Brown Scapular and swimming

[Love_is]

Hi, I swim competitively and the High school rules say that no one can have jewelry (for any sports) and so I’m not sure what to do??? Since it can’t be fastened to clothes (or hidden under the swim suit), and it must be worn in front and back, I’m afraid I’m stuck as to what to do. Help? I have a meet in about an hour!

 

[Maristella]

For goodness sake, take it off and go swim. There is no requirement saying you have to wear it every second of your life.

 

[Oh_Charlotte]

Well the above is an option. You can also buy a four-way scapular medal - or a few of them, and pin it into the inside of your bathing suit where it won’t show. NOo sure if that is breaking your swimming rules but if no one sees it… and its a medal, not “jewelry”. I also don’t see why you could no, under the circumstances, sew a brown scapular inside the suit. Obviously with swimming, you cannot have it pulling through the water behind you, so if worn, it *must *be fastened. So if you feel more right wearing it than not for swimming, I would think that would be a most reasonable option.

 

[onceablasphemer]

My work forbids any sort of necklace when I am working so I face a similar predicament. Even though I could hide it and no one would know, I don’t wear it. I prayed about it and asked the Blessed Mother what she would do. The answer came not as thunder but I just thought about her obedience to God. I think that it is better to be obedient to the rules than to break them in your devotion. God knows that you want to wear it.

 

[Damien88]

I always remove my brown scapular whenever I go for shower. I don’t think God will get angry for not wearing the scapular

There was a visiting carmelite friar at my place last time for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. And when he’s not praying or doing any pastoral work he will remove his habit. I’m not sure whether he wears the small brown scapular or not.

 

[R_C]

The Scapular is not jewelry, it’s just two small pieces of wool cloth connected by string. Again, I also agree in that I don’t think the requirement is not followed if we have to take it off (ex. shower).

 

[domandcarols]

The brown scapular isn’t jewelry. I wouldn’t personally take it off because I never take mine off or almost never. You could take it off just for swimming and put it back on when you get out. You can use it as a chance to remind yourself to show devotion to Our Lady and kiss your scapular and maybe a short prayer before or after you take it off/put it back on.

 

[Allegra]

Well the above is an option. You can also buy a four-way scapular medal - or a few of them, and pin it into the inside of your bathing suit where it won’t show. NOo sure if that is breaking your swimming rules but if no one sees it… and its a medal, not “jewelry”. I also don’t see why you could no, under the circumstances, sew a brown scapular inside the suit. Obviously with swimming, you cannot have it pulling through the water behind you, so if worn, it *must *be fastened. So if you feel more right wearing it than not for swimming, I would think that would be a most reasonable option.

If the OP follows this advice and the pin comes off while she is in the pool, it will result in a pin being on the bottom of the pool where a swimmer could step on it. (Which is probably the reason why they are forbbiden in the first place.) However, the sewing of the scapular idea is a good one. Or the OP could just take it off during her event and put it back on again once she gets back out of the water.

 

[Elizium23]

The key to a scapular devotion is your adherence to the devotion itself, not a slavish observance of its rules, especially when they conflict with your ability to live an ordinary life. If you strive to wear the scapular during every moment possible, that is more than enough to satisfy observance. I think it is wise to obey your school’s rules as they are given and just offer up your inconvenience to Our Lady. Just don’t forget the prayers attached, because piously reciting these is a major part of the devotion!

 

[R_C]

If you strive to wear the scapular during every moment possible, that is more than enough to satisfy observance…] Just don’t forget the prayers attached, because piously reciting these is a major part of the devotion!

Every time I have to take it off and put it back on, I take occasion to say the prayer “Sub tuum praesidium” (which, upon being invested, I was recommended to say every night), as a little way to “renew” my devotion:

• Under thy protection
  we seek refuge,
  Holy Mother of God;
  despise not our petitions
  in our needs,
  but from all dangers
  deliver us always,
  Glorious and Blessed Virgin*

 

[Love_is]

I ended up just taking it off before and putting it back on afterwards. Thank you all for the advice! I realize it isn’t jewelry but the officials would still see it as jewelry.