Considering Wearing Brown Scapular

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My question is regarding whether or not I should start wearing the brown scapular. I received the scapular from a pious relative who passed away and would like to carry on the tradition. However, what type of commitment does the scapular require? If I choose to wear it, I want to commit to it. How does it differ from the Miraculous Medal, which I currently wear?
 
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Hi there,
I currently wear both the Scapular and the Miraculous Medal.

Here’s an official Carmelite page summarizing the commitments you make when you wear the scapular.

http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/confraternities

Here’s another Carmelite page describing what the Scapular is and what it isn’t.

http://www.carmelites.ie/BrownScapular.pdf

Be careful of other “Carmelite” pages about the scapular, particularly the page by “Sisters of Carmel”. That group is not currently in communion with Rome the last time someone checked (a few months ago) and there is misinformation on their page.

In order to properly wear the Brown Scapular, you need to be invested in it by a priest. I was invested last summer at a Marian shrine. This is different from the Miraculous Medal, which needs no investiture.

Also, if you wear the cloth Scapular, then when you need to replace it you don’t need to get the new one blessed again, the blessing transfers. But if you choose to switch to a medal, then you need to have each new medal blessed, the blessing doesn’t transfer.

The general expectation for people who wear the Brown Scapular is that you will be saying a daily Rosary or at least part of one (one of those sites says 3 Hail Marys).
 
Great resource! Also puts historical accounts into perspective
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Also, if you wear the cloth Scapular, then when you need to replace it you don’t need to get the new one blessed again, the blessing transfers. But if you choose to switch to a medal, then you need to have each new medal blessed, the blessing doesn’t transfer.
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Ah, good to know about the medals! Can a cloth scapular and medal be blessed at the same time? I’d rather not take too much of a priest’s time…
 
You can bring them in together, but the Scapular “blessing” is, I believe, the investiture ceremony. The medal might need to be blessed separately. The blessing is a 2 minute process (my own priest blessed my rosary in that amount of time when we were in a rush) so if he’s going to spend the time to do the investiture, then having him bless an extra medal isn’t a big deal.

One alternative approach is to visit a Marian shrine on a day when scapular investitures and blessing of holy objects is going to be done as part of a day’s ceremonies. The Blue Army Shrine for example has certain days when these activities are scheduled following a Mass. I was able to get a big backpack of stuff blessed and then get invested in the Scapular the same day. As well as Mass and Confession and prayer time.
 
Ooo…I didn’t know there were specific days set apart for blessings…

Gotta look up nearby Marian shrines now

Thanks!
 
Usually they will advertise it in the day’s program. The reason they bless stuff is, people go to those shrines, buy out the gift shops, and then want their items blessed. But you don’t have to buy it there to get it blessed. I just brought all my own stuff from home.
 
If one takes off the scapular, say for intimacy with your spouse, and puts it back on, do the promises go away completely? Or do you never ever remove it?
 
The scapular is a garment. You can take it off for a short time for things like washing it, or you taking a shower, and some people take it off for sleep and put it back on when they awaken. Others like to leave it on for sleep because they are concerned about dying in their sleep without having it on. I personally think that if you were a habitual wearer of it and you happened to die when you briefly had it off for some reason like sleep or showering, then Our Lady and Jesus would still honor the promises. I have also had days where I showered and simply forgot to put it back on because I was rushing, or in one case I changed my t-shirt and the scapular accidentally came off with the shirt I took off and I did not notice. In those cases I just put it back on as soon as I reasonably can.

It’s not a magic charm so it’s the intent and general practice of wearing it that matters - not whether you have it on every second of every day.
 
The scapular is great but I just wanted to add that the sacred and immaculate heart devotions offer similar promises though not as explicitly but you won’t have to wear a sacramental. First 5 Saturday and first nine fridays. These are still all private devotions.
 
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