How to wear a scapular?

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The small brown scapular typically comes with images on one side of each patch of cloth.

Is there a convention regarding whether one wears the scapular with the images facing out or with the plain cloth sides facing out?
 
It doesn’t matter. Usually the strings twist around anyway while you’re wearing it, so sometimes one side will face inward, at other times outward.
 
I feel silly asking this but I am going to anyway. I am a cradle catholic I know that there are scapulars, but what I don’t know is what they are for.

Can someone explain it simply? And by the way thanks for not laughing too loud!! 😃

Thanks!!
 
kitafraya said:
I feel silly asking this but I am going to anyway. I am a cradle catholic I know that there are scapulars, but what I don’t know is what they are for.

Can someone explain it simply? And by the way thanks for not laughing too loud!! 😃

Thanks!!
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Heard the Monks of Mt Carmel used to wear huge cloths across their habits to protect them.

And Mary used this as the symbolism for the Spiritual protection, the scapular is said to offer.

One physical, the other spiritual.

It’s was once only a garment for the Carmelites, but it has been extended well beyond the order, and worldwide.
 
kitafraya said:
I feel silly asking this but I am going to anyway. I am a cradle catholic I know that there are scapulars, but what I don’t know is what they are for.

Can someone explain it simply? And by the way thanks for not laughing too loud!! 😃

Thanks!!
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I’m not laughing at all, it’s a good question.

The word scapular comes from scapula, meaning shoulder. In the traditional habits of many religious orders, monks or nuns wore a garment called a scapular over their shoulders and down their fronts and backs. It is sort of like an apron.

Sometimes laypeople who wanted to participate in the spiritual life of a religious order would wear part of that order’s habit as an outward sign. Often this was the scapular, which became reduced in size so as not to be ostentatious and also so that it would not get in the way during their regular jobs and daily lives. This eventually came to be more commonly worn under the outer clothing as a private sign of devotion.

And that’s how we have the small scapulars that many lay Catholics wear today. The best well known is the brown scapular, which is associated with the Carmelite order. There are many graces and indulgences attached to this sacramental and it has been highly recommended to all the faithful by many saints.
 
kitafraya said:
I feel silly asking this but I am going to anyway. I am a cradle catholic I know that there are scapulars, but what I don’t know is what they are for.

Can someone explain it simply? And by the way thanks for not laughing too loud!! 😃

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Well, a scapular is a sacramental that are two small pieces of wool cloth attached by two strings. It goes over the head around the neck with one square over the chest and the other worn over the back. They were originally a part of a religous habit and were full length and large and worn only by priests and monks. But as times moved on, the layity attached themselves to religous orders by becoming members of third orders or members of a confraternity, so the scapulars were made small for them, small enough to be worn under there clothes.

For the most part, most scapulars worn today are from members of confraternities. They help lay people that are associated with an order to share in the blessings and works of the order and they help them share in the charism of the order. Many of those that have gone through the “investiture” of a particular scapular, have priveledges and indulgences granted to the wearer for certain acts and at certain times, but only if they are worn in good faith and with proper intentions and only if the wearer follows through on the promises made during the investiture. They should also serve as a reminder to do certain things that are required by the religous order to which they are attached.

Some scapulars however, don’t require a lay person to be a third order or confraternity member, such as the brown scapular. Just have a priest bless it, and you can wear it with all of it’s blessings.

I hope that helps some!🙂
 
kitafraya said:
I feel silly asking this but I am going to anyway. I am a cradle catholic I know that there are scapulars, but what I don’t know is what they are for.

Can someone explain it simply? And by the way thanks for not laughing too loud!! 😃

Thanks!!
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I haven’t heard anyone mention the brown scapular’s promise specifically so I will add that the brown scapular is probably the most important one since Our Blessed Mother promised that whoever wears it will not suffer eternal fire. Can’t pass that offer up! 👍

Do a search for the BROWN SCAPULAR [Carmelite] and have your Priest enroll you as soon as possible.
 
kennewickmike said:
Can the scapular be a medal? I have seen these for sale.
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Uh oh! Now you opened the floodgates to the big does-the-scapular-have-to-be-cloth-or-can-you-wear-a-medal fight! You will find people who will passionately argue both sides of the question!

Some will say that certain indulgences attached to the cloth brown scapular do not apply to the scapular medal. But they’re both sacramentals and no one is required to wear either, so wear whichever one you like.
 
kennewickmike said:
Can the scapular be a medal? I have seen these for sale.
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The Scapular Medal
Early in this century missionaries petitioned Rome to allow a Medal to be used instead of the cloth Scapular. Those who made this request were stationed in tropical regions and had considerable trouble preserving their Scapulars from decaying in the excessive humidity. After careful consideration, Pope Saint Pius X, in 1910, granted permission for the use of a Scapular Medal. It was to have an image of the Sacred Heart on one side and an image of Our Lady on the other and would possess the same promises and indulgences as the Brown Scapular. The Medal’s usage, however, was to be restricted. Saint Pius added explicitly to his consent that for ordinary circumstances, “I desire most vehemently that the cloth Scapulars be worn as heretofore”

Source
 
Thank you for your replies. I did not know it was a hot topic. I will have to search for that on the forums. Thanks!
 
I was sent one a long time ago by a Priest.

I never knew what to do with it…

Do I pin it on? inside my clothes?

Can I carry it in my purse?
 
Stjudeprayforus said:
I was sent one a long time ago by a Priest.

I never knew what to do with it…

Do I pin it on? inside my clothes?

Can I carry it in my purse?
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First of all, you should be invested in the scapular. This is a short blessing that any priest can administer (IIRC, also any deacon.) This makes you an associate member, in a certain sense, in the Carmelite religious family, whose habit the brown scapular represents. It is not absolutely necessary to be invested in the scapular to wear it, but there are certain blessings and indulgences associated with being invested with the scapular that do not apply if the wearer is not invested.

You wear it by simply putting it over your head so that one piece of cloth is over your chest and the other over your back with the strings over your shoulders. It is usually worn under the outer clothing. I don’t think it is really necessary to pin it in place. I have never done this. I’d be concerned about the pin opening up while I was wearing it. Ouch!

You can carry it in your purse, but since this sacramental is actually a piece of clothing, it is more fitting to wear it.
 
kennewickmike said:
Thank you for your replies. I did not know it was a hot topic. I will have to search for that on the forums. Thanks!
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(It’s not really that hot a topic. I was joking about people fighting. Some people do have strong opinions about the scapular medal, though.)
 
About 20 years ago… I was a teenager.

This Priest came to my home. he spoke to me for a while then he started sending me things…

The scapular, a rosary… I kept it for years.

I went through RCIA last year.

So… would he (the Priest ) have already ‘enrolled’ me?
 
Leopard said:
(It’s not really that hot a topic. I was joking about people fighting. Some people do have strong opinions about the scapular medal, though.)
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Sure, no problem. I did read up on it in the forums and people do have interesting points. Living in the desert I have decided on the medal. I appreciate everyone’s help. I always had a problem understanding how this works.
 
Stjudeprayforus said:
About 20 years ago… I was a teenager.

This Priest came to my home. he spoke to me for a while then he started sending me things…

The scapular, a rosary… I kept it for years.

I went through RCIA last year.

So… would he (the Priest ) have already ‘enrolled’ me?
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He might have. Do you remember if he put it on your shoulders with any kind of prayers or ceremony? If you’re not sure you could ask your pastor or another priest to invest you now. It’s not a big deal if it turns out that you’re invested twice.
 
He just mailed it to me.

I will take it to my Priest.

Thank you!
 
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