You will always find me wearing the Brown Scapular, and like me, there is plenty of men and women who wear it also. I will be diving into the profound significance of the Brown Scapular, the promises associated with wearing it, and how it works as a powerful symbol of faith.
History
The Brown Scapular is a sacred devotional object with deep roots in our Catholic tradition. It’s not just a piece of cloth; it carries profound spiritual significance.
Originally given to Saint Simon Stock, a carmelite, in the year 1251, by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The carmelites are the religious men and women who wear the brown habit. They have produce saints like Saint Theres of Liseux, Saint Terese of Avila, and Saint John of the corss. Extraordinary men and women.
Mary presented to Saint Simon Stock the utter part of the scapular, and she said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” and this extended to all catholics, and thats why I and plenty of people wear it, and the Brown Scapular has become a symbol of our commitment to a life of faith and devotion.
True Devotion
True devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary, says the carmelite order, 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 wearing of the brown scapular is more profound and meaningful that just wearing it, the habit of the carmelite or any religious other has a profound significance, is a promise and vow they do to their religious order. Which means observance of the vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty after the example of Jesus and Mary.
Meaning that we too, we need to follow those vows, maybe not to their extend, but we must follow them.
1st. Obedience: We must be obedient to the church, always following what the church teaches. Not being a pick and choose catholic. Saying “oh i like this teaching, but not this one” No, wearing the scapular means we are fully a devoted catholic always following what the church teaches.
2nd. Chastity: Observe chastity according to one’s state in life (married/single).
3rd. Poverty: Always choosing simplicity rather than buying ostentatious things for the sake of attention. Choosing humility over pridefulness.
The most important thing is to be faithful, following the commandments and always loving God over everything and your neighbor.
Wearing the scapular is not about just wearing it and thinking your saved even if you continue to live in sin, no, it doesn’t work like that, if you’re going to wear the scapular, you’re making a commitment to God, to live according to His will.
Promises
Let’s now delve into the promises for those who faithfully wear the Brown Scapular. The Blessed Virgin Mary made specific promises to those who wear it with true devotion. These promises include special graces, protection from eternal damnation, and 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.”
Enrollment
For enrollment and to be eligible for the scapular promise, one must be enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity. One can be enroll by any priest. (the enrollment prayer is in the bottom of the post)
It has to be 100% wool. 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. It must be worn as much as possible, of course you can take it off while taking a shower or for any activities, I personally only take it off for swimming.
Assumptions
One might think that you have to pray the rosary each day or abstain from meat certain days of the week for the scapular devotion, but that is not necessary, as the Carmelites noted, “The Scapular is a silent prayer that shows one’s complete consecration and dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Scapular is a devotion whereby we venerate Her, love Her, and trust in Her protection, and we tell Her these things every moment of the day by simply wearing the Brown Scapular.”
Here you can see answers for the most common questions regarding the Brown Scapular.
Saints and the Brown Scapular
“Those who say the Rosary daily and wear the Brown Scapular and who do a little more, will go straight to Heaven.” – Alphonsus Liguori
“One day, through the Rosary and the scapular, our Lady will save the world” – Saint Dominic
Pope John Paul II said once, “I too have worn the scapular of carmel over my heart for a long time”
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.”
Saint Claude de la Colombiere, the renowned Jesuit and spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary, gives a point that is enlightening. He said, “Because all the forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin and all its various modes of expression cannot be equally pleasing to Her, and therefore do not assist us in the same degree to reach Heaven, I say, without a moment’s hesitation, that the BROWN SCAPULAR IS THE MOST FAVORED OF ALL!”
He also adds, “No devotion has been confirmed by more numerous authentic miracles than the Brown Scapular.”
Miracles
The following are extraordinary stories that have to do with the brown scapular.
St. Alphonsus had a very special devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and while alive wore his brown scapular faithfully. Many years after his death his grave was opened; the body and priestly vestments in which he was buried had turned to dust! But his scapular was found PERFECTLY INTACT! St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Brown Scapular is still miraculously intact and on exhibit in his Monastery in Rome.
Scapular protection
A Jesuit missionary in Guatemala relayed the following incident of Our Lady’s Scapular protection. In November of 1955 a plane carrying 27 passengers crashed. All died except one young lady. When this girl saw the plane was going down, she took hold of her Scapular, and called on Mary for help. She suffered burns, her clothing was reduced to ashes, but her Scapular was not touched by the flames.
A Home Saved from Fire
In May of 1957, a Carmelite priest in Germany published the unusual story of how the Scapular saved a home from fire. An entire row of homes had caught fire in Westboden, Germany. The pious inhabitants of a 2-family home, seeing the fire, immediately fastened a Scapular to the main door of the house. Sparks flew over it and around it, but the house remained unharmed. Within 5 hours, 22 homes had been reduced to ashes. The one structure, which stood undamaged amidst the destruction, was that which had the Scapular attached to its door. The hundreds of people who came to see the place Our lady had saved are eye-witnesses to the power of the Scapular and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I hope this blog post motivates and inspires you to start wearing the brown scapular, I know sometimes we might get anxious about all the little things, but please don’t get anxious about the details, the most important thing is to know that the scapular is a silent prayer, it is the image of a mother clothing his little child. Every time we put on the brown scapular, we’re reminded that Mary is clothing us with her own virtues and holiness, so we can imitate her.
The brown scapular means that we have entrusted ourselves to Mary, so she can help us on our path to Jesus.
Prayer
(This prayer come from the Carmelite Website)
Priest – Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
Respondent – And grant us Thy salvation.
P – Lord, hear my prayer.
R – And let my cry come unto Thee.
P – The Lord be with you.
R – And with your Spirit.
P – 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 livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
THE PRIEST SPRINKLES WITH HOLY WATER THE SCAPULAR AND THE PERSON(S) BEING ENROLLED. HE THEN INVESTS HIM (THEM), SAYING:
P – 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 INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:
P – 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 Ghost. + 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 may enter into possession of your eternal heritage through Christ our Lord.
R – Amen.
THE PRIEST THEN SPRINKLES AGAIN WITH HOLY WATER THE PERSON(S) ENROLLED.
