Must one shower with the Brown Scapular on?

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Journey322 said:
Is the cloth scapular the same difference as the medal? If so, why not just wear the medal at all times?
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No they are not the same, the Carmelite site gives more detail than I can provide. The medal is only to be worn when the wool scapular cannot, for an example an allergy to wool. Wearing it in the shower is a good way to wash it but that isn’t necessary every day and I have a spare to wear while the wet one dries.
 
figs said:
Why would you wear it in the shower?
Do you think Our Lady would not be there for you at your judgement if you were to die in the shower without it on?
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The scapular is more than just Our Lady’s protection after death. It’s also a constant prayer and a visual reminder to keep chastity, purity, etc. Are we any less in danger of betraying these virtues whilst caring for our hygenic needs?

Showering with a scapular on is not hard, it’s not a nuisance, and it’s good to get it clean! Wear it at all times.
 
If you go to a certain address in Chelsea, in New York City, you will find a little plot of ground behind the apartment building where I buried, over a twenty-two year period of time, probably a couple of hundred small brown scapulars in varying states of decomposition after they became too deteriorated to wear: I used to dance with NYC Ballet, and always wore my brown scapular, even onstage, under my costume, and even while showering and bathing. I was told last summer by a priest who is the chaplain to the local Carmelite monastery that the scapular is considered a garment, and should be worn at times when it is suitable to wear a garment; therefore, it is not necessary to wear a scapular while showering or bathing. I was additionally informed that attaching any further thought to what is contained in Our Lady’s instructions to St. Simon Stock is superstitious, and that I could have just pinned a scapular medal to my clothing while doing strenuous exercise (such as ballet) that would have made a wool garment unsuitable to wear.
 
It’s perfectly fine to remove the Brown Scapular for a shower or for sleeping. As many others have said, it’s to be treated as a garnement and worn as such. Would you wear a vest while showering? I’d hope not! 😃 Also, it’s important not to fall into superstition by thinking that if you take off the scapular that something bad might happen during that short time frame. Taking the scapular off for practical reasons - showering, sleeping, strenuous exercise, etc. - does not negate its effects as if you took it off because the color clashed with your evening dress.
 
acarlson said:
It’s perfectly fine to remove the Brown Scapular for a shower or for sleeping. As many others have said, it’s to be treated as a garnement and worn as such. Would you wear a vest while showering? I’d hope not! 😃 Also, it’s important not to fall into superstition by thinking that if you take off the scapular that something bad might happen during that short time frame. Taking the scapular off for practical reasons - showering, sleeping, strenuous exercise, etc. - does not negate its effects as if you took it off because the color clashed with your evening dress.
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AMEN! 👍

cleaning a scapular isn’t hard, hand wash it with a bit of mild soap, hang to dry and viola! done! Wear an alternate scapular in the meantime.

The scapular is a life devotion in prayer and behavior, the cloth itself it simply a reminder, … it isn’t magical.
 
You could just wear your scapular into the shower, take it off, and place it in the palm of your hands with a bar of soap. Give it a quick scrub and it will come out sparkling clean! That’s what I do.
 
Speedypizza said:
Can a person wear a Brown Scapular while they are in RCIA?
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I have been validly baptized, confirmed, and communed in the Orthodox Church. I am in RCIA and will, God-willing, profess my faith this Easter. My priest has enrolled me in the brown scapular. 🤷
 
Zekariya said:
I have been validly baptized, confirmed, and communed in the Orthodox Church. I am in RCIA and will, God-willing, profess my faith this Easter. My priest has enrolled me in the brown scapular. 🤷
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Well I can see why in your case he would do that, however what about somebody who was baptized in a baptist church at age 7, and has never been confirmed or communed? Anybody know on this?
 
a priest would know for certain, however as far as I know, as long as your baptism was in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, with water, then it should be valid in the eyes of the Church.
And if it is valid then I don’t see any reason why you cannot wear a scapular while you are in RCIA
 
You can wear the scapular if you aren’t Catholic as long as you say a Hail Mary every day.
 
I take it off when I’m going to shower, and sometimes when I work out.
 
I take it off when I shower and when I sleep. I am not yet enrolled so, I am not sure if I will change not wearing it when I sleep.
 
I leave it on to shower, then press it in a folded towel to dry it a bit, though not completely. During warmer months, having some damp cloth next to my skin for a little while is actually pretty nice. 😃
 
I have never taken mine off until they break, which doesn’t happen too often. Work, play, sleep, shower, swim, whatever. When one breaks beyond repair, I replace it with a new one. The one I have now I have worn continuously for almost five years. I would feel almost naked without it.

But then again I take it very seriously.
 
As to whether or not you can be enrolled as a non-Catholic: I’ve seen at least one website that says “yes, you can.” I really wouldn’t put too much worry into it. 🙂

As for showering, I’m kinda half-and-half. If I remember to take it off (so it doesn’t get soggy) I do, but if not I just wring it out. Also, I sleep with it on. However, plenty of people here have said the same sensible thing; the brown scapular is a smaller version of the large Carmelite scapular. Since that scapular isn’t worn showering, and they’re bound by the same Marian promise, if we’re to believe that, what’s the worry?

I just wear it out of habit, but if you need to take it off for any reason, go for it!
 
Contrary to what people do, I only wear my brown scapular when I’m at home, and in particular I sleep in it.

Reasons:
  1. I have to wear my school uniform and it is an Anglican school.
  2. I think that it is easier for me to die while sleeping.
  3. I usually pray before I sleep so the scapular is the right garment for prayer.
  4. I am afraid of my sweat soaking my scapular.
Usually I carry with me a miraculous medal in my wallet. And I switch to the scapular at home.

Actually, I think the ultimate reason is that I’m not courageous enough to profess my Catholic faith.

Now that high school is over and there’s certainly more freedom regarding dress code at college, I’m actively considering wearing the scapular. I know I sound somewhat sacrilegious but this really is an issue for me.

But then even excluding my unwillingness to profess my faith, I still feel that it is more comfortable for me to have my scapular adhered to my skin.
 
anonymous1995 said:
Contrary to what people do, I only wear my brown scapular when I’m at home, and in particular I sleep in it.

Reasons:
  1. I have to wear my school uniform and it is an Anglican school.
  2. I think that it is easier for me to die while sleeping.
  3. I usually pray before I sleep so the scapular is the right garment for prayer.
  4. I am afraid of my sweat soaking my scapular.
Usually I carry with me a miraculous medal in my wallet. And I switch to the scapular at home.

**Actually, I think the ultimate reason is that I’m not courageous enough to profess my Catholic faith.
**
Now that high school is over and there’s certainly more freedom regarding dress code at college, I’m actively considering wearing the scapular. I know I sound somewhat sacrilegious but this really is an issue for me.

But then even excluding my unwillingness to profess my faith, I still feel that it is more comfortable for me to have my scapular adhered to my skin.
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Why not?
 
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