Brown Scapulars?

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SANxJONERO

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I’m looking for more information on brown scapulars. “Whosoever dies wearing
this scapular shall not suffer
eternal fire.”
  • Promise of Our Lady made July
    16, 1251 to St. Simon Stock
How traditional should the scapular look? I’ve seen a red 1 before & 1 with different images, or even made out of different material & shapes like this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QRd5E-GkL.SL500_AA280.jpg
From what I’ve read is that 1 side of the scapular stays in front, while the other stays on the back. I was thinking of getting a tattoo of the scapular, that way the only way it could be removed is if it were to come off of my skin & I wanted 1 part to be a portrait of the virgin while the other I’m still not sure about. Any suggestions?
 
I believe the scapular must be 100% wool, so the scapular medals or a tattoo of the scapular would not carry the some promise Our Lady gave to Saint Simon Stock.
 
I don’t understand why they’d have to be wool, but maybe you’re right. The miracles attributed to the scapulars are to the wool 1’s from what I understand. Just wondered if the virgin would look at other versions the same, since it would still be a scapular with her on it.
 
From what I understand about devotions, we aren’t to get to mixed up in performing to the letter. It is the intent that is more important than following to the letter the way something has been performed. For example: If I am praying a novena to St. Theresa. The way the novena is written, I am suppose to say a certain prayer each day, but I forget one day. The novena is still valid if I make up for what I didn’t do. If you have a devotion to the brown scapular it is the way the devotion alters your life for the good that is important. I can’t just wear a piece of brown wool and land my fanny in heaven. That’s superstitious. Sr. Simon Stock was given a brown wool scapular, but I don’t think it resembled the one we wear today. That doesn’t make the promise invalid. If we are following the prayers and pondering the wisdom Mary gave to us when making the promise it will change us and that is what will help us to get to heaven.
 
dkoinzan said:
From what I understand about devotions, we aren’t to get to mixed up in performing to the letter. It is the intent that is more important than following to the letter the way something has been performed. For example: If I am praying a novena to St. Theresa. The way the novena is written, I am suppose to say a certain prayer each day, but I forget one day. The novena is still valid if I make up for what I didn’t do. If you have a devotion to the brown scapular it is the way the devotion alters your life for the good that is important. I can’t just wear a piece of brown wool and land my fanny in heaven. That’s superstitious. Sr. Simon Stock was given a brown wool scapular, but I don’t think it resembled the one we wear today. That doesn’t make the promise invalid. If we are following the prayers and pondering the wisdom Mary gave to us when making the promise it will change us and that is what will help us to get to heaven.
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How coincidental that this thread be introduced today (last night?) My husband wears the brown scapular…and I wanted to know whether it was a superstition. He assures me that it is a devotion (which of course I’m fine with), but I’m always leary of things like this within the Church because of how Catholics approach them.

Exactly what did Mary say about this? I have a hard time believing she said “Wear this and you will go to heaven”. It’s things like this that non-Catholics look at and go “Whaaa??”
 
baylee said:
How coincidental that this thread be introduced today (last night?) My husband wears the brown scapular…and I wanted to know whether it was a superstition. He assures me that it is a devotion (which of course I’m fine with), but I’m always leary of things like this within the Church because of how Catholics approach them.

Exactly what did Mary say about this? I have a hard time believing she said “Wear this and you will go to heaven”. It’s things like this that non-Catholics look at and go “Whaaa??”
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The Scapular promise is based on the two elements of Mary’s spiritual maternity and her mediation of grace, that is that she is the ‘spiritual’ mother of all mankind, as well as the ‘channel’ by which all grace comes to us, understood in the sense that she too is dependent on the sole mediation of Christ, her son.

This promise implies that Mary will intercede to ensure that the wearer of the Scapular obtains the grace of final perseverance, that is of dying in a state of grace.

In order to be eligible for the Scapular promise, which is really a sign of consecration to Mary and hence to God, it is necessary for the wearer to have observed the virtue of chastity according to their state in life, whether married or single, and to have complied with the spirit of inner devotion which the wearing of the Scapular implies.

This is a devotion which has also been continually encouraged by more recent popes, and so it is not something which has lost its power, even if it may have become unfashionable in some circles. If, as in the case of the Rosary, a whole series of popes, have, by virtue of their unique position of authority, approved the Scapular devotion, then clearly it just cannot be dismissed out of hand, at least not by Catholics who take the teaching and pastoral authority of the Church seriously.

There is also an emphasis on the Scapular in the apparitions at Fatima which means it retains its relevance for today.
 
If you’re interested in the Brown Scapular, which is a beautiful devotion, let me pass on something that goforgoal gave me. If you want a wonderfully made Scapular, write to the Scapular Guild. They will send you one for free (although a donation isn’t a bad thing) and they also send you a whole packet full of information. It is much more than I expected to receive.

Scapular Guild
P.O. Box 4651
Dept.V,
Philadelphia, PA 19127

They are great, I’m very glad that goforgoal recommended them.
 
Thank you every one. I’ll probably just start off with a free 1 & go from there.
 
There is a short summary on the Brown Scapular here:

sistersofcarmel.com/brown-scapular-information.php

Practical guidelines:

mtcarmelassociation.org/scapularguide.html

More detail is here:

ocarm.org/pls/ocarm/consultazione.mostra_pagina?rifi=guest&rifp=guest&id_pagina=207

I wear the brown scapular as part of the fivefold scapular, and previously wore the brown scapular by itself, or the scapular ring. The wool and the moving around of the scapular, which gets unbalanced, is inconvienient, but I find that inconvenience is also a blessing as it is a reminder.

The spiritual benefits are from the wearer’s devotion, not the object. The Church grants indulgences, that is, remission of the temporal punishment due sin, for sins already forgiven. An indulgence may be obtained from using a crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.

In 1967 Indulgences were revised (the latest revision is 1999), rescending all previously given, and requiring orders to re-establish them. The Carmelites did. So if you read about the indulgences for a particular scapular anywhere, keep in mind that the information given is only historical, if before 1967.

Also, on specific days, wearers of a scapular and members of certain confraternities that wear them, are eligible to obtain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions of: intention, in the state of grace (at least by the time of completion), sacramental confession (within 20 days), communion, vocal prayers for the intentions of The Pope, and detachment from all sin (regret for even venial sins).

These are the days for the brown scapular indulgence:
The day of investiture.
Feast of Saint Simon Stock, May 16
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jul 16
Feast of Elijah, the Prophet, Jul 20
Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (Lisieux), Oct1
Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Oct 15
Feast of The Saints of Carmel, Nov 14
Feast of Saint John of the Cross, Dec 14
 
Vico said:
There is a short summary on the Brown Scapular here:

sistersofcarmel.com/brown-scapular-information.php

Practical guidelines:

mtcarmelassociation.org/scapularguide.html

More detail is here:

ocarm.org/pls/ocarm/consultazione.mostra_pagina?rifi=guest&rifp=guest&id_pagina=207

I wear the brown scapular as part of the fivefold scapular, and previously wore the brown scapular by itself, or the scapular ring. The wool and the moving around of the scapular, which gets unbalanced, is inconvienient, but I find that inconvenience is also a blessing as it is a reminder.

The spiritual benefits are from the wearer’s devotion, not the object. The Church grants indulgences, that is, remission of the temporal punishment due sin, for sins already forgiven. An indulgence may be obtained from using a crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.

In 1967 Indulgences were revised (the latest revision is 1999), rescending all previously given, and requiring orders to re-establish them. The Carmelites did. So if you read about the indulgences for a particular scapular anywhere, keep in mind that the information given is only historical, if before 1967.

Also, on specific days, wearers of a scapular and members of certain confraternities that wear them, are eligible to obtain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions of: intention, in the state of grace (at least by the time of completion), sacramental confession (within 20 days), communion, vocal prayers for the intentions of The Pope, and detachment from all sin (regret for even venial sins).

These are the days for the brown scapular indulgence:
The day of investiture.
Feast of Saint Simon Stock, May 16
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jul 16
Feast of Elijah, the Prophet, Jul 20
Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (Lisieux), Oct1
Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Oct 15
Feast of The Saints of Carmel, Nov 14
Feast of Saint John of the Cross, Dec 14
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I’m surprised you didn’t show up sooner, because I saw your signature & figured you were in the know. Well thanks for all the info… Here is also a site I found: freebrownscapular.com/brown_scapular_history.html (don’t know if the others had the same info, because I noticed something about not eating meat on certain days). Now I’m still wondering about getting a tattoo & what would be appropriate, since it doesn’t have to be exactly what some tihnk it has to be.
 
SANxJONERO, you said: “don’t know if the others had the same info, because I noticed something about not eating meat on certain days”

The fasts are part of the Sabbatine Privilege which is not an indulgence granted by the Church. Some believe that this originated from Pope John XXII in the year 1322 in a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but it is without historical foundation. In 1613 the Holy See instructed the Carmelites to stop mentioning the “Sabbatine Privilege”, but that people may believe that The Blessed Virgin Mary will help them especially on Saturday, which is her day. Read about it here, exerpted from The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual:

carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

For Church indulgence, the scapular or the scapular medal can be used.
 
I don’t understand why they’d have to be wool, but maybe you’re right. The miracles attributed to the scapulars are to the wool 1’s from what I understand. Just wondered if the virgin would look at other versions the same, since it would still be a scapular with her on it.

The reason it must be wool is because the original monastic habit was made of wool. Wikipedia has a very good article on the Brown Scapular.
 
I wear the Brown Scapular. In the past the scapular was required to be 100% wool but this is no longer required. You may want to read more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapular_of_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel
SANxJONERO said:
I don’t understand why they’d have to be wool, but maybe you’re right. The miracles attributed to the scapulars are to the wool 1’s from what I understand. Just wondered if the virgin would look at other versions the same, since it would still be a scapular with her on it.
Click to expand...
 
Although it was reduced the scapular still must be 100% wool.
 
SANxJONERO said:
I’m surprised you didn’t show up sooner, because I saw your signature & figured you were in the know. Well thanks for all the info… Here is also a site I found: freebrownscapular.com/brown_scapular_history.html (don’t know if the others had the same info, because I noticed something about not eating meat on certain days). Now I’m still wondering about getting a tattoo & what would be appropriate, since it doesn’t have to be exactly what some tihnk it has to be.
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Aloha SxJ, I ordered the pack of 25, for $25 from the website above. The information with the prayer for the priest to use/say to enroll you in the brown scapular are nice, but the Scapular is very cheap. I have gone through 5 in the last 6 months. I was going to pass them out through the Church, but decided not to as to their flimsiness.
 
The wool of the scapular is traditional in the way a “hair shirt” was worn by monks and laity as a type of penance. (at least this is one reason–it was also a common fiber). When I wear the scapular I will often be bothered by the scratching of it on my skin during the day. When I remember what is is making me uncomfortable I offer up the sacrifice, remember to pray more and therefore in general feel closer to God.
It should be worn as a devotion of course. But there is no harm in wearing one to foster a devotion as well.

The scapular—not the small ones we are talking about around our necks—was part of the Carmelite habit worn by the nuns. If you look at a Carmelite nun you will see the final brown cloth put over the rest of her habit. It hangs on her shoulders thus the name scapular.
 
Jacob21 said:
If you’re interested in the Brown Scapular, which is a beautiful devotion, let me pass on something that goforgoal gave me. If you want a wonderfully made Scapular, write to the Scapular Guild. They will send you one for free (although a donation isn’t a bad thing) and they also send you a whole packet full of information. It is much more than I expected to receive.

Scapular Guild
P.O. Box 4651
Dept.V,
Philadelphia, PA 19127

They are great, I’m very glad that goforgoal recommended them.
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They didn’t send me 1, but they sent me some nice things (lots of papers with info & some prayer cards). 1 of the papers says the scapulars are free, but you have to pay $2.50 for shipping. It’d be nice if I could get 1 for completely free, but maybe I’ll just come across 1 at a store that I’d like to buy.
 
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