Enrollment
The promises of salvation and deliverance from Purgatory apply to those who die wearing either the large Scapular of the Carmelite habit, the small Scapular, or the Scapular Medal. Anyone wishing to join the Confraternity must be properly enrolled by a priest who has the faculties to do so. Most priests receive this power with the general faculties they acquire from their diocese. Those who are enrolled remain Confraternity members for life and if anyone should fail to wear the Scapular, even for an extended period, there is no need for a re-enrollment in the Confraternity. Also, new Scapulars need not be blessed if the wearer has already been enrolled. In cases of emergency, during war for instance, soldiers and sailors are officially received into the Confraternity by simply wearing the Scapular and reciting some prayers to Our Lady, such as three Hail Mary’s
There are a few guidelines pertaining to the small scapular itself which should be observed in addition to the enrollment requirements
The Scapular must be made of woven wool
Its color may be any shade between brown and black, but preferably brown
It must be two rectangular shaped pieces of the cloth connected by cord, string, or chain
It must be worn over the shoulder to rest on the front and back of the body
It may be decorated with pictures or designs but this is not necessary
THE SABBATINE PRIVILEGE
Our Lady 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 temporal 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.”
The Blessed Virgin assigned certain conditions which must be fulfilled
WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR CONTINUOUSLY
OBSERVE CHASTITY ACCORDING TO ONE’S STATE IN LIFE
RECITE DAILY THE “LITTLE OFFICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN”
OR, TO OBSERVE THE FASTS OF THE CHURCH TOGETHER WITH ABSTAINING FROM MEAT ON WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
OR, WITH PERMISSION OF A PRIEST TO SAY FIVE DECADES OF OUR LADY’S MOST HOLY ROSARY
OR, WITH THE PERMISSION OF A PRIEST TO SUBSTITUTE SOME OTHER GOOD WORK.
Pope Benedict XV, the celebrated World War I Pontiff granted 500 days indulgence for devoutly kissing your scapular. :extrahappy:
The Scapular Medal
Early in this century missionaries petitioned Rome to allow a Medal to be used instead of the cloth Scapular. Those who made this request were stationed in tropical regions and had considerable trouble preserving their Scapulars from decaying in the excessive humidity. After careful consideration, Pope Saint Pius X, in 1910, granted permission for the use of a Scapular Medal. It was to have an image of the Sacred Heart on one side and an image of Our Lady on the other and would possess the same promises and indulgences as the Brown Scapular. The Medal’s usage, however, was to be restricted. Saint Pius added explicitly to his consent that for ordinary circumstances, “
I desire most vehemently that the cloth Scapulars be worn as heretofore”
**You are a sheep and “no sheep should be without her wool”
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