“I was raised in a non-catholic family. After my baptism, I found it difficult to accept Blessed Mary because of my ignorance. I didn’t understand who she was. As my prayer life grew, one day I experienced some spiritual dryness and I got so desperate, I had to turn to Mary asking her prayers to God to end it. I went to church the next day for Sunday mass and a priest gave brown scapulars to parishioners, and I received one. I wore it and the feeling of abandonment was lifted immediately. I was so thankful to Blessed Mary and my devotion to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel began. I accepted Mary as my mother through the brown scapular by this incident. When my parish priest noticed that I was wearing the brown scapular, he said that the brown scapular is like a habit. When I heard that, I felt the calling to the Carmelite Secular Order. I still remember the moment when I walked in the Carmelite chapel. I felt peace and simply knew that this is where I belonged.”  

Jennie, OCDS