As we journey through the Jubilee Year of Hope with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, let us reflect on Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as our example of faith and trust. Her feast, under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated on 16 July, reminds us that she accompanies us on our journey, especially when the path ahead is tough and uncertain.
Mary’s entire life was a ‘yes’ to God’s plan: from her courageous acceptance at the Annunciation to her steadfast presence at the foot of the Cross. We can rightly call her the Woman of Hope, for her faith remained firm in the face of suffering and mystery.
St George Preca, who as a Carmelite tertiary and took the name Fr Franco in her honour, invites us to follow Mary’s example so that we may become worthy disciples of Jesus Christ. For him, Mary was not simply to be admired, but above all to be imitated, especially in her humility, silence, and complete trust in God. He encouraged devotion to the scapular, the rosary, and, most importantly, an inner life modelled on hers.
He promoted the scapular devotion as a sign of consecration to Mary and a call to imitate her virtues. He deeply embraced the teaching of Pope Pius XII, who described the scapular as ‘putting on the virtues of Mary’ and established an annual Celebration of the Virtues on the first Sunday after 16 July to encourage the SDC members to live out Mary’s noble virtues.
In one of his writings, St George Preca imagined St Simon Stock urging the faithful: “Put on Mary, you who love her.” Indeed, St George Preca was a living witness to this call, tirelessly preaching Mary’s protective love through the scapular and leading others to follow her path.
As pilgrims of hope, may we walk with Mary, the Woman of Hope, trusting her to guide us ever closer to her Son, just as St George Preca did, with faith, devotion, and courage.
