How to understand medals and scapulars?

[jesusmademe]

1. Isn’t wearing the brown scapular (and doing the other things that one also have to do) actually a Carmeite devotion? Why then do many non-Carmelites wear it? The miraculous medal seems less connected to a religious order.
2. What is the difference between wearing a the brown scapular (either as a scapular or medal) and a the miraculous medal and the green scapular? Is it extremely important to wear it or can you just put it in your pocket? the green scapular I think can be put anywhere basically (even hidden).
3. I have seen the brown scapular and the miraculous medal but never a medal or scapular of the Sacred Heart. Did Jesus never tell St Margaret Mary Alacoque to wear a medal or a scapular? Wikipedia mentions a picture connected to the apparitions.
4. Then we have the medal of St Benedict. Is it important that it is blessed with the Priest doing an exorcism? The Priest I went to never did the exorcism.

 

[Justin_Mary]

Isn’t wearing the brown scapular (and doing the other things that one also have to do) actually a Carmeite devotion? Why then do many non-Carmelites wear it? The miraculous medal seems less connected to a religious order.

Yes, wearing the brown scapular Grant’s the wearer to all the benefits of the order. There are several layers of being joined to the order. There is the first order; friars, monks, priests. The second order; consecrated religious. Third order, professed (made a promise) laity. Confraternaties & people who wear the scapular.

 

[Vico]

1. Isn’t wearing the brown scapular (and doing the other things that one also have to do) actually a Carmeite devotion? Why then do many non-Carmelites wear it? The miraculous medal seems less connected to a religious order.
2. What is the difference between wearing a the brown scapular (either as a scapular or medal) and a the miraculous medal and the green scapular? Is it extremely important to wear it or can you just put it in your pocket? the green scapular I think can be put anywhere basically (even hidden).
3. I have seen the brown scapular and the miraculous medal but never a medal or scapular of the Sacred Heart. Did Jesus never tell St Margaret Mary Alacoque to wear a medal or a scapular? Wikipedia mentions a picture connected to the apparitions.
4. Then we have the medal of St Benedict. Is it important that it is blessed with the Priest doing an exorcism? The Priest I went to never did the exorcism.

Indulgences may be obtained for wearing devout use of a scapular (it can be cloth or a scapular medal) and also particular opportunities for plenary indulgences exist on certain dates depending upon which scapular confraternity one is in. The scapular medal has Jesus and his Sacred Heart on one side and the Virgin Mary on the other. The cloth scapulars represent the cloth habits worn by one in a order. One should daily pray for others and live a virtuous life to benefit from the scapular use.

Manual of Indulgences (2006 USCCB) Norm 15

The faithful can acquire an indulgence if they use devoutly one of the following properly blessed pious objects, namely: a crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.

 

[jesusmademe]

Yes, wearing the brown scapular Grant’s the wearer to all the benefits of the order. There are several layers of being joined to the order. There is the first order; friars, monks, priests. The second order; consecrated religious. Third order, professed (made a promise) laity. Confraternaties & people who wear the scapular.

why would anyone who is not really interested in being a carmelite wear the brown scapular?

 

[Mountie]

I chose to become enrolled in the Brown Scapular to grow in devotion to the Blessed Mother and develop a stronger relationship with God. It’s a devotion that I take seriously and reflect upon daily. From my perspective, it is a constant reminder of God’s love for me, who God called me to be, and a sign of my devotion to our Blessed Mother.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

• Isn’t wearing the brown scapular (and doing the other things that one also have to do) actually a Carmeite devotion?

Yes

Why then do many non-Carmelites wear it?

Some wear it because they believe it will protect them from Hell based on the apocryphal “promises” attached to it. This is really not the right reason to wear it.

Some others wear it because they want to be closer to Mother Mary through embracing some of the Carmelite spirituality. This is perfectly okay. Many orders have scapulars of their own that laypeople can wear for the same purpose. The Brown Scapular just happens to be very popular.

The miraculous medal seems less connected to a religious order.

Actually the Miraculous Medal is “connected” to the Vincentian Family of organizations because it was given to the world through the private revelations of a Vincentian sister. The Vincentians promote it and publish the information about it. I believe many of the Vincentian “orders” are actually societies of apostolic life, which focus on providing service to the poor and the sick and are organized differently from contemplative orders like the Carmelites. Also, the Miraculous Medal is not part of a Vincentian “habit” whereas a scapular is usually the lay version of the habit of a religious order.

• What is the difference between wearing a the brown scapular (either as a scapular or medal) and a the miraculous medal and the green scapular? Is it extremely important to wear it or can you just put it in your pocket? the green scapular I think can be put anywhere basically (even hidden).

You should really read up on the history of each devotion, but basically, the Brown Scapular is a lay version of the Carmelite habit for lay people who want to adopt Carmelite spirituality; there is a story of its being provided through private revelation, but this is generally regarded as pious legend. The Miraculous Medal is a devotional provided by Mother Mary to the world through a Vatican-approved private revelation to a saint. The Green Scapular is also based on private revelation and was approved by Pope Pius IX as a devotional item; unlike other scapulars it does not represent the habit of an order and is considered a “cloth medal”.

(Continued next post)

 

[Tis_Bearself]

• I have seen the brown scapular and the miraculous medal but never a medal or scapular of the Sacred Heart. Did Jesus never tell St Margaret Mary Alacoque to wear a medal or a scapular? Wikipedia mentions a picture connected to the apparitions.

Jesus didn’t reveal a medal or scapular to St. Margaret Mary as far as I know. He did promise to bless every home where the image of his Heart would be exposed and honored. I don’t think there’s any official image, so artists have just painted their own versions of the Sacred Heart for people to hang in their homes. Also, there is no official “Sacred Heart Medal” but there are dozens of unofficial medals with the Sacred Heart on them that people can wear, and there are also little red cloth badges of the Sacred Heart that a lot of people wear (these have been distributed in USA by the League of the Sacred Heart for many decades).

It should be noted that St. Margaret Mary is not the only saint who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. There is a Scapular of the Sacred Heart that was given via private revelation to Estelle Faguette in 1876 in the apparitions of Our Lady of Pellevoisin. These apparitions are “approved for faith expression” meaning that the Church has not pronounced on the actual apparition, but it allows Catholics to say prayers associated with the apparition, visit the apparition site, wear the Scapular of the Sacred Heart (which was approved by the Vatican Congregation of Rites) etc.

I’ll let someone else answer the St Benedict Medal question since I’m not as knowledgeable about that one.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, wearing the brown scapular Grant’s the wearer to all the benefits of the order.

Do you have a source for this? I’ve never heard such a thing and it does not comport with the order’s current Scapular Catechesis.
It’s also extremely nebulous what you mean by “All the benefits of the order”.
Obviously someone who wants to join themselves in some way to the Carmelite order also has to do a lot more than just put a scapular on. The scapular is a sign of one’s participation in the order’s spirituality; in other words, it’s like a habit for lay people.

It’s also important to note that the Brown Scapular was incorrectly promoted for many decades in the past. For example, it was not uncommon to just enroll whole classes of First Communicants in the Brown Scapular without them understanding the Carmelite connection or the link to the Carmelite spirituality or what would be required of them from a prayer standpoint. This was especially true in USA where we didn’t really have “Scapular Confraternities” like they do in Europe that would meet regularly and impose certain requirements on the members. And a lot of people wore the Brown Scapular just because of the alleged promise that if you died with it on you wouldn’t go to Hell - they didn’t understand anything about it beyond that. The order only recently started controlling the Scapular a little bit more in the last few decades.

 

[Justin_Mary]

Do you have a source for this? I’ve never heard such a thing and it does not comport with the order’s current Scapular Catechesis.

ocarm.org

Through their free commitment, they participate in the life of the Order and its spiritual benefits in an intimate communion of thought, ideals and works, together with Mary.

 

[Justin_Mary]

For example, it was not uncommon to just enroll whole classes of First Communicants in the Brown Scapular without them understanding the Carmelite connection or the link to the Carmelite spirituality or what would be required of them from a prayer standpoint.

I understand. This, imo, is similar to our Protestant brother’s argument about baptizing infants.

To me, and this is not an official teaching, wearing the scapular expresses a reality. Whether we know it or not, whether we believe or not, our mother is watching & protecting us.

As we get older & understand we are able to cooperate or not.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

ocarm.org

Through their free commitment, they participate in the life of the Order and its spiritual benefits in an intimate communion of thought, ideals and works, together with Mary.

That’s not the same as what you said. They receive benefits through their commitment and participation in the spiritual life of the order, not simply by wearing the Scapular. The Scapular is a symbol of their commitment. It is also a sacramental that can bring some additional benefit (such as indulgences) if properly used, which means one must do more than just wear it.

Your original post made it sound like a person just put on a scapular and instantly got benefits. This is not the case, as shown by the source.

I’m making a point of this because unfortunately many people in the past have used the scapular like it’s some magic charm you wear to get a benefit.

 

[Justin_Mary]

Your original post made it sound like a person just put on a scapular and instantly got benefits. This is not the case, as shown by the source.

So you inferred more than I said. That’s understandable, happens all the time. I didn’t expect to have to write a thesis to answer the simple question.

 

[jesusmademe]

It should be noted that St. Margaret Mary is not the only saint who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart. There is a Scapular of the Sacred Heart that was given via private revelation to Estelle Faguette in 1876 in the apparitions of Our Lady of Pellevoisin. These apparitions are “approved for faith expression” meaning that the Church has not pronounced on the actual apparition, but it allows Catholics to say prayers associated with the apparition, visit the apparition site, wear the Scapular of the Sacred Heart (which was approved by the Vatican Congregation of Rites) etc

I have an amazing book by the Carthusians. It is called Ancient Devotions To The Sacred Heart.
St Margaret Mary was not the first one to mention the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It wasn’t like we only had the devotions to the Five Wounds before she came along and recieved her revelations.
What image of the Sacred Heart would be suitable to have at home?
Maybe you should carry one with you in your pocket?

Actually the Miraculous Medal is “connected” to the Vincentian Family of organizations because it was given to the world through the private revelations of a Vincentian sister. The Vincentians promote it and publish the information about it. I believe many of the Vincentian “orders” are actually societies of apostolic life, which focus on providing service to the poor and the sick and are organized differently from contemplative orders like the Carmelites. Also, the Miraculous Medal is not part of a Vincentian “habit” whereas a scapular is usually the lay version of the habit of a religious order.

So if wear the Miracolous Medal then I am practicing Vincentian spirituality?
I have no intention of becoming “Vincentian”. I just want to become Catholic.
I do like the Franciscans I tell you but they have no specific medal or scapular as far as I know. There is a Tau cross/crucifix. I wore one some years ago and I really liked it.
I really liked the material it was made of. But this is just a “normal” cross/crucifix and has not the same power as a the scapulars or medals of the different revelations.
But I do personally think that it should have the same power. It reminds us of the text from Ezekial which Pope Innocent III used at the opening the Fourth Council of the Lateran.

 

[Rutherford2]

Do not be too concerned with the “magical” powers of sacramental. Just remember that it is there to remind you of God.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

St Margaret Mary was not the first one to mention the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It wasn’t like we only had the devotions to the Five Wounds before she came along and recieved her revelations.

Correct. There were at least three saints before her who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart.

What image of the Sacred Heart would be suitable to have at home?

There are many different suitable pictures and statues of the Sacred Heart to choose from at any Catholic store. Here are three of the most popular pictures. The first one with Jesus holding his heart is the one that the Jesuits used as their “official” image of the Sacred Heart starting about 100 years after St. Margaret Mary’s revelations. The other two came along later.

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Maybe you should carry one with you in your pocket?

Some people carry one of these little cloth badges. Catholic stores sell them very cheap. You can put the laminated ones on a key ring or a chain. My mother used to just pin one to the inside of her clothes.

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Actually the Miraculous Medal is “connected” to the Vincentian Family of organizations because it was given to the world through the private revelations of a Vincentian sister.

So if wear the Miracolous Medal then I am practicing Vincentian spirituality?

No, the Miraculous Medal is for everybody. Mother Mary gave it to the whole world personally, she just picked a Vincentian sister to reveal it to. It doesn’t involve Vincentian spirituality, just love of Mother Mary. The Vincentians just take charge of promoting it.

 

[jesusmademe]

What would be the difference between wearing the Miracolous Medal and a Tau cross/crucifix?
To me it seems that both can be blessed and remind you of what is to be your focus in life. In this sense they are the same. So far I get it but I do not think it is that easy.
The Miracolous Medal seem to be a special medal with specific blessings that one will recieve. So it is very different from wearing a Tau cross/crucifix. Why can’t the Tau cross give me the same blessings? Why are the Miracolous Medal or the Brown Scapular more powerful?