Marian Apparitions [hindi consistent]

according to this thread : http://www.thebereans.net/forum2/showthread.php?t=50332

Quote:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has
centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the
Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary's special
aid for the
salvation of the devoted wearer. Traditionally, Mary
is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Saint
Simon Stock. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is
celebrated on 16 July.

nabigyan ako nito dati, nakasulat "anyone who dies wearing the scapular, will not perish in hell, thats a promise"

so it promotes idolatry and license to sin

matanong ko lang po, kanino po ba ako maniniwala sa 2 Mary? kay Fatima o
kay Carmel? bat po magkakaiba ang kanyang message of salvation? pero sa
Luke sya yung nangangailangan ng savior.. tsaka so far di pa nya
nababanggit yung anak nya, nakalimutan ata kung sino talaga ang bida

here is my answer :

This type of promise is acceptable, theologically, only if it is understood in the context of the entire Faith. For example, God promised to the Israelites to lead them into the Holy Land, but then they sinned in the desert, and God did not allow any of them to enter; they died in the desert and their children entered. So one can have an assurance of salvation for doing a substantial devotion over a period of time, freely and devoutly, that is, in cooperation with grace; but if you later sin seriously and refuse to repent, then you lose that assurance. It is not absolute, but conditional.

The same is true of the scapular, praying the Rosary, wearing a medal, etc.

The Israelites carried the ark of the covenant into battle, and they were defeated and the ark was taken away from them. They thought to be successful by means of the ark, but because they sinned seriously it was to no avail. It is the same with Catholic devotions today. We are saved if we die in a state of grace, and we are sent to Hell if we die in a state of mortal sin, and no external act or object can prevail over this truth of salvation.

But such devotions are of great benefit to retaining a state of grace, or even of returning to it if one has sinned. And so such promises are not empty.

Tama. Hindi kasi binasa ng husto ng forumer yung sinabing "Mary's special aid to the salvation of the wearer." Ang binigyang-diin (underlined) is yung "salvation of the devoted wearer."