Letter from the Pastor
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July 9, 2022Every once in awhile, my parish email account gets hacked; I’m not the only priest this happens to. The hackers then send out this desperate email, stating who I am and that I am in dire need of your help. Or another scam is that I’m trying to help someone else. Years prior it was asking for money and most people realized that was a scam. Now the thieves are getting smarter, now they want gift cards to all sorts of places, from supermarkets to big box stores. And of course, the hackers know what heartstrings to pull, all in the name of love and of God. Sadly, people fall for it, because the pastor’s name is mentioned, and that it is a direct appeal from me to you, your name included as well.
Please note, that I will never send you an email for a personal money appeal, or gift cards on my behalf or for another person. If you receive an email from “Fr. Raaser” asking for money or gift cards know that it is not I, so delete it. Also, please God, I will never need bail money; I live a boring life!!
I hope that no one falls for this and loses money. It’s part of our sad world. If these scammers, who are highly intelligent, put their brainpower to doing well instead of evil, I think we would be living in a much better world. Also, don’t fall for the scam of your grandchild being locked up in a different state and needs you to bail them out. That’s the joy of being a grandparent; he’s not your responsibility! Let him call his parents!
It was on July 16, 1251 that Saint Simon Stock, the head of the Carmelite order received from Our Blessed Lady the Brown Scapular. Most of us received the Brown Scapular in our First Holy Communion packages of rosary, missal and scapular. We were told to wear it as a penance and to offer the annoyance up for the Souls in Purgatory. I must admit, I didn’t wear it for too long. Hope someone wears one for me.
Saturday is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The feast is rooted in the vision of Elijah the Prophet. Sacred Scripture celebrated the beauty of Mount Carmel where the prophet Elijah defended the purity of Israel's faith in the living God (cf. I Kings 18:1-46). During a severe drought and famine, Elijah saw from Mount Carmel clouds in the distance that would water the parched land of Israel. The saving event became an image of Our Lady, the one who would “rain down” upon the world its Savior. As those clouds brought relief and life to the land, Mary brought forth the living water, whose presence brings life and redemption.
In the twelfth century, hermits withdrew to that mountain and later founded the Carmelite Order devoted to the contemplative life under Mary, the holy Mother of God.
The word “scapular” indicates a form of clothing, which monks wore when they were working. It was a long piece of cloth, front and back that would protect their habit. In the Middle Ages many Christians wanted to be associated with the orders founded at that time: Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians and Carmelites. Groups of lay people began to associate, and try to live their charism in confraternities and sodalities.
All the religious orders wanted to give these lay people a sign of participation in their spirit. That sign was often a part of their habit: a cloak, a cord, a scapular. Among the Carmelites a smaller version of the scapular was accepted as the sign of belonging to the Order and an expression of its spirituality.
May Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.
