Tag: Scapular

7 min read

Sacramentals

Why Wear A Scapular?

D.D. Emmons

October 24, 2023 2:03 pm October 24, 2023

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7 min read

Many Catholics wear a scapular. In fact, those who wear it are rarely without it except perhaps when bathing. It is as much a part of us as a wedding…

Many Catholics wear a scapular. In fact, those who wear it are rarely without it except perhaps when bathing.

It is as much a part of us as a wedding band, a symbol that signifies our love or commitment to another; in this case to the Blessed Mother and through her to our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a story that when Pope St. John Paul II was shot during the 1981 attempt on his life, he asked the attending doctors not to remove his scapular. Anyone who wears it can relate. But why are we so devoted to this small cloth necklace?

The word scapular is from the Latin scapula, meaning shoulder blade. It is a garment first designed by monks during the Middle Ages as protective covering to be worn over their clothing when they did manual labor, such as in the fields or outside. It is similar to a poncho, placed over the head, sleeveless, and covers the wearer’s front and back down to below the knees.

As scapular popularity grew among religious communities, laypeople also wanted to wear such garments as they sought to imitate the pious, holy ways of the monks. They were allowed to form groups in association with the religious order, follow certain rules of the order and identify their alliance by wearing that order’s scapular. Among the laity, the overall, lengthy scapular later gave way to a much smaller version such as we wear today. Made up of narrow (necklace-shaped) cloth, about 24 inches in length, it normally has small blocks of engraved wool material just larger than a postage stamp at each end and is meant to slip over the head and hang equally down your back and front. While the Church has approved 18 different scapulars for wear, the most popular is the brown scapular of the Carmelite Order, more formally known as the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The brown scapular signals the Carmelites spiritual devotion to the Virgin Mother.

The history of the brown scapular dates back to the 13th century, but Carmelite history goes back to the Old Testament, some nine centuries before Christ. Near the city of Haifa in Palestine is the mountain range known as Carmel, and part of that range is Mount Carmel, where the prophets Elijah and Elisha were known to visit. A place of pilgrimage, contemplation and prayer, Mount Carmel has long been regarded as holy ground. Once Emperor Constantine ended religious persecutions in the fourth century, Christians began to increasingly populate various areas of the Middle East. Monks found their way to Mount Carmel where they grouped together, pledging themselves to the Virgin Mother and her Son. Eventually, they built an oratory dedicated to Mary and, in about 1206, were given permission to establish the Order of Mount Carmel. Later in the 13th century a number of these monks migrated to England where a local pious man was attracted to and eventually joined the group. That man was St. Simon Stock (1165-1265) who would later become the sixth general of the Carmelite Order and from whom the brown scapular developed.

St. Simon Stock and His Vision

Legend holds that on July 16, 1251, the Blessed Mother appeared in a vision to Simon, gave him the brown scapular and said: “Receive most beloved son, the scapular of thy Order, a sign of my confraternity, a privilege both to thee and to all Carmelites, in which he that dieth shall not suffer eternal fire; behold the sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, the covenant of peace and everlasting alliance.” (For information on this event read “A Short Treatise of the Antiquity, Institution, Excellency, Indulgences, Privileges, etc., of the Ancient Confraternity of Our Blessed Lady of Mount Carmel, Called the Scapular,” by R.J. Colgan, published in 1847.)

There are different versions of this legend, and some Church scholars have cast doubt on its authenticity. There is little doubt, however, as to the sincerity of Catholics who devotedly wear the brown scapular, which on one end has these words stitched on it: “Whosoever dies wearing this scapular will not suffer eternal fire.” On the other end: “Behold the Sign of Salvation.” The Church, for 800 years, has continued to appreciate and encourage the Carmelite’s efforts to bring believers closer to Jesus through the Mother of God. In the early 18th century, a feast day known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel was added to the Church’s universal liturgical calendar and is celebrated every July 16.

Wearing the Brown Scapular

The conditions under which a layperson may wear the brown scapular vary: an individual may join a formal association of the Carmelite order, such as a secular third order, or they may be ceremoniously enrolled in the order of the brown scapular without joining a formal group. Also, anyone may wear the brown scapular if it is blessed by a priest or deacon. Whether or not formally committed to the order, those who wear the scapular are considered part of the Carmelite order.

It is unthinkable that any member of the people of God would wear the scapular in a mindless or careless manner. Simply, the indiscriminate donning of the scapular without authentic devotion is like a soldier putting on a uniform but ignoring the code of conduct the uniform requires. There are purposeful, sincere commitments associated with the scapular, whether it is the brown scapular or any other.

When wearing the brown scapular we are expected to follow certain norms identified by the Carmelite order (using its Catechesis and Ritual manual) and as published by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which, among other commitments, obliges the brown scapular wearer to imitate the praying Virgin who kept the word of God in her heart (see Lk 2:19,51), setting aside some time to meet God in prayer, meditating on the mysteries of salvation, taking part in faith in the liturgy of the Church (attending Mass), especially the Eucharist, reciting every day some liturgical hour or some psalms or the Rosary. (See the doctrinal statement on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Nov. 29, 1996.) Thus, by dedication to these guiding principles, the scapular becomes the expression of our devotion to Mary, as we, along with millions of other faithful souls, seek her favor with full knowledge and belief that she is the Gate of Heaven. Mary, who knew both great joy and excruciating sorrow in life, will pray and intercede on our behalf before our Lord Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who cures us; it is Jesus who saves us.

Not a Magic Charm

The scapular is not a lucky charm; it is not a rabbit’s foot, horseshoe or magic lamp. Rather it becomes a sign of our salvation if we draw close to the Mother of God, open our hearts to the special heavenly graces that she offers and give ourselves to her protection from earthly sin and temptation. “From the moment we receive it, Mary has never ceased to follow us with her maternal gaze, to safeguard within us the life of grace. Each time we are converted and return to God or rise again after falling into sin — be it great or small — each time we increase in grace, all, everything, is effected through Mary’s mediation. The scapular, the little habit, that Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers us, is only the external symbol of her unceasing, maternal care: the symbol but also the sign, the pledge of salvation.… The Blessed Virgin gives the assurance of the supreme grace of final perseverance to all who wear worthily her little habit.” (See “Divine Intimacy,” by Father P. Gabriele of St Mary Magdalene, O.C.D., English translation from seventh Italian edition, 1996, Tan Books.)

Devoutly wearing the brown scapular, wearing it next to our heart, prompts us to follow the commandments of God, to live a life of heroic virtue in the manner of the saints, and it is a constant reminder of our commitment to the virtues of the Blessed Mother.

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4 min read

Sacramentals

The Scapular Is A Spiritual Nudge

Elizabeth Scalia

April 30, 2023 8:10 am April 30, 2023

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4 min read

My husband noticed a brown cord peeking out from the neckline of my shirt and asked, “What is that?” Oops. Busted. “It’s a brown scapular,” I admitted. “That’s pretty hard-core,…

My husband noticed a brown cord peeking out from the neckline of my shirt and asked, “What is that?”

Oops. Busted. “It’s a brown scapular,” I admitted.

“That’s pretty hard-core, isn’t it?” he asked. “When did you take that up?”

As prejudiced as the question sounds, he was only being curious. My husband is a tolerant sort; if someone wants to practice devotions that he doesn’t feel particularly called to, that’s all right by him. In this case, however, I sensed a tinge of leeriness. After all, just prior to the appearance of the scapular, I had built an oratory, and had been exploring the use of head coverings at Mass. Now, suddenly, a brown scapular?

I confessed that I’d begun wearing the scapular, as a discipline; for penance and correction. “It’s my hair shirt,” I explained.

A Benedictine of my acquaintance has told me that scapulars began as a practicality — a protective covering for monastic robes; over time it took on a spiritual significance as a sign of one’s willingness to “take up the yoke” and learn from Christ. Pious laity eventually adapted much smaller counterparts to wear, both as a devotional and — in the case of professed laypersons — in solidarity with members of their scapular-wearing order. Lay Dominicans wear the largest, a white square of wool, perhaps 6 inches across. Benedictine Oblates like me generally wear a Jubilee Medal, but some also wear a postage-stamp-sized black scapular, reflecting the black scapular and habit. Carmelites, of course, will wear the brown scapular.

In my case, not having a black scapular, I recalled the brown scapular a priest friend had blessed and given to me as a gift. I’d never worn it, but I knew it was Mary-connected, and that the scratchy woolen thing was the closest approximation I would ever get to what I really believed I needed at the time — a proper hair shirt — to challenge me. As ever, my spirit was willing, but my flesh had an attitude.

I have worn the brown scapular ever since.

Calling it “the world’s tiniest hair shirt” is no exaggeration. The one currently between my shoulder blades is new, and itchy. It is uncomfortable, but I have come to love it, because when an itch breaks through to my awareness, or the thing rides up and needs adjusting, it reminds me (and always just when I need reminding) that I am weak and need help.

Well, good. I need to be made uncomfortable and annoyed; I need to be reminded of my shortcomings.

I began wearing the scapular during a difficult time in my life, when I was not dealing well with a situation meant to teach me what I resisted learning: patience, humility and enough discretion to just shut my mouth, sometimes, rather than let it run rash and reckless as usual.

I was like a dumb ox, in need of a yoke to get me in line; to guide me and help me to obey. The scapular is that yoke.

It is not heavy; as yokes go, it is light, and even “easy,” but it is still a discipline. When my impatience surges, that itch can restrain me, and the restraint is humbling. The resultant humility actually gentles me a bit. It reminds me that life is sometimes a hard row to hoe, requiring a supernatural assist. As my impatience ebbs, I am reminded that willingness is all that is required, and that slow growth is better than no growth.

So, this scratchy, abrasive little penance is a very useful spiritual nudge; it awakens me to the hushed grace notes that linger soul-deep, amidst all the superficial noise of my heart and head. It helps me to own that grace, in much the same way a musician finds music within the spaces between the notes.

The prompting to find and wear that first brown scapular was a hard-core gift that I could only receive when I was cracked enough to need such strings.

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5 min read

Sacramentals

Mary’s Mantle

Father James Goodwin

March 2, 2023 9:13 am March 2, 2023

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5 min read

On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite friar, in Aylesford, England. She told him, “Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy…

On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite friar, in Aylesford, England. She told him, “Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger and a pledge of special peace and protection.”

A scapular is two pieces of cloth connected over the shoulders by strings or cords. Religious often wear a long one as part of their habit. Lay people began to desire to share in the blessing that Our Lady gave to the Carmelites and wore a smaller scapular under their clothing. There are eight different Marian scapulars, but the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is the most popular and best known. It is a sacramental of the Church.

Sacramental

According to Canon 1166 in the Code of Canon Law, “Sacramentals are sacred signs which in a sense imitate the sacraments. They signify certain effects, especially spiritual ones, and they achieve these effects through the intercession of the Church.” The Directory of Popular Piety, No. 205, says, “The scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.”

Pope St. John Paul II, on the 750^th anniversary of the scapular, wrote:

“The sign of the scapular points to an effective synthesis of Marian spirituality, which nourishes the devotion of believers and makes them sensitive to the Virgin Mother’s loving presence in their lives. The scapular is essentially a ‘habit.’ Those who receive it are associated more or less closely with the Order of Carmel and dedicate themselves to the service of Our Lady for the good of the whole Church. Those who wear the scapular … experience the loving and motherly presence of Mary in their daily commitment to be clothed in Jesus Christ and to manifest him in their life for the good of the Church and the whole of humanity.”

“Therefore two truths are evoked by the sign of the scapular: On the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life’s journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honor on certain occasions, but must become a ‘habit,’ that is, a permanent orientation of one’s own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life, through frequent reception of the sacraments and the concrete practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In this way the scapular becomes a sign of the ‘covenant’ and reciprocal communion between Mary and the faithful … .”

It is interesting that St. John Paul uses the word covenant. A covenant, in Jewish belief, was an act that creates a family bond between two parties. Therefore, the scapular is a sign that Mary is now our mother and that we are dedicated to her. It is a symbol of a special relationship with the Mother of God.

Protection

The scapular is a sign that we are under the protection of Mary and that she will intercede for us in life and at death. It is not a magical charm or guarantee of eternal salvation. Our salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. For us the scapular is a symbol that we intend to follow Jesus as Mary did by being open to God, listening to him and living in obedience to his commandments. It also gives a spiritual affiliation to the Carmelite order and share in its good works. St. Paul wrote that we should pray always. Wearing the scapular is an expression of continual prayer, particularly of asking for Mary’s intercession. As the Carmelite order has said, “The scapular is a sign of the love of Mary, icon of the goodness and mercy of the Most Blessed Trinity.”

Anyone may wear the scapular, but the practice is most fruitful if enrolled, which is possible with any priest or deacon. This special blessing gains for us the full graces and benefits of the scapular. In the past, it was commonly done at first Communion and this is a wonderful custom. Sacramentals, such as the scapular, are a forgotten treasure. They call into mind our faith and integrate it into our daily life. The scapular serves as a constant reminder of the presence of Jesus and the prayers of his Mother. Some find it difficult to wear. That can often be solved by purchasing a good quality scapular. No matter what, the best scapular is the one you will wear. It will become for you a practical sign that you belong to Jesus Christ through his mother Mary.

Sacramentals are not Catholic kitsch. They are a way to bring our faith into our daily lives and express it in material way. They are a witness to our Catholic faith. The scapular is a wonderful gift from Mary not just to the Carmelites, but to all of us.

Father James Goodwin is a priest of the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota.

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