Question about the Brown scapular?

[StephenBales]

Hey all,

So I ordered and just today received in the mail a St. Joseph brown scapular, with a small crucifix and St. Benedict medal. I haven’t been enrolled yet, of course, but I plan on it very soon.

My question is, what are the daily obligations associated with the brown scapular? I’ve only found generals, and haven’t found any instructions with specificity. Are their particular prayers to be said daily?

Thanks all!

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I am not aware of any daily requirements in that regard, but a daily prayer (particularly the rosary) is encouraged. You can find information from the Carmelite orders:

https://www.carmelite.org/carmelite-spirituality/carmelite-brown-scapular

Avoid the so-called “Sisters of Carmel” though - they’re schismatic.

 

[Thom18]

Aside from wearing the scapular, the daily obligation is to pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (this has morning and evening prayers), or the rosary.

 

[StephenBales]

Right. I actually cited the Sisters of Carmel the other day on another forum, before being corrected. I had no idea they were schismatic, and didn’t know much about Carmelites on the first place!

 

[StephenBales]

Okie doke, thank you! Just ordered the Little Office on Amazon

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Aside from wearing the scapular, the daily obligation is to pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (this has morning and evening prayers), or the rosary.

I believe that was the old rule.

The current rule is to “practice some form of Carmelite spirituality.”

A few basic introductory principles of Carmelite spirituality would be

1. frequent participation in the Mass and reception of Holy Communion;
2. frequent reading of and meditation on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture;
3. the regular praying of at least part of the Liturgy of the Hours;
4. imitation of and devotion to Mary, the woman of faith who hears the Word of God and puts it into practice;
5. the practice of the virtues, notably charity, chastity (according to one’s state of life), and obedience to the will of God.

Https://www.meditationsfromcarmel.com/content/scapular-catechesis

I’m sure if you wanted to say the rosary and the Little Office, that would be fine as those are Marian devotions and fall under point 4. Also, the World Apostolate of Fatima (formerly the Blue Army) promotes the praying of the Rosary as a Scapular devotion, and it enrolls huge numbers of people in the Scapular in USA. But it’s no longer a requirement that you say the Little Office or even the Rosary. You could for example say the Liturgy of the Hours instead.

In general, the Little Office is kind of falling out of use as people are all being encouraged to join the official prayer of the Church by saying LOTH. The Little Office was originally created as a simpler way for lay people to say an LOTH-like prayer.