“Whosoever dies wearing this garment shall not suffer eternal fire”
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In perilous times such as these, faithful have always looked to Our Lady for help.
For centuries, many have turned to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, wearing Her beloved Brown Scapular as an outward sign of their hope and surety in Her intercession.
Those who already wear the Brown Scapular will celebrate her Feast Day, July 16, once again remembering their commitment to Her and entreating Her protection.
“Our Lady wants everyone to wear the Brown Scapular; it is the sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart.” — Venerable Sr. Lúcia
For those not familiar with the centuries-old tradition, now is the perfect opportunity to learn more about it and join the legions already paying Our Lady honor by donning the Brown Scapular — one of the Church's most beloved and powerful sacramentals.
THE SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
Saint Simon Stock, a Carmelite priest living in England almost 900 years ago, introduced the Brown Scapular to the world.
Simon (1165-1265 AD) was noted for fasting, praying and his simple lifestyle. He shunned material possessions to focus on spiritual matters. So simply did he live that he was said to have lived in the trunk of a tree, hence his name, "stock."
He was known throughout the region for his devotion to Mary and praying earnestly for Her mediation in all human affairs. He set his entreaties to Her in verses such as these:
Strongest of armor,
We trust in thy might:
Under thy mantle,
Hard press'd in the fight,
we call to thee.
Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
You give to those
who turn to thee.
Our Lady appeared to St. Simon on July 16, 1251. She was dressed in the brown habit of the Carmelite order, holding Her Infant Son in one arm while extending a scapular in the other.
"Receive, my beloved son, this scapular. Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire. ... It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace," Our Lady said to the devoted man.
Thus, the tradition of donning the Brown Scapular — a physical manifestation of trust in and devotion to Mary, as well as the desire to live a holy life like Hers — was born.
“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.” — Pope Paul VI
Over the centuries, the habit of the wearing Our Lady's Brown Scapular has caught on in various parts of Europe and the world with many popes weighing in on its spiritual powers.
A hundred years after the apparition to St. Simon, Pope John XXII (1249-1334) picked up the thread of the tradition. He, too, experienced a vision of Our Lady, during which She expanded on the promise She had given to Simon.
To those who wore Her scapular faithfully, practiced chastity according to their state in life, and said certain Marian prayers known as the Little Office, she pledged: "I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death, and whomsoever I shall find in purgatory, I shall free."
"Let all of you have a common language and a common armor: the language, the sentences of the Gospel; the armor, the Scapular of the Virgin of Carmel, which you all ought to wear and which enjoys the singular privilege of protection even after death." — Pope Benedict XV
Venerable Sr. Lúcia (1907-2005), one of three visionaries, along with Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, to whom Our Lady appeared in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, also testified to the significance of the scapular. Years after the series of apparitions, she recalled that Mary had presented Herself as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the brown scapular in her hand even as she urged the faithful to pray the Rosary.
Sister Lúcia said the apparition shows that "Our Lady wants all to wear the scapular as a sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart."
Venerable Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) said: "The Scapular is a practice of piety which by its very simplicity is suited to everyone, and has spread widely among the faithful of Christ to their spiritual profit."
During his reign, Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) also promoted the scapular, saying: "Let the faithful hold in high esteem the practices and devotions to the Blessed Virgin ... the Rosary and the Scapular of Carmel."
“Wear the Scapular devoutly and perseveringly. It is my garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life.” — Our Lady to St. Simon Stock
The word scapular, which comes from the Latin word scapula, meaning "shoulder blade," refers to the tunic-like piece of clothing monks and nuns have traditionally worn. It was originally used to protect their regular garments while they were working and now has become part of their "habit."
Even in Old Testament times, the first hermits of Mt. Carmel, like Elijah the prophet, were known to wear a tunic of undyed, rough wool, grayish-brown in color, in keeping with their ascetic lifestyle.
In a real way, donning the Brown Scapular today connects wearers to the powerful Carmelite tradition — both Old and New Testament — and reminds us to keep our eyes on the need for her hand in our protection.
Any Catholic priest can dispense a scapular and enroll you in the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel — just ask them if they don't ask you.
You can also acquire a brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel for yourself or loved ones by visiting the Souls and Liberty website.
Dr. Barbara Toth has a doctorate in rhetoric and composition from Bowling Green State University. She has taught at universities in the US, China and Saudi Arabia. Her work in setting up a writing center at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahmen University, an all-women's university in Riyadh, has been cited in American journals. Toth has published academic and non-academic articles and poems internationally.
As taught (and required) by a Catholic high school football coach of his team, I wear mine cinched-up so that it circles and rests at the base of my neck (like a necklace). This way, it wouldn't get caught on any football gear and would remain on during any rough workouts or even while showering. It also rides on the body so as to remain visible both front and back of the neck. Bottomline, it never comes off. Smart Catholic coach.
I remember the slight back-and-forth I had with a nurse just before surgery when she wanted me to remove it. I told her wryly that someone in the operating room could borrow my pocket knife to cut it of…