Can I Be Enrolled In The Brown Scapular?

[Della]

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the habit of the Carmelite Order, thus it is the Order that sets the rites (with Rome’s approval) for enrollment and investiture. I have no opinions on the matter, I am stating what the Order says about the Scapular. Our Lady left it open to all who desire to wear it so that many will be saved. One does not have to be a Catholic, but one does have to promise to live according to one’s baptismal vows. It’s meant to be an aid to faith, not an end in itself.

 

[Bookcat]

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the habit of the Carmelite Order, thus it is the Order that sets the rites (with Rome’s approval) for enrollment and investiture. I have no opinions on the matter, I am stating what the Order says about the Scapular. Our Lady left it open to all who desire to wear it

Right the Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is from the habit of the Carmelite Orders --and as such there can be requirements concerning such -especially regarding enrollment in an association.

I am not referring to someone being able to wear it (and even have it blessed of course). *I am referring only to investiture/enrollment. *

(I refer all to the Carmelite Orders regarding such…for there can be various rules and responsibilites regarding such as I have noted…)

Wearing a blessed scapular is one thing --joining the Confraternity (being enrolled) etc is another.

 

[Bookcat]

Some interesting lines from the North American Carmelite Superiors:

Is it necessary to enroll people in the Scapular Confraternity for them to share in the spiritual benefits attached to the scapular?
No, those who wear the scapular out of devotion, practice the Order’s spirituality, yet who have no formal association to the Order share in a spiritual affiliation to the Carmelite Order. It gives them the assurances of the graces pertinent to this sacramental. Indiscriminate enrollment in the Scapular Confraternity or other such associations weakens the purpose and mission of those associations and should be avoided.

and

If a person wears the scapular, but has no formal association to the Order, does that person still gain the benefits associated with the scapular?
A person who wears the scapular and practices the spirituality of the Carmelite Order has an affiliation, loose as it may be, to the Carmelite family and so shares in the graces traditionally associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. However, simply to wear the scapular without accepting the responsibilities attached to it would be to reduce this precious sacramental to the status of a charm or good-luck piece.
**
Six practical ways of affiliation ate recognized by the Carmelite Order:**

1.  The religious men and women of the Order and aggregated institutes

2.  The Secular/Lay Order (Third Order).

3.  Members of public associations and confraternities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, such as active communities of the Scapular Confraternity.

4.  Those who have been invested in the scapular, practice the Order’s spirituality, and have been granted some association with the Order.

5. Those who wear the scapular out of devotion, practice the Order’s spirituality, hut who have no formal association to the Order.
6. Those who are committed to practice the Marian characteristics of Carmelite Spirituality but use outward forms other than the Brown Scapular to express this devotion.

What is this Carmelite spirituality that one must practice in order to have an affiliation with the Carmelite Order?
The spirituality of the Carmelite Order is one of the preeminent spiritual traditions of the Catholic Church. It is difficult to reduce this spirituality to a few sentences. One who wears the scapular should certainly reflect upon the teachings of the great Carmelite saints, three of whom are doctors of the Church.
A few basic introductory principles of Carmelite spirituality would be;

1.  frequent participation in the Mass and reception of holy Communion;

2.  frequent reading of and meditation on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture;

3.  the regular praying of at least part of the Liturgy of the Hours;

4.  imitation of and devotion to the Mary, the woman of faith who bears the Word of God and puts it into practice;

5.  the practice of the virtues, notably charity, chastity (according to one’s state of life), and obedience to the will of God.

---

So for now- simply have it blessed and wear it … …and be committed to the Marian aspects etc and be devoted to Our Lady and Follow Christ!

Then after one is Catholic - if one wishes one may be enrolled in the confraternity one may explore this and be so invested and enrolled if one so decides.

 

[hooper496]

Yes, I believe you can.

You get spiritual benefits even though you are not enrolled in the Confraternity of the Brown scapular. Give this a read through. Feel free to contact me further if needed.

carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

 

[Hey_Jude_1994]

Welcome to the club! :extrahappy:

 

[His_helpmeet]

I would suggest that you go to a priest and ask. Any priest who can hear confessions (this would be the vast majority of priests) may enroll a person in the Brown Scapular. My understanding is that Our Lady also granted the Sabbatine privilege, which means that Our Lord has given it to her to release from Purgatory on the first Saturday after death all those who:

-wear the brown scapular
-observe chastity in accordance with their state in life
-say every day the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or another devotion given to them by a priest who can hear confessions

As an aside, Maria Trapp (the wife of Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music”; they were a real family and the musical is based on their story) noted in her book that her husband was very devoted to the Brown Scapular devotion. He died in the early hours of a Friday morning. Maria and the baron had had three children together after their marriage, and their youngest son, Johannes, was only a few years old when his father died. In the morning, they told him of Georg’s death. His response: “It’s good that Papa died on a Friday, now Our Lady will take him to heaven soon!” So beautiful.