Fr. Jeffrey Kirby: The Brown Scapular & the Weight of Glory

By Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, Catholic Exchange, Sept. 14, 2022

Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, STD, a Papal Missionary of Mercy, is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, and an adjunct professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College. He is a senior contributor to the Crux news site and the author of several books on spiritual, moral, and pastoral subjects.

Editor’s note: The above excerpt was taken from A Journey to Mount Carmel: A Nine-Day Preparation for Investiture in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady, available now from Sophia Institute Press.

Baptized in Jesus Christ

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-4

The Weight of Glory

During the pontificate of Pope St. John Paul II, a reporter asked him which of the papal titles were most significant to him. Many of us are not aware, or have become accustomed to the centuries-old titles given to the pope, such as the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, and Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, to name just five. In addition, there are the titles of direct address, such as “Your Holiness,” or “Holy Father.” Imagine being addressed by such titles all throughout the day! The reporter’s question was a good one. Which of all these titles meant the most to the John Paul II? In his usual teaching style, Pope St. John Paul II gave several answers in gradual importance.  ….