Question about the Brown Scapular

[Rachel_1]

Ok, I tried searching the forums for an answer and wasn’t finding anything, so if this has already been addressed please forgive me and direct me to where I should go.
I was baptized as a baby, but not raised Catholic, and this year came into full communion with the Church so I don’t think I’ve ever had a Brown Scapular or anything. For months now though I’ve felt a huge pull to get one… and today it was made pretty clear to me I should get one. Here’s my problem/question-
I workout… A LOT… and when I do, I get yukky sweaty. We’re talking 6-7 days a week for about 5-6 hours a day of sweat… I do not want to take off my Scapular when I get it so I’m wondering if it would be ok to get a Scapular medal for workout time, showers, and swimming (I’m training for a triathlon) and wear a normal wool Scapular when not working out, swimming, or showering?
Currently I wear my MM all the time, showering, working out, swimming, sleeping etc… so would it be ok for me to get the Brown Scapular medal instead? I read on the forum that it’s bad to wear it instead, but I don’t want to destroy it either with all the sweat, water etc (I would probably have to have a massive amount of them to keep up with all that I destroy from water).
Opinions please so I can get this ordered today?

 

[livnlern]

My husband tried wearing a scapular for a while but had to switch to medals because he would sweat a lot (we live in Texas) and the scapulars would disintegrate in a short time. I don’t think there would be anything wrong with switching them out when you need to. Your intention of wearing one is still the same. Personally I don’t think God is nitpicky enough to cancel out the benefits of the scapular just because you’re wearing the metal one instead of the cloth one. Just my opinion though…

 

[Rachel_1]

Personally I don’t think God is nitpicky enough to cancel out the benefits of the scapular just because you’re wearing the metal one instead of the cloth one. Just my opinion though…

I read this here and it got me nervous I guess- lapieta.tripod.com/scap_lar.html#devotion

Scapular Medal?

It is the wish of our Holy Father, the Pope, that the SCAPULAR MEDAL should not be worn in place of the CLOTH SCAPULAR without sufficient reason. Mary cannot be pleased with anyone who substitutes the medal out of vanity or fear to make open profession of faith in her. Such persons run the risk of not receiving the PROMISE. The medal is not noted for the miraculous preservations attributed to the BROWN CLOTH SCAPULAR. Also, the Scapular ought not to be tucked or pinned; it must be worn around the neck, so that one piece of cloth hangs in the front, one in the back.

 

[Janet_Peruzzi]

Not sure if you have "solved " the problem of a scapular and persperation, but Johnnette Benkovic at “Living His Life Abundantly” has one that may suit your needs. It is a brown cord with two small oval wooden pieces which have the scapular images.

 

[Rachel_1]

Not sure if you have "solved " the problem of a scapular and persperation, but Johnnette Benkovic at “Living His Life Abundantly” has one that may suit your needs. It is a brown cord with two small oval wooden pieces which have the scapular images.

Well, I just ordered a bunch of different ones (not a medal), and I figure that I can try all of them out and that way if I get one yukky from working out or swimming or whatever, I can wear another and try to wash the sweaty one. I have no clue what I’m doing here, I just know that I need to get a Brown Scapular

 

[MarthaTherese]

I have to go along with those who say that the cloth brown scapular is the one you should be using. I have to ask though, did you receive the initiation ceremony from a priest into the dedication of wearing the brown scapular? Usually the priest will answer those kinds of questions before or after the short ceremony.
One of the important things about wearing the scapular is to wear modest enough clothing to cover it.
I also have to ask, why so many hours a day in “workout?” The hours you stated sounds excessive.
The main thing is that it is really a very small sacrifice to wear modest clothing in exchange for the bounty of graces you will receive in your dedication to wearing it. It was not meant to be a piece of jewelry or an outward, visible show of faith.

 

[Rachel_1]

I have to go along with those who say that the cloth brown scapular is the one you should be using.

Well, since my last post, I also purchased a medal. I figure I’ll wear the medal 24/7 along with my MM that I currently wear just because I want to and I thought the medal was pretty, but I’ll also be wearing the wool Scapular as well.

I have to ask though, did you receive the initiation ceremony from a priest into the dedication of wearing the brown scapular? Usually the priest will answer those kinds of questions before or after the short ceremony.

No, not yet. I haven’t even spoken to a priest about this yet. This is something that has been nagging at me for months and months… today God made it pretty clear to me to do this, so I am.

One of the important things about wearing the scapular is to wear modest enough clothing to cover it.

Everything I wear is very modest (except my swimsuit although most would say it’s modest too- it’s a 1 piece and covers everything). As it is people think my clothes don’t show ‘enough’ and when I was on TV I was told by my family that my clothes weren’t ‘flattering’… ::rolls eyes:: It’s not like I cared to show off anything on TV anyway.

I also have to ask, why so many hours a day in “workout?” The hours you stated sounds excessive.

Yea, it kind of is… but I’m training for a triathlon so I have to get my body in shape. There’s a few reasons behind it…

1. I had a heart attack in 2005 and I’m trying to get myself healthy and getting in shape is the best way of doing so… also my dr has cleared me to exercise like this.
2. I need to lose weight and I’m at a plateau right now due to an extremely stressful situation. Stress causes your body to store fat unfortunately. In order to break the plateau you have to kind of ‘freak your body out’ so to speak and cause muscle confusion, which is what I’m doing.
3. As I said above, I’m in the middle of an extremely stressful situation (mafia hit men mad at me- long story, go look at my other threads or message me and I’ll explain), exercise is a mood regulator, and stress reliever, and right now, I need it… the amount of working out I’m doing kind of goes along with the my stress level I guess… or rather, I guess the intensity goes along with how much stress I’m having at any given time.
4. As I said before, I’m training for a triathlon and need to build up my resistance.

The main thing is that it is really a very small sacrifice to wear modest clothing in exchange for the bounty of graces you will receive in your dedication to wearing it. It was not meant to be a piece of jewelry or an outward, visible show of faith.

Yes, I understand that the Scapular is a Sacramental, and what I need to do as far as my responsibilities… and I think that is one of the main reasons God is pulling me in this direction is the responsibilities.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

It is the wish of our Holy Father, the Pope, that the SCAPULAR MEDAL should not be worn in place of the CLOTH SCAPULAR without sufficient reason. Mary cannot be pleased with anyone who substitutes the medal out of vanity or fear to make open profession of faith in her. Such persons run the risk of not receiving the PROMISE. The medal is not noted for the miraculous preservations attributed to the BROWN CLOTH SCAPULAR. Also, the Scapular ought not to be tucked or pinned; it must be worn around the neck, so that one piece of cloth hangs in the front, one in the back.

You reasons are obviously not fueled by vanity or fear/shame of professing your faith.

I wore a brown scapular for awhile, but apparently I’m allergic to wool. I’m not talking about a bit of itchy discomfort–I’m talking about a huge oozing rash that has spread to cover a large section of my upper chest and back.

I’ve not been Catholic long enough to give you much advice, but I did notice that one sentence about substituting a medal due to vanity or fear. I don’t think you fit that mold at all.

And best of luck in your training! I envy you; I’ve started to fall apart physically in the past year or so. I need to get off my butt and do something, but once the knees go, it’s harder to find suitable exercise that won’t cause me to end up at the doc the next day.

Miz

 

[Prague]

Training for a triathlon does include lots of effort, time, sweat, and lots of what am I doing this for!!
My step son is a now retired triathlete and he put in many long hours in his training. Just want to wish you good luck in your training, and say I would go with the metal when working out, and the put on the regular brown scapular when finished with your workouts…
My step son won the Ironman in Kona six times.
Best of luck.

 

[Rachel_1]

And best of luck in your training! I envy you; I’ve started to fall apart physically in the past year or so. I need to get off my butt and do something, but once the knees go, it’s harder to find suitable exercise that won’t cause me to end up at the doc the next day.

Miz

On top of everything else I do (yea I’m a jack of all trades lol) I am also a fitness coach… if your knees have problems, the best things you can do to work out so you don’t fall apart is work your core/upper body and for leg work, use the pool… swimming or just use the water for resistance while doing kicks etc in the pool.
Hopefully that helps.
Thanks for your advice on the Scapular too

 

[Rachel_1]

Training for a triathlon does include lots of effort, time, sweat, and lots of what am I doing this for!!
My step son is a now retired triathlete and he put in many long hours in his training. Just want to wish you good luck in your training, and say I would go with the metal when working out, and the put on the regular brown scapular when finished with your workouts…
My step son won the Ironman in Kona six times.
Best of luck.

LOL I"m hoping to just finish… before this all I’d ever done was run a 5k haha
As it is, I should be at the gym right now, but I woke up late.

 

[Rachel_1]

Ok, so I’ve been wearing the medal scapular but had the cloth one in my purse for whenever I had a chance to ask a priest to enroll me. Well, last night (on top of all the other signs God has given me about the scapular) I went to Confession as part of the Two Hearts devotion and in the Confessional, the Priest (whom I’ve never spoken to before) asks me out of the blue if I’m wearing my Brown Scapular… I was like “uhhhh, I have one my in my purse and I’m wearing the medal one now but I’m a new Catholic and haven’t been enrolled” I guess the question took me back a little as I wasn’t expecting that because I was confessing about getting angry with my husband and the Scapular question had nothing to do with that.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I should only wear the cloth one and that I need to be enrolled asap. So tonight, after Mass (at my other ‘home’ parish) I spoke with my sponsor about wearing it. She said that nobody wears them anymore and that it used to be that lots did in the ‘old days’ but everything changed and went from women wearing hats to Mass to not even wearing a Scapular. I told her that I’m going to, regardless of what anyone thinks of me. I asked Father to enroll me after everyone left… I think he did it right, but I’m fairly certain that I’m the ONLY one in my parish wearing one from the sounds of it.

 

[FromTheAshes777]

there is also a place online I believe where you can get free scapulars, I think google will bring it up if you search free brown scapular.

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

Ok, so I’ve been wearing the medal scapular but had the cloth one in my purse for whenever I had a chance to ask a priest to enroll me. Well, last night (on top of all the other signs God has given me about the scapular) I went to Confession as part of the Two Hearts devotion and in the Confessional, the Priest (whom I’ve never spoken to before) asks me out of the blue if I’m wearing my Brown Scapular… I was like “uhhhh, I have one my in my purse and I’m wearing the medal one now but I’m a new Catholic and haven’t been enrolled” I guess the question took me back a little as I wasn’t expecting that because I was confessing about getting angry with my husband and the Scapular question had nothing to do with that.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I should only wear the cloth one and that I need to be enrolled asap. So tonight, after Mass (at my other ‘home’ parish) I spoke with my sponsor about wearing it. She said that nobody wears them anymore and that it used to be that lots did in the ‘old days’ but everything changed and went from women wearing hats to Mass to not even wearing a Scapular. I told her that I’m going to, regardless of what anyone thinks of me. I asked Father to enroll me after everyone left… I think he did it right, but I’m fairly certain that I’m the ONLY one in my parish wearing one from the sounds of it.

I’m not surprised Rachel. The Brown Scapular has a lot of hidden power within it. Did you ever wondered how the Priest knew? Yes you did! I started waring one this year. The first one I got I just had it blessed. Then I found out about the enrollment. There was a BIG difference after I was enrolled. I was having problems avoiding long term sin. Satan was playing with me. My confessor was giving me long talks and long penances. He didn’t know about the correct enrollment blessings. I printed this,

Brown Scapular

since then Satan has been gone, and I’ve avoided all those old habit sins. My Priest learned something new.

I’m a Land Surveyor so I know what you mean about sweating. Keep a few around, and keep washing them. But I’m never going to be without waring my Brown Scapular.

Kind of funny how people say, “She said that nobody wears them anymore and that it used to be that lots did in the ‘old days’ but everything changed and went from women wearing hats to Mass to not even wearing a Scapular.”

Yea like the Blessed Virgin Mary’s promise has gone away,

***The Brown Scapular

Another magnificent assurance of Salvation is Our Lady’s Brown Scapular. One of the great mysteries of our time is that the great majority of Catholics either ignore or have forgotten the Blessed Virgin Mary’s promise: “Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” She further says: “Wear it devoutly and perseveringly. It is my garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life.” ***

That’s enough promise for me!

Good Luck! And God Bless You!

Oh! A picture of you crossing the finish line with the Brown Scapular showing!

ms