Protecting the Brown Scapular

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Oremus71

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I recently acquired a vintage brown scapular. The cord is so old i’m afraid it might get torn. Would it be appropriate to put the brown scapular in a plastic sheet protector to protect it from elements, dusts. I will be trimming the sheet to the size of the scapular. Thank you and stay safe.
 
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Two questions:
  1. Why wouldn’t that be ok?
  2. Are you really planning to wear a “vintage” scapular? Why not put it away safely if it’s of enough value to concern you and wear another?
 
It’s okay to do this. However, I am pretty sure if your scapular is “vintage” it’s probably not going to last very long without needing repairs, even if you put it in a protective cover. If the cord breaks, you would have to replace the cord, for example. Might I suggest that you get some ordinary brown scapulars to wear every day and keep your “vintage” one to wear on special occasions like special holy days.
 
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We have had many, many, many past posts on “Sisters of Carmel”. As Fauken said, they are not in communion with the Church, they are not officially “Carmelites”, and their teaching on the Scapular is not in agreement with the official Carmelite order teaching. We have to explain this about once a month because they come up in every Google search on brown scapulars. Please do not propagate their website or their erroneous information here.

The official and correct Scapular Catechesis is here (Posting archived version because the website appears to be down) and clearly states that scapular material no longer has to be wool. I have also never heard or read any objection to plastic casing and in fact, many Brown Scapulars are sold with plastic casing over at least the cloth part.

https://web.archive.org/web/2019102...onsfromcarmel.com/content/scapular-catechesis
 
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Hey thanks for your response. I appreciate the patience you had for me. I don’t want to excuse myself, but I should make sure to get information from better sources. God bless!

My apologies for the message at the bottom. I deleted it to try to respond to you directly.
 
Last I heard they were in “irregular status” with their bishop. I do not know the exact reasons but somebody wrote to them a couple years ago and they confirmed they were still in irregular status.

I edited my post because it’s not fair or just for me to be speculating about why they’re in irregular status.
 
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ThomasMT said:
I’m curious, why are they not in good standing?
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Tis_Bearself said:
Last I heard they were in “irregular status” with their bishop. I do not know the exact reasons but somebody wrote to them a couple years ago and they confirmed they were still in irregular status.

I edited my post because it’s not fair or just for me to be speculating about why they’re in irregular status.
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EDIT: I mixed them up. The priests who provide them the Sacraments are not from Holy Family Monastery, but an Order named after the Holy Family who are not in good standing and have been declared as such by the bishop (who they accused of trying to create a new religion apparently).

 
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A new brown Scapular can be purchased and worn. If the vintage one that you mention is important for you to wear (a family memento) you can replace the strap (cord) and wear it. The scapular should be worn next to your skin.
 
How sweet. They are there to be worn 24 hrs a day…I take mine off for a shower but that’s all. They tend to get rather worn and I usually replace mine at the beginning of the liturgical year (just me, no special rules or anything). If it has a special memorial for you place it on your home altar, and wear another.The usual disposal of worn out scapulars is to either burn them or bury them.
 
joecaro said:
The scapular should be worn next to your skin.
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Source for this please? AFAIK there is no such requirement. A person can wear their Scapular over their underwear or even on the outside of their clothes if they want.

Like I said, plastic covers on the cloth part of the scapular are common even on some store-bought scapulars; the idea was to protect them from getting wet/ stained with body sweat or their dye from coming off on one’s clothes in some cases. Nowadays most scapulars are not made any more with dye that bleeds, but I can testify that didn’t used to be the case in the 70s and 80s, I experienced dye bleeding on me and my clothing.
 
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The origin of the Scapular was a garment that was worn as an outer covering it’s true. Actually, it was similar to a vest. The brown Scapular (and most others I am told) are made from a material that is somewhat abrasive to the skin and therefore a reminder to the wearer of what it is and means to wear one. It is not a fashion statement. I wore one for many years. If a clothing stain is of concern, remove the Scapular when bathing. I always have.
 
Worn properly, one side on the chest area, one side on the back, which is how the original Scapular was worn.
 
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