How would you explain the brown scapular to a seven year old?

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What it is/ why wear it / what it does…

Thank you
God bless
 
teamjesusnumber31 said:
What it is/ why wear it / what it does…

Thank you
God bless
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Baltimore Catechism No. 2
292. Q. What is a sacramental?
A. A sacramental is anything set apart or blessed by the Church to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin.

302. Q. Are there other sacramentals besides the sign of the Cross and holy water?
A. Besides the sign of the Cross and holy water there are many other sacramentals, such as blessed candles, ashes, palms, crucifixes, images of the Blessed Virgin and of the saints, rosaries, and scapulars.
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This is a sacramental. Wearing it reminds us to love God above all things and to resist sin.
 
Ok :pray:t2:What about the Marian aspect?
 
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teamjesusnumber31 said:
Ok :pray:t2:What about the Marian aspect?
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The Brown Scapular is a sacramental related to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Baltimore Catechism No. 3
Q. 1093. What is the scapular, and why is it worn?
A. The scapular is a long, broad piece of woolen cloth forming a part of the religious dress of monks, priests and sisters of some religious orders. It is worn over the shoulders and extends from the shoulders to the feet. The small scapular made in imitation of it, and consisting of two small pieces of cloth fastened together by strings, is worn by the faithful as a promise or proof of their willingness to practice some particular devotion, indicated by the kind of scapular they wear.
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I think it’s important to also tell the 7-year-old that it is connected to the monks at Mount Carmel, and that those who wear it are trying to be like the monks.

There is a concern that the Brown Scapular in the 20th century became disconnected from its purpose as the Carmelite habit. It is not just something people wear to “Love Mary More” - if that’s what one wants, one should get a medal.
 
Are we, then, supposed to have devotions to Carmelite saints or read their writings? Or do something “Carmelite-y”?

I understand that enrolling in the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular joins one to the Order.
 
A 7-year-old child shouldn’t be getting enrolled in the Confraternity. They’re too young to make the commitment.

You could certainly tell them about Carmelite saints, on a child level. You do not need to have devotions to the saints.

Those who wear the Carmelite scapular are generally expected to practice some principles of Carmelite spirituality. For a 7-year-old this could be as simple as trying to imitate Mary in daily life and saying whatever daily Mary prayers they can handle, which for one kid might be 3 Hail Marys and for another kid might be the Rosary said with their family. Scapular wearers are encouraged to pray part of the Liturgy of the Hours, but that’s a bit much for a 7-year-old, I think.
 
teamjesusnumber31 said:
What it is/ why wear it / what it does…
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A loving devotion to our blessed mother, a sign that the wearer is her child/ we wear it as an expression of silent prayer/ it affords us our heavenly mother’s petitions to our Lord, on our behalf.
 
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teamjesusnumber31 said:
Are we, then, supposed to have devotions to Carmelite saints or read their writings? Or do something “Carmelite-y”?

I understand that enrolling in the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular joins one to the Order.
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I would tell a 7 year old that wearing a brown scapular is simply saying yes to Our Lords wish for us to accept The Blessed Virgin Mary as our Mother.

I began wearing my scapular twenty some years ago with no idea what it meant, with no particular devotion to Mary, & no idea what a Carmelite was.

Today I believe since I was open to whatever it meant that our mother has protected me, guided me, & delivered Grace’s to me that kept me from straying too far & bringing me back home.

As a 7 year old, I think as long as they know God has provided a spiritual mother (in addition to a temporal mother) they’ll know enough.

As they get older, more mature in the faith, she’ll guide them.
 
Justin_Mary said:
I began wearing my scapular twenty some years ago with no idea what it meant, with no particular devotion to Mary, & no idea what a Carmelite was.
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As carmelitequotes and others have explained on here, this is a common problem, especially during the 20th century. Many people, including many First Communion classes, were given brown scapulars to wear without getting a full understanding of what they meant. Also, a lot of people wore them because of the questionable “Sabbatine privilege”.

The Order has made efforts in recent decades to make people more aware that the Brown Scapular is actually associated with Carmelite spirituality and not just some random devotional item. It’s a reasonable thing for them to want to do for a devotional item that is a representation of their own habit.

It’s fine for people to wear it because they want to be close to Mary, but they should at least know what they are wearing.
 
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I told my kids that the Brown Scapular was a gift from Mary to the Carmelites & they’ve shared it (in the form of tiny brown scapulars) with the whole church. The Brown Scapular is like wearing a piece of Mary’s own clothing because she gave it to us. It reminds us of her motherly love & of the relationship we have with her.

[Edited to add: I have a blue sweater given to me by my Mother-in-law. It used to be her mom’s. When my MIL gave me the hoodie it was deeply touching as it was her late-mother’s and really made me feel I was accepted as “part of the family” in a close way! I think of the Brown Scapular similarly - mom (Mary) has handed down to us a piece of her own clothing through the Carmelites. We’re in the family!!]
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
It’s fine for people to wear it because they want to be close to Mary, but they should at least know what they are wearing.
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I understand everything you’re saying. Still, we’re talking about a 7 year old. No need to get deep into Carmelite Spirituality.
 
teamjesusnumber31 said:
Are we, then, supposed to have devotions to Carmelite saints or read their writings? Or do something “Carmelite-y”?

I understand that enrolling in the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular joins one to the Order.
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Being joined to the Order is not necessary to receive a partial indulgence for using a cloth scapular or scapular medal.

Manual of Indulgences:
N15. 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.
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But for joining to the Order, see below.
1. Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is bound to the history and spiritual values of the
Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and is expressed through the
scapular. Thus, whoever receives the scapular becomes a member of the order and pledges
him/herself to live according to its spirituality in accordance with the characteristics of his/her
state in life.
…
5. As a result of the history and evolution of devotion to Mary through the scapular, there are
today several categories of devotees according to the degree of identification with and affiliation
to the family of Carmel. These may be listed as follows:
a) The religious men and women.
b) The Secular Order (also called Third Order).
c) Those who belong to the Confraternity of the Scapular.
d) All those who receive the scapular and live according to its spirituality in various degrees of
association with the order.
e) Those who receive the scapular and live according to its spirituality, but have no formal
association with the order.6
f) All who are committed to put into practice the Marian characteristic of Carmelite spirituality
wholly and fervently, but in forms which correspond to the nature of the bond that ties them to
the family of Mary.7
…
After the reception of the scapular, the faithful may substitute it with a medal showing on one
side the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other Our Lady. Both scapular and medal may be
replaced without having to be blessed again.
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Justin_Mary said:
I understand everything you’re saying. Still, we’re talking about a 7 year old. No need to get deep into Carmelite Spirituality.
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I think a seven year old would love some of the stories about Carmelite spirituality! The roots go back to Elijah on Mt. Carmel. Reading about him from the book of Kings is fascinating and action-packed (miracles, idol destruction, fiery chariots - kids love it!) Then who doesn’t love stories about Carmelites like St. Simon & his vision of Mary, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese, the young St. Teresa of the Andes, and the adventuresome story of St. John of the Cross?!
 
Vico said:
Being joined to the Order is not necessary to receive a partial indulgence for using a cloth scapular or scapular medal.
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We’re talking about introducing a 7-year-old to the Scapular here.

A 7-year-old is not going to be doing indulgence practice.
 
I had a coloring book about St. Simon Stock as a child. It showed him growing up with his parents in England, becoming a holy hermit who lived in a hollow tree in the woods, blessing crusaders who came by, praying, and finally receiving the Brown Scapular from Our Lady. It was an interesting book.
 
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