are not at all like "magic charms" or "idolatry." Here is what they are. Scapulars are two pieces of tiny squares of cloth connected by two cords, so that one cloth is worn like a necklace in front and one in the back. What they can be best thought of is "miniature devotional clothes" because that is what they are derived from. Scapulars are miniatures in necklace form of an actual full length and size outfit worn by the faithful. And so it is like wearing a miniature symbolic form of a wearing a uniform of belonging to a devotional order.

That is why they "work" in the facilitation of grace from God through the promise of Mary. Just as when a young man or woman joins the military and puts on the uniform, or a religious joins an order and puts on its habit, the wearing of the scapular is the putting on the body of a symbolic form of the order of devotion through which one is pledging fidelity and prayerful obedience to God. Mary is like the secular Captain, or the religious Abbess; she points the way and delivers the promise, but all grace comes from God and all worship goes to him. I hope this explanation and analogy helps, and I encourage a sincere return to the wearing of one of the Church approved scapulars, as it is efficacious and was until recently (these modern secular times) very common. (I wore one as a child).