Author Topic: The Brown Scapular (Read 1929 times)

Stephen Francis · « **on:** September 23, 2013, 08:41:21 AM »

I know that a scapular is part of a religious habit. A true scapular is a very large garment.

Regarding the Brown Scapular that laypeople can be invested in, however, I have a few questions:

1) What did the first laypeople's Scapular look like?

2) Is a scapular according to that design still available?

3) Are there legitimate reasons for variations in the design of the BROWN Scapular?
(I ask this knowing that there are green ones, etc, that are associated with different devotions)

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.

St. Simon Stock, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Stephen Francis · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2013, 10:12:32 PM »

Bump. I'm really interested to know more about Our Lady's Scapular.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2013, 10:37:10 PM »

From Carmelite Devotions and Prayers for Special Feasts of the Liturgical Year, compiled by a Carmelite Tertiary (Milwaukee, WI: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1956):

poche · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2013, 11:58:44 PM »

From the late 14th century the brown scapular summed up Carmelite devotion to Mary. The scapular was a part of the Carmelite habit and probably originally served as an apron. There were various legends connected to religious habits in general in medieval times. Apparitions of the founder of the particular order or of Our Lady were frequently involved. It was related that Our Lady had appeared to Simon Stock, the Prior General of the Carmelites, in the year 1251, had taken hold of his scapular and promised that anyone who died wearing this garment would not perish eternally. There is little concrete historical evidence concerning the scapular vision of Simon Stock but there is "a venerable tradition"25 of the Order in its regard. In any case, the symbolism of the scapular as a sign of consecration to Mary, the Mother of Cannel, was and remains very important. Very many people began to wear a miniature version of the scapular. Scapular societies were set up all over Europe and missionaries used the scapular as a catechetical tool wherever they went. The wearing of the scapular

became so popular that by the end of the 16th century, for example Spain and Portugal were described as one immense Carmel.26

Many Carmelites through the centuries have written about the scapular. Arnold Bostius (1445-99) said that the wearing of the scapular is a commitment to live the virtues of Mary.27 Mathias of St. John (d. 1681) piled up biblical examples of how God has used material things as instruments of grace. The scapular for him was one such material thing, which God could use for the benefit of humanity. However he insisted that wearing the scapular was no magic talisman. He wrote, "It would be far better to have holiness under a worldly habit than a worldly heart under a holy habit".28

Through the scapular the Carmelite family desired to share the gifts of God, and in a particular way, the maternal love of Mary, with all those who wished to be included. As Mary clothed her child in swaddling clothes when he was born, so she still takes care of Christ's body, the Church. The scapular is understood to be symbolic clothing signifying the protection of Mary for the one who wears it. A mother helps a child to grow up and so Mary also helps us to become what God knows we can be. A mother teaches her child especially by her example. At Cana she tells us, "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn. 2,5). By looking at her we learn what it means to be a follower of Christ.

The scapular is a reminder of Mary's commitment to us and our commitment to Mary. It is a reminder of her constant presence in our lives and her interest in us. She really is a Mother and a Sister, leading us and guiding us to Christ her Son in whom we find salvation. She is with us in life and in death. We say to her often, "Pray for us now and at the hour of our death". Pope John Paul wrote in regard to the scapular: "It is a sign of the continual protection of the Most Holy Virgin, not only throughout life but also at the moment of the transition towards the fullness of eternal glory."29

There are many sons and daughters of earthly mothers who make a big splash on Mother's Day with flowers and chocolates but who cannot be bothered with their mothers throughout the rest of the

year. Chocolates and flowers are very nice but if there is no regular contact to back them up, their significance gets watered down. Devotion must express itself in some way. If the outward signs of devotion emerge from a real relationship with Our Lady, then they have a deep significance. Jesus heavily criticised the Pharisees because of their outward displays of religion that had no basis in reality. If the outward signs are just a passing emotion, they will have no lasting impact on our lives. We show our devotion to Our Lady by living as she has shown us.

Wearing the scapular is intended to be an outward reminder of what should be going on within. The danger with any outward sign is that it remain merely outward and therefore the stress today is on the necessity of living what the scapular symbolises. Mary is seen to be the perfect example of what it means to follow Christ. The meaning of the scapular today can perhaps be summed up in one of the prayers over the people at the end of the mass of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Cannel:- "Lord, grant that those who in devotion have put on the habit of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, may put on her virtues also and enjoy her unfailing protection"."

http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/scapular

poche · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2013, 12:00:04 AM »

Our topic is the Sabbatine privilege, and we recall that it means prompt delivery from purgatory for wearers of the scapular who fulfill certain conditions, especially on the Saturday after death. We can summarize the Sabbatine privilege in two words: the first is 'devoutly,' which goes back to the original scapular promise, that whoever wears the scapular devoutly will receive the gift of final perseverance. Notice that the key word is devoutly. The second word is Saturday; our English word 'Sabbatine' comes from the Latin word for Saturday 'Sabbatum,' like Sabbath, seventh day of the week. But it is not just plain Saturday, it is our Lady's Saturday.

We look more closely now at both aspects, first the devout wearing of the scapular, second, Saturday as Mary's day. The Church has always insisted on the full meaning of the scapular as a renewal of our baptismal promises, and thereby an assurance of salvation. To wear the scapular without a sincere Christian commitment would be presuming on God's mercy and an insult to the loving protection of the Mother of Jesus.

So it came about that certain conditions were stated in order to gain the Sabbatine privilege — these requirements are central aspects of a truly Christian life, the very conditions that make the original scapular promise of salvation realistically meaningful. The three requirements for the Sabbatine privilege are prayer, penance and the chastity of one's state of life. All three are ingredients of a sincere Christian life, and hence of authentic devotion to our Lady.

The prayer prescribed to gain the Sabbatine privilege is the Little Office of our Lady, which can be substituted for by other prayers. The form of penance originally stipulated was not to eat meat on Wednesday and Saturday as well as Friday. In our day any priest who can give the Scapular — and that is no longer limited to Carmelites — can substitute for abstinence from meat a certain number of prayers, most commonly the five decades of the Rosary every day.

Now a word about Saturday as our Lady's day. The Sabbatine privilege, as Carmelites have preached it for centuries, has helped greatly to popularize Saturday as our Blessed Mother's day, on which she shows special love to her children who have faithfully worn her scapular.

Through all her life, beginning with God's first gift of grace, her Immaculate Conception, and culminating in the glory of her Assumption, our Blessed Mother walked the road of faith. Her faith was tested at the Annunciation, in her Son's public life and in the agony of Calvary. From the early Middle Ages Saturday was dedicated to the Mother of Jesus, in remembrance of her steadfast faith, which still burned brightly even in the midst of sorrow as her Son's body lay in the tomb the first Holy Saturday.

The Sabbatine privilege is a strong reminder that Mary most faithful will keep her promises to us. Our Blessed Mother will stand by us when God calls us at our final hour, and her love will accompany us even beyond the gates of death. Thanks to the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel we pray with special confidence, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death."

Rev. Eamon R. Carroll, O. Carm., S.T.D. Professor of Theology Loyola University of Chicago and Associate Editor

http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/explanation-sabbatine-privilege