Here is a post Brian wrote for RoL.

On Thursday July 16th, the Carmelite Order along with the Universal Church will be celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I believe this special day, which honors the Queen of Heaven, is deeply significant for lay Catholics because it calls us to reflect upon three very important spiritual facts. First – Our Lady’s love for us, second – the brown scapular and third – a life of prayer.
A Brief History
The feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel came into existence in the 14th century in commemoration of the “approbation” given to the Carmelite Order by Pope Honorius III. The specific date July 16th was chosen because it was on that day in the year 1251 that St. Simon Stock, the 6th Prior General of the Carmelite Order, had a vision of Our Lady who presented him with the brown scapular saying, “This shall be to you and all Carmelites a privilege, that whoever dies clothed in this (scapular) shall never suffer eternal fire.”

Our Lady Loves Us
When St. Simon Stock was Prior of the Carmelite Order, the Order faced numerous difficulties and challenges. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. Simon went to Our Lady because he knew that she loved him, and because she loved him, she would help him. Like St. Simon, we should have great confidence in the love the Blessed Mother has for us. And we should never forget that while Christ was hanging on the cross, He gave us His own mother, to be our mother.
The Spiritual Value of the Brown Scapular
The brown scapular is considered a sacramental, which is a “sacred sign” instituted by the Church that help prepare us to “receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it.” In a society where sin is exalted and darkness is steadily growing, we need spiritual armor to remain in a state of grace and the light of Christ. The brown scapular is Our Lady’s armor. By wearing the scapular we will be clothed with Our Lady’s protection and prayers and be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy.
A Life of Prayer
The Carmelite Order is about many things, but first and foremost it is about “prayer.” Whenever I think about the Carmelites, I think about John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Elizabeth of the Trinity and Therese the Little Flower. These saints are beacons of light that reveal the power and importance of living a life of prayer. The feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a fantastic day for us to renew our commitment to pray daily.
By recognizing the love Our Lady has for us, the protection souls receive by wearing the brown scapular and the importance of prayer we can truly celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in awesome fashion.
God bless!

Happy feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here is a post Brian wrote for RoL.
Twelve Promises from God
by Brian
On June 19th the Universal Church will celebrate the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In fact, the whole month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart.
In December of 1673, Jesus appeared for the first time to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) a Visitation sister living at the Order’s convent in Paray-le-Monial. Over the next eighteen months Margaret Mary received directly from Christ revelations about His Most Sacred Heart.
In the course of these revelations, Jesus gave Margaret Mary “twelve promises” that He would keep, for those who honored His Most Sacred. The “twelve promises” are:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
At one time, a friend of mine discovered by chance the “Five First Saturday Devotion” given by Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia in 1925. He told me that he was beside himself, because he could not understand why no one told him about this simple devotion that if practiced faithfully would bring at the hour of death, through Our Lady’s direct intervention, the graces necessary for salvation.
When I reflect upon the twelve promises above, I can see my friend’s dismay over something so simple, yet not practiced, nor even known, by so many of the faithful. Christ is not asking us to climb Mount Everest or to fast forty days and forty nights, nor is He asking us to make all night vigils. All He is asking us to do is honor his Most Sacred Heart and He will do the rest.
Along with receiving communion on nine consecutive first Friday’s we should offer our Holy Communion for those who do not receive Our Lord, who do not love Him and who wound Him by their sinful lives. I have also read that we should make a holy hour on the Thursday before first Friday in reparation for sins committed against the Sacred Heart.
The promises listed above show the power of Our Lord’s Sacred Heart. They also show how much he really loves us and wants us in Heaven with Him for all eternity. Therefore, these promises should not be passed over lightly or rejected as pious drivel, but recognized for what they truly are – promises from God.
I have to admit that I have not practiced this devotion faithfully. I also have to admit that after reading about the Sacred Heart and pondering the twelve promises I will begin this beautiful devotion on the next First Friday. I pray for the grace to continue to do so for the rest of my life.
If you are practicing this devotion, keep it up. If not, join me and let’s make the most of the promises Jesus offers to those who honor and love His Sacred Heart.
God bless.