This is the origin of the Brown Scapular. Eight hundred and sixty years before Jesus’ birth the Jewish people had fallen into idolatry. The prophet Elijah who lived on Mount Carmel in Palestine warned the Israelites if they were to continue to serve pagan gods they would be punished. Unfortunately, they continued worshiping their god so Elijah wanted to prove to them that their god was false. In those days the people of Israel depended upon farming for their food supply. Elijah decided to go up to Mount Carmel and pray asking God to stop the rain knowing that this would get the attention of the Jewish people. God answered his prayer and the rain ceased for three years.
One day while the Jewish people were worshipping their false god Baal, Elijah proposed a contest. The pagan prophets would build an altar and he would build one as well. They would both offer holocausts and pray for miraculous fires to consume their offerings. The God that sent the fire to consume their offerings would be the true God.
Praying to False Gods
The pagans were worshipping their god for hours and no fire was brought about. Suddenly, a fire broke out upon the altar that Elijah built and the Jewish people were amazed. They fell to their knees realizing that there was only one true God, the God of Israel. When Elijah saw the Jewish people turning back to God, he went back up to Mount Carmel to pray for rain. When he got to the top of mountain, he put his head between his knees and prayed.
While Elijah was praying he asked his servant to go and look over the sea. The servant saw nothing. The servant went again and still saw nothing. So Elijah asked him to go up seven times. At the seventh time a cloud that looked like a man’s foot came from the sea. The sky was filled with dark clouds, and the rain came pouring down. When Elijah rose from his prayer he had a prophetic vision of the Immaculate Virgin who is to come and bring forth our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
#carmelites #faithformation #catholicschools #childrensrosary #childrenprayingtogether #childrensbrownscapular #catholickid #catholiccoloringbook #catholiccoloringpages #catholiccoloringsheet #catholicchild #scapularinvestiture #blessedvirginmary #marymotherofgod #catholicchildrenbookcoloring