 A gift to you from Our Lady.
“WHOSOEVER DIES IN THIS GARMENTSHALL NOT SUFFER ETERNAL FIRE.”
- promise of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251
The scapular, the two small pieces of wool most people think of when
they hear the word, is a sacramental based on an important piece of the
monastic habit. A true scapular, in the original use of the word, is a
piece of cloth, about shoulder width, that is worn over the shoulders
and falls not quite to the wearer’s feet. It is the most important
garment for those in monastic orders and has also been adopted by
non-monastic religious orders for both male and female. In the past the
scapular also had bands on the arm, connecting the front and back panel
of fabric and thus forming a cross on the body of the wearer; this
style of scapular is sometimes still used today. For this reason, the
scapular was also simply called a crux, meaning ‘cross.’
The scapular is meant to be symbolic of an apron, indicating the
wearer’s readiness and willingness to serve. That the scapular is a
symbolic and not merely a practical apron is based on the point in the
St. Benedict’s Rule, where he says that it is to be worn “for work.”
Benedict uses a non-specific word for work here, not the word for manual
work or labor, which he uses elsewhere in the Rule, and not the words
specific to ‘God’s work,’ which he used elsewhere to include prayer. So
it is believed that "scapulare propter opera" ("scapular for work") means a scapular to be worn always, whether while at prayer or while doing manual prayer.
In the middle ages, it was common for the lay faithful to join
religious orders in an affiliate sense, as a tertiary. Since some did
not take full vows, they would not wear the full habit. Some others who
took private vows would wear almost the full habit. The non-monastic,
one not taking full vows, would be granted a “reduced scapular” to wear.
This was two pieces of wool, about 2 inches by 3 inches each, held
together by a band or cord and worn over the shoulder with one rectangle
in front and one in back. Still larger than the devotional scapular
worn by many Catholics, the shape and small size of this scapular is
closest in appearance to what may lay Catholics wear. They are still
often worn by tertiary members of the Franciscan, Carmelite, and
Dominican orders.
In the year 1251, in the town of Aylesford in England, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite.
She handed him a brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites,
that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent
privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites and who
perpetually wear it.
The term scapular (from Latin scapula ,
"shoulders") as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacrementals, namely the monastic
and devotional scapulars, although both forms may
simply be referred to as "scapular."
The "monastic scapular" appeared first, perhaps as
early as the 7th century in the Order of Saint Benedict . It is a somewhat large length of cloth suspended both
front and back from the shoulders of the wearer, often reaching to the knees.
It may vary in shape, color, size and style. Monastic scapulars originated as
aprons worn by medieval monks, and were later extended to habits for members of
religious organizations, orders or confraternities. Monastic scapulars now form
part of the habit of monks and nuns in many Catholic religious orders.
The "devotional scapular" is a much smaller item
and evolved from the monastic scapular. These may also be worn by individuals
who are not members of a monastic order and the Roman Catholic Church considers them
sacramentals. The devotional scapular typically consists of two small (usually
rectangular) pieces of cloth, wood or laminated paper, a few inches in size
which may bear religious images or text. These are joined by two bands of cloth
and the wearer places one square on the chest, rests the bands one on each shoulder
and lets the second square drop down the back.
In many cases, both forms of the scapular come with a set of
promises for the faithful who wear them. Some of the promises are rooted in
tradition, and others have been formally approved by religious leaders. For
instance, for Roman Catholics, as for some other sacramentals, over the
centuries several popes have approved specific indulgences
for scapulars.
Devotion
True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary consists in three things: VENERATION, CONFIDENCE AND LOVE.
By simply wearing the Scapular, we can tell her every moment of the day that we venerate her, love her
and trust in her protection.
The Scapular Is a Silent Prayer
As Our Lord taught us to say the Our Father, Our Blessed Mother taught us the value of the scapular.
When we use it as a prayer, Our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is good, therefore,
to hold the scapular in the hand. A prayer offered while holding the Scapular is as perfect as a prayer can be.
It is especially in time of temptation that we need the powerful intercession of God’s Mother. The evil spirit
is utterly powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin in this
silent devotion. “If you had recommended
yourself to me, you would not have run into such danger,” was Our Lady’s gentle reproach to Blessed Alan de
la Roche, one of her devoted servants.
Enrollment in the Confraternity
To be eligible for the scapular promise, one must be enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity.
This is a simple ceremony which can be performed by any priest (see below). The members of the Confraternity have
the added benefit of sharing in all the spiritual benefits of the Carmelite Order.
According to a statement made by the Carmelite Fathers at the
National Scapular Center, every priest now has the right to invest the
faithful in the Brown Scapular and to substitute the rosary in lieu
of the Little Office
The scapular must be 100% wool without plastic casing and should not be pinned or affixed to clothing.
It is worn over the head, under one’s clothes, with one square of wool
hanging on the chest and the other on the back.
Procedure for the Blessing and Investiture of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
To be eligible for THE SCAPULAR PROMISE, one must be enrolled in the Family of Carmel.
This is a simple ceremony, which takes only a moment and can be done by any Carmelite or
duly authorized priest. The words used by the priest when enrolling a person in the
Confraternity of the Scapular are as follows:
Priest - Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
Respondent - And grant us Thy salvation.
Priest - Lord, hear my prayer.
Respondent - And let my cry come unto Thee.
Priest - The Lord be with you.
Respondent - And also with you.
Priest - Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, sanctify by Thy power these scapulars,
which for love of Thee and for love of Our lady of Mount Carmel, Thy servants will wear devoutly,
so that through the intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protected against
the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace. Thou who lives and reigns world without
end. Amen.
THE PRIEST SPRINKLES HOLY WATER AND INVESTS PERSON(S) WHILE SAYING:
Receive this blessed Scapular and beseech the Blessed Virgin that through Her merits, you
may wear it without stain. May it defend you against all adversity and accompany you to eternal
life. Amen.
AFTER THE INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:
I, by the power vested in me, admit you to participate in all the spiritual benefits obtained
through the mercy of Jesus Christ by the Religious Order of Mount Carmel.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, bless you, He who has deigned to join you
to the confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Of Mount Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head
of the ancient serpent so that you my enter into possession of your eternal heritage, through
Christ our Lord.
Respondent - Amen.
The first Scapular must be blessed and imposed by a Priest using the (above) formula
contained in the Roman ritual for reception into the Confraternity of the Scapular.
The Sabbatine Privilege
The Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel has promised to save those who wear
the scapular from the fires of hell; She will also shorten their stay
in purgatory if they should pass from this world still owing some debt
of punishment.
This promise is found in a Bull of Pope John XXII. The Blessed Virgin
appeared to him and, speaking of those who wear the Brown Scapular,
said, “I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after
their death and whomsoever I shall find in purgatory I shall free so
that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”
Our Lady assigned certain conditions which must be
fulfilled:
1) Wear the Brown Scapular continuously.
2) Observe chastity according to one's state in life.
3) Recite daily the "Little Office of the Blessed Virgin."
or:
3a) Observe the required fast of the Church as well as abstaining for meat on Wednesday and Saturday
or:
3b) Recite the Rosary daily
or:
3c) With permission, substitute some other good work.
Pope Benedict XV, the celebrated World War I Pontiff, granted 500 days
indulgence for devoutly kissing your scapular.
The Morning Offering
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss the scapular as a sign of your consecration),
I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with It the offering
of my every thought, word and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit
I can, and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them to the interests
of Thy most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart
of Jesus, have mercy on us!
The Popes and the Brown Scapular
Pope Leo XIII: “The Carmelite Scapular’s nobility of origin, its extraordinary spread
among Christian peoples for many centuries, the spiritualizing effects produced by it and the outstanding
miracles worked in virtue of it render the Scapular of Carmel commendable to a wondrous degree.”
Pope Pius XI: “In consideration of the munificent goodness of the heavenly Mother towards her
children, it surely ought to be sufficient merely to exhort those who belong to the Scapular Confraternity to
persevere in the holy exercises which have been prescribed for the gaining of the indulgences to which they are entitled.”
Pope Pius XII: “All Carmelites, whether they live in the cloisters of the First or Second Orders or
are members of the Third Order or of the Confraternities, belong to the same family of our Most Blessed Mother
and are attached to it by a special bond of love. May they all see in this keepsake of the Virgin herself a
mirror of humility and purity; may they read in the very simplicity of the Garment a concise lesson in modesty
and simplicity; above all, may they behold in this same Garment, which they wear day and night, the eloquent
expressive symbol of their prayers for divine assistance.”
Pope John XXIII: He spoke “of the Mother of God who is honored in this Church of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. Devotion to her becomes a necessity; towards Our Lady of Mount Carmel we are drawn with a most tender,
yet irresistible, attraction.”
Pope Paul VI, speaking of Marian devotions, especially of the Scapular, says “Let the faithful hold
in high esteem the practices and devotions to the Blessed Virgin approved by the teaching authority of the Church.
It is Our conviction that the Rosary of Mary and the Scapular of Carmel are among these recommended practices.
The Scapular is a practice of piety, which by its very simplicity is suited to everyone.”
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Brown Scapular
Also called simply the Brown Scapular, this small scapular is the
most well known and likely the earliest form of the devotional
scapular. It may even be referred to merely as “the scapular,” where
all other scapulae are referred to in the full name or by some
distinguishing characteristic. Along the same line, the phrase “The
Feast of the Scapular” refers to the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Pious tradition holds that the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon
Stock on July 16, 1251 in England, with a scapular in her hand and said
to him, "Take, beloved son this scapular of thy order as a badge of
my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of
grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire.
It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace
and of the covenant." According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, these
precise words of Our Lady only appeared in written form in 1642, in a
document that said these words had been dictated by Simon to his
secretary and confessor. Historical documents cannot support the exact
details or words, but the content is held to be reliable. That is to
say, it is credible that Our Lady assured St. Simon Stock in a
supernatural manner of her special protection over his whole order and
all who would wear the Carmelite habit, indirectly extending to all
Christian faithful who should wear the scapular as a badge of devotion,
even if we cannot place the exact words.
Conditions for Receiving the Graces of the Scapular
The promise and the following conditions are typically associated
with a vision and Bull of Pope John XXII. The Bull that has been handed
down since the 1400's was never mentioned for over 100 years after its
supposed promulgation in 1322 and no record of such a document exists in
the writings of Pope John XXII. It has been generally assumed that the
extant text of the Bull is not an authentic document but the promises
and conditions are valid and several popes have given the Carmelites
permission to preach them.
Form of the Scapular
The scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel should be brown, though
black is acceptable as well, and must be wool. To have an image of Our
Lady presenting the Scapular to Simon Stock on the scapular itself is
quite common, but the scapular may also be blank. It is also common to
have an inscription of Our Lady’s promise on the scapular. It may also
have other images on it. For example there are Brown Scapulae bearing
images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Sacred Heart, St. Charbel, St.
Bendict, and others.
Other Devotional Scapulae
Though the brown scapular is the most common, there are many more approved scapulae faithful Catholics may wear:
The Green Scapular
– This scapular is also called the Scapular of the Immaculate Heart.
It is not a true scapular in that it is one single woolen square, not
two. However it is a sacramental and so it is a scapular in the
devotional sense. It is the only scapular that does not need to be worn
but can be carried; it can come on a green cord to be worn or may also
come on a small green loop. This scapular may be given in faith to
someone you want to be cured or converted. The giver of the scapular
must continue to pray daily to the Immaculate Heart of Mary after
giving the scapular.
The White Scapular – This is another scapular
associated with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. However this scapular is
white wool, and is associated with the Sons of the Immaculate Heart. The
front depicts the image of the burning heart of Mary, out of which
grows a lily, and is circled with a wreath of roses.
The Trinity Scapular – This is a small white
scapular with a red and blue cross and is connected to the
Confraternity of The Most Blessed Trinity and tertiaries of the Order.
The Order's founder, St. John de Matha, had a vision during his first
Mass of two Christian captives, one of whom held a staff with a red and
blue cross on top. From this vision St. John knew he was destined to
work among captives for their redemption. Tradition also holds that in
1198, an angel wearing a white garment with a blue and red cross
appeared to Pope Innocent III, who subsequently approved the Order of
the Trinitarians.
The Blue Scapular
– This scapular is also known as the Scapular of the Immaculate
Conception. It is associated with Venerable Ursula Benincasa, founder
of the Theatines of the Immaculate Conception and was approved by Pope
Clement X in 1671. It is now also associated with St. Bernadette and
the miraculous apparitions at Lourdes because Our Lady said to the
girl, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” There are plenary indulgences
attached to this devotion with this scapular, under the ordinary
conditions.
The Sacred Heart Scapulae
– There are two sacramentals bearing the name of Sacred Heart
Scapular. One is, like the Green Scapular, actually a sacramental
badge. It is a wearable image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was
promoted by St. Mary Margaret Alacoque. It may or may not be wool. The
other is a true scapular, associated with the Missionaries of the
Sacred Heart. One side bears an image of the Heart of Jesus and the
heart of Mary in their traditional representations, the other an image
of Jesus on the cross, the instruments of the passion at His feet. The
scapular must be made of red wool and the bands connecting the two
squares must be red woolen material as well. This scapular is also
called the Red Scapular of the Passion or simply, the Passion Scapular.
The Black Scapular – The scapular associated with
the Servite Order and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. It is black wool and
has an image of Our Lay of Sorrows on the front piece. This scapular
must be worn constantly if one wishes to gain the indulgences of the
confraternity. This scapular must be invested to one by a priest from
the Servite Order.
The Five Fold Scapular - This scapular. also called a Five Way Scapular, is a
Redemptorist Sacramental. It is a combination of five of the most
popular scapulae: the Brown, Black, Blue, Trinity white and Red Passion
scapulars.
The Scapular of St. Michael – This scapular
traditionally is in the shape of a small shield (though it may also be a
standard rectangle) and is made of blue and black woollen cloth. It is
connected to the Archconfraternity of the Scapular of St. Michael and
depicts St. Michael triumphing over Satan.
The Scapular Medal - In 1910 Pope Pius X approved the medallion form of the scapular. It
bears an image of the Sacred Heart on one side, the Blessed mother on
the other, and may be worn or carried in place of a cloth scapular,
under certain special circumstances, by a person already invested with a
scapular. These special circumstances would include situations where
wearing a non-metal scapular would be impractical, say in the case of a
swimmer or in doing work which could result in damage or destruction
of a cloth scapular.
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