Third Order of Carmel - A Call From Fatima ...by Fr. Ronald F Gray, O Carm

Greetings in Jesus and Mary....

I wanted to share with you through the month of July during this 775 year anniversary of the Brown Scapular, writings from the Carmelite friars in the year 1949 in preparation for the 700 year anniversary of the Brown Scapular. Since we have so many Carmelite friars today who are on the fence or worse about the laity wearing the Brown Scapular.... I felt it would be advantageous to pull these talks out from the past when faith was real and firm. 

The below quote from the book, "Take This Scapular" is titled Our Lady of Fatima and Carmel written by Fr. Ronald F. Gray, O Carm (pages 163-167) I will not write it in its entirety but give some points of encouragement for us who try to live the Carmelite way of life, prayer, penance and reparation while living the message of Fatima. Here are his words....

"The rule of the Carmelite Third Order in its insistence on penance and mortification is a vivid, a clear and unmistakable response to Mary's most important request at Fatima. Though it is possible to pray the rosary and practice mortification in every state of life, it is by membership in the Third Order of Carmel that we can fulfill perfectly the request to dedicate ourselves and the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The individual can in no more perfect way than by profession in the Third Order openly proclaim to the world and to Mary his or her complete surrender to the ideals and virtues of the Queen of Heaven.

The life of the Carmelite Tertiary is entwined with the rosary. In many instances the recitation of the rosary, imposed by force of the Third Order rule, (Old Rule) is so cherished by the Tertiary that for him a Rosary-less hour is an incomplete hour. Rosary upon rosary is the Carmelite Tertiary's answer to Mary's plea for the daily rosary.

To consecrate means to dedicate, to surrender, completely. Nobody is more totally and exclusively dedicated to Mary than the members of the Carmelite Order, an Order known and recognized throughout its history as Mary's own Order. Third Order members have completely surrendered themselves by their profession in the Third Order to the aims, ideals, and aspirations of the Carmelite Order, which are to exemplify in the lives of each member the Order's total dedication to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

If the "why" of Fatima is the urgency of a late hour, then the "how" of Fatima is membership in the Carmelite Third Order. By her three famous requests at Fatima, Our Lady could not have more openly endorsed her Third Order of Carmel.

"If my requests are heard....Russia will be converted...and there will be peace!"
There is hope for the peace of heart and mind desired by all men. You have answered the call of Fatima. By your complete dedication to Mary in Carmel's Third Order you could not have come closer to the Heart of God!"

Every chapter in this book is amazing....very Catholic! There is no mention of the Brown Scapular in his address but it is understood that consecration (which is mentioned above) is indeed when we are enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and indicates our consecration to Her Immaculate Heart. Also, Sr. Lucia mentioned that the rosary and the scapular are inseparable.

I would like to make a special request......to ask for your prayers for the repose of the soul of a Carmelite friar who when visiting the various Third Order Communities under his charge would tell them that the rosary was not Carmelite and that we were NOT to pray it publicly together...ALSO.....NOT to promote enrollment in the small Brown Scapular amongst the laity.... I personally witnessed both of these requests of him...and was actually one of the inspirations for me to start this website.....
​his name to pray for is......

Rev. John W. Grennon,O.C.D.August 31, 1946 ~ June 29, 2019 (age 72)

Our Lady of the Mt. Carmel and Fatima, pray for us to wear Your Brown Scapular and pray Your Rosary.....and to help promote these devotions!

Below is a bonus video of prophecies of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich that you may want to see....it is only an eight minute video.  God bless!

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Prophesies for Today