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In
1251, Our Lady made the following promise during an apparition to St. Simon Stock:
"Whosoever dies wearing this (brown) scapular
shall not suffer eternal fire. It shall be a sign of peace and a safeguard
in times of danger". This
amazing promise
has helped to greatly
increase the devotion to the scapular. This "miniature religious
habit" has been considered a highly indulgenced sacramental and has
been associated
with many extraordinary miracles. The small scapular is actually a
miniature replica
of an old
monk's habit [the small scapular
is measured in inches, where as the monks'
scapular is measured in feet (it goes from
the shoulders to near the ground)]. The small scapular generally consists of two
small rectangular pieces of material (e.g. wool) connected
by ribbons - however the shape and material of scapulars may vary by
type. The word
"scapular" comes from the Latin word scapulae,
which means shoulders, as it is worn over
the shoulders.
A
scapular may be worn either over or (typically) under
clothing. One part hangs in front of
the body,
while the other part hangs in back at an
equal distance. Scapulars should not be pinned to
clothing. As indicated above, the materials and shape (as well as color, appearance, and purpose) of scapulars
vary by type. Images are not required on
some scapulars. If you wear more than
one type of scapular, they may be joined
to the same set of bands. (For
more information on types of scapulars,
scroll down or click
here.)
There
are more than a dozen small scapulars
approved by the church. A "fivefold
scapular" includes the five of the
best known small scapulars (Red Scapular
of the Passion, White Scapular of the
Most Blessed Trinity, Brown Scapular
of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Black Scapular
of the Seven Dolours of Mary, and the Blue
Scapular of the Immaculate Conception) attached to the same set of red wool bands
(i.e. on top of each other). Note: For
additional information about various
scapulars, see below.
Scapulars
may or may not be associated with a
confraternity (a voluntary association of
the faithful under ecclesiastical
authority). An individual may become
invested with a scapular by a Roman
Catholic priest who says an appropriate blessing. At the investiture, the
scapular should be blessed by the priest. Afterwards, the
individual should wear the scapular at all
times, day and night. If you stop
wearing the scapular, you can resume at
any time. During the time the scapular is not worn, the individual will
not get any indulgences associated with
the wearing of the scapular. Note that each type of
scapular may be subject to its own
particular requirements.
Those
who wear a Marian scapular (e.g. the Brown
Scapular) are effectively placing themselves under the special protection of the blessed
Virgin Mary. "The other devotions to Our Lady last only for a
certain time, but he who wears the Scapular honors Our Lady at all times
and in all places. The Scapular is, as the Blessed Virgin herself has
declared, 'a safeguard in danger'" (Muller). The Marian scapular is like a
coat of armor. It shows your special
devotion to Mary and your desire to
be like her. In order to receive the
benefits of the scapular, you must live as an
true Christian - a scapular is not a guarantee of
salvation or an excuse to sin. You must wear
the scapular properly and with faith. The scapular should be
your silent
way of telling Mary that you honor, love,
and venerate her. It is like a
constant prayer, worn each second of the
day. It can also help you
perfect your prayers and avoid evil;
simply hold it as you pray and while
undergoing temptation. Wearing of
the scapular should show your
desire and intention to improve your
spiritual life and to seek perfection, and
it should serve as a reminder of
Mary's presence in your life. Your
scapular can remind you to seek Mary's
intercession and to keep Jesus as the
center of your life.
After
becoming invested (also called
"enrolled") in the scapular by a Catholic priest, a
scapular medal may be worn in the place
of a small cloth scapular in "extreme"
cases. However,
Popes have indicated that the cloth
scapular is preferable and discourage the
use of the scapular medal. There should
be a good reason to wear a scapular medal
in place of a cloth scapular. Vanity
and fear of making an open profession of
faith may be considered insufficient
reasons. Also, it has been noted the
scapular medal has not been associated
with miracles, unlike the cloth
scapular. A scapular medal should be
blessed by a priest. If the scapular
medal replaces more than one scapular, the
medal should receive a blessing for each
scapular replaced. Note that the scapular
medal may contain an image of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus on one side, and Mary on
the other side.
Individuals
may receive their first scapular at
their First Holy Communion. It should be
venerated and not forgotten. In addition to the many other benefits,
faithful Catholics may also receive indulgences both for wearing or
kissing the scapular. Since
scapulars are inexpensive, it is
recommended that the faithful have
additional scapulars around as spares for themselves
and for others (they are great with gifts). Even non-Catholics are
encouraged to wear a scapular. The
scapular has been associated with many
miracles, including many
conversions. Note that scapulars should be blessed by a priest and old scapulars
should be
disposed of properly as a religious object
(i.e. buried or burned). After death, one may be buried with their
scapular. Those who
promote scapular wearing may also gain graces, so be sure to hand them
out to family and friends and encourage them to wear the scapular.
Finally, one should note that the scapular is
commonly associated with the Rosary as the
two should go hand-in-hand.
Click
Here for Scapular Reflections
=> Looking To Buy Scapulars?
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Note:
Click
here for the Flos Carmeli Prayer
(Great for scapular wearers--It's been
said that this prayer has never been known
to fail in obtaining the Blessed Virgin's help)
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The
following is a brief listing of some small
scapulars. Note that some scapulars
may be referred to by different names and
certain characteristics of scapulars - even
of the same type - may differ. A
variety of indulgences have been granted
for wearing and venerating (see box at right) certain
scapulars. In addition, various
promises are attached to certain
scapulars. Scapular devotions should be approved by
the Church.
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Did You Know?
Non-Catholics often criticize the practice of "venerating"
scapulars. However, by "veneration" we do not mean "worship".
Rather, "veneration" may be compared to a person kissing a
photograph of a deceased loved one or a bible. Clearly, the
person isn't committing "idolatry" of a photograph or a bible
by kissing it, but he or is simply expressing affection for
what they represent in a concrete manner. For more
information, please visit the Non-Catholics Section of this
site (click
here). |
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Click
link below or scroll down for additional
information:
Brown
Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Green
Scapular
Black
Scapular of the Passion
Black
Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary
Blue Scapular
of the Immaculate Conception
Red Scapular
of the Passion
Scapular of
the Blessed Virgin Mary
Scapular of
the Most Precious Blood
Scapular of
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Scapular of
St. Benedict
Scapular of
St. Dominic
Scapular of
St. Joseph
Scapular of
St. Michael the Archangel
White
Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
White
Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity
White
Scapular of the Mother of Good Counsel
White
Scapular of Our Lady of Ransom
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Brown
Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel -
The
best known, most popular, and most
widespread scapular is the Brown Scapular
of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (also called
"The Brown Scapular" and
"The Scapular"). This is
the scapular associated with Our Lady's
promise to St. Simon Stock:
"Whosoever dies wearing this (brown)
scapular shall not suffer eternal
fire. It shall be a sign of peace
and a safeguard in times of
danger". This brown scapular is
thought to be the first the scapular and
is the most favored of the
Blessed Virgin Mary in apparitions. In Fatima on October 13, 1917, for example, Mary
appeared as Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. This scapular, which was
adapted from the scapular of the Carmelite
Order, has been associated with many
extraordinary miracles. St. Simon
Stock founded many Carmelite Communities
(the Order of Carmel has been the home to a number of
great saints, including St. John of the Cross, St. Terese of the Jesus,
and St. Therese of the Child Jesus). The Sabbatine Privilege
(which obtains for you special assistance
from Mary in the form of her securing your
release from purgatory on the Saturday
after your death) is also associated with
this scapular. To obtain this
promise, an individual must meet certain
stipulations [i.e. wear the scapular,
observe chastity, recite the Little Office of Our
Lady daily (with permission of a priest, the
Rosary may be substituted)]. This is an especially valuable
privilege as it has been said that the
average time spent in purgatory is as long as 40 years. And, as St.
Caesar of Arles has said (circa 540 A.D.), "That purgatorial fire
itself will be more difficult than any punishments that can be seen or
imagined or felt in this life." This particular scapular is made of brown
woolen material and usually contains an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It requires that individuals be enrolled
by a priest in the Scapular Confraternity
of Mount Carmel (which occurs
automatically upon the investiture by a
priest). Wearers should say the Hail
Mary at least three times a day and should
also try to say the Rosary daily (which may be
required for the Sabbatine Privilege). Everyone (including non-Catholics) should
wear this scapular. Wear it yourself
and encourage your family and friends to
wear it too. It is a sacramental
that can help lead you to holiness and can
help you avoid eternal punishment. (Part of the fivefold
scapular)
Note: There
are various forms of investiture of this
scapular. A priest must possess the
faculties to perform a valid investiture
(contact the appropriate Church authority
beforehand to verify). When the
priest invests you (or
"enrolls" you) in the scapular, you are
automatically enrolled in the
Confraternity of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel or Scapular Confraternity
for life. You don't need to notify
anyone. The prayer for
conferring the scapular may be found in
the priest's Book of Blessings.
Finally,
Scapular wearers should note that the
prayer which follows, the "Flos
Carmeli" has been handed down
over the centuries. It is said that
this prayer has never been known to fail
in obtaining the help of the Blessed Mother.
"Flos
Carmeli Prayer for Scapular Wearers":
O beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the Sea, help and protect me! Show me that Thou art my Mother. O Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee! Mother and Ornament of Carmel, pray for us! Virgin, Flower of Carmel, pray for us! Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, pray for us! Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, pray for us! St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us! St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, pray for us! St. Joseph, our Patron, pray for us! O sweet Heart of Mary, be our salvation!*
"Ever
hold in great esteem the practices and exercises of devotion to the
Most Blessed Virgin which have been recommended for centuries by the
magisterium of the Church. And among them we judge well to recall
especially the Marian Rosary and the religious use of the Scapular of
Mount Carmel." (Pope Paul VI)
*Note:
Phrases like this should not be taken out of context. Catholics
know that redemption comes from Christ, however, they do acknowledge the
fact that Christ made his coming to earth dependent upon the fiat of
Mary - that, by the will of God, redemption would not be possible
without the Virgin's consent - and that her intercession is a powerful
aid to salvation. For more assistance, see
"Do
Catholics Worship Mary?"
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 Green
Scapular - Well known for
countless miracles of cures and
conversions, the green scapular (also
called a "pocket scapular") is
second in popularity to the Brown Scapular
of Mount Carmel. The green scapular
consists of a single piece of green felt
with a cord. One side of the
scapular contains a picture of the Blessed
Virgin, the other side contains an image
of Mary's Immaculate Heart pierced with a
sword. The green scapular may be
worn around the neck or otherwise worn or
carried. If an individual is not
receptive to the scapular, it can be placed
in the room, under a pillow, or hidden
from sight (even unknown to them). The confidence of the person wearing or
giving this scapular is critical. In fact, the graces received come in proportion
to the degree of confidence in Mary. The scapular must be blessed by a priest
and the following prayer should be said at
least once daily: "Immaculate Heart
of Mary, pray for us
now and at the hour
of our death". If you give the
scapular to someone else who won't say the
prayer, you should say it daily on their
behalf. Use of this scapular is a great
means of converting loved ones and may
also affect a cure for the sick. Have plenty on hand and share them often.
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Black
Scapular of the Passion -
This
scapular is associated with the
Congregation of the Passionists. It
is black and contains an image of a heart
above a cross.
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Black
Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary -
This
scapular is associated with the Confraternity
of the Seven Dolours of Mary (and the
Servite Order). It is
black and may contain an image of the
Mother of Sorrows. (Part of the
fivefold
scapular)
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Blue Scapular
of the Immaculate Conception -
This
scapular was introduced through the
foundress of the Order of Theatine Nuns
after she reported having a vision of
Jesus. It is light blue and may
bear a symbol of the Immaculate
Conception. (Part of the fivefold
scapular)
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Red Scapular
of the Passion - This scapular arose
after an apparition in 1846. It is
entirely red (both the cloth and bands are
made of red woolen material) and contains
an image of Jesus on the Cross on one side
and the Hearts of Mary and Jesus on the
other side. (Part of the fivefold
scapular)
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Scapular of
the Blessed Virgin Mary -
This
scapular is black and may contain a picture of
the Mother of God (under the title
"Help of the Sick") with saints
at her feet, and a red cross.
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Scapular of
the Most Precious Blood -
This
scapular is associated with the Confraternity
of the Precious Blood. It is red and
may contain a picture of the chalice with
the Precious Blood.
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Scapular of
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary -
This
scapular is associated with the
Congregation of the Daughters of the
Sacred Heart. It is white and
contains an image of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus and the Heart of Mary pierced with a
sword as well as a small red cross.
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Scapular of
St. Benedict - This scapular is associated
with the Confraternity of St.
Benedict. It is black and may
contain an image of St. Benedict.
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Scapular of
St. Dominic - This scapular is white
and may contain an image of St. Dominic
kneeling before the crucifix.
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Scapular of
St. Joseph - This scapular is
associated with the Capuchins. It is
violet and gold and contains images of St.
Joseph with Jesus, a dove (a symbol
of the Holy Spirit), a cross, and the
keys of Peter.
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Scapular of
St. Michael the Archangel -
This
scapular is associated with the
Archconfraternity of the Scapular of St.
Michael. It is in the form of a
shield, and is made of blue and black
cloth. The bands are blue and black
and the scapular contains an image of St. Michael
the Archangel.
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White
Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary -
This scapular is associated with the Sons
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It
is white and contains a picture of the
heart of Mary, pierced with a sword,
encircled by a wreath of roses, and
contains a lily rising from the heart.
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White
Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity -
This
scapular is associated with the Confraternity
of the Most Blessed Trinity and is based
on the habit of the order of the Trinitarians. This scapular is white and contains a blue
and red cross. (Part of the fivefold
scapular)
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White
Scapular of the Mother of Good Counsel -
This
scapular is associated with the
Augustinian monks. It is white and
contains an image of the Mother of Good
Counsel on one side and a tiara and the
keys of Peter on the other side.
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White
Scapular of Our Lady of Ransom -
This
scapular is associated with the Fathers of
the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the
Ransom of Prisoners. It is white and
contains a picture of Our Lady of
Ransom.
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Know
of a miracle associated with a
scapular? Please share it
in the Good
News section.
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