Re: Scapular and the Little Office

[Crux_Sacra]

Hello, all. It’s been a while since I’ve posted a question, so I hope I’m posting this in the right forum.

This weekend, after Saturday morning Mass and a question and answer session oriented toward those of us discerning our vocations by our Archdiocese Vocation Director, I commented to the Dominican Sister who was there that I had been hesitant about having the brown scapular imposed, though I had been considering it. She told me simply, “don’t hesitate” about it. I decided to take her advice. So after Mass Saturday evening, my Pastor went though the imposition in the Roman Missal and now I’m enrolled.

I do not have regular hours and work both days and sometimes nights. My start time for work varies greatly, and many days I am already at work, or still at work, during the traditional times for morning and evening prayer.

So my question is, are the times of day for morning and evening prayer for the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin and the Liturgy of the Hours set in stone, or is there some flexibility? Could I, for instance, pray morning prayer at 2 or 3 am when I get up for work many days? (Someone somewhere in the world would be praying morning prayer simultaneously, just maybe not in my time zone.) Or is it necessary to pray, for example, morning prayer only at about 6am? I don’t particularly want to ask for a substitute, but I am concerned that I might have to, considering.

Thank you for all your help, and God Bless!

 

[mymamamary]

Im sure there is a little flexibility, I will wait for the Other folks to sound off though…

I will pray for you!!

 

[AJB328]

As far as which Offices are required and at what time I can’t speak with any kind of authority. However when I was enrolled in the Brown Scapular I was given a choice between praying the Little Office or the Rosary. I chose the Rosary because at the time I had no idea how to pray the Little Office (or any other office) and I just felt it was much easier to fulfill the obligation. I carry a Rosary with me all the time but if for some strange reason I forget it or lose it, I can still do it on my fingers.

You might want to talk to your Pastor about which devotion would fulfill the obligation. Also if he says the Little Office only, or you just want to start praying the Little Office, he would be able to answer those questions.

 

[domNoah]

For the sabatine privilege of the scapular you must pray the entire little office of the BVM, unless you are bound to recite the Roman Office by vow. Any duly appointed confessor can alter this obligation to something else, most of the time they choose to give a 5 decade rosary.

You can recite the office between 12am and 11:59pm, you do not have to do it in order nor do you have to divide it up into the proper times, but it is desirable to do so.

 

[domNoah]

Just a quick note, the sabatine privilege: On the first Saturday after your death you will be delivered from purgatory.

The promises of the brown scapular: that of being saved from hellfire do not require you to recite any prayers but to wear it in the proper manner, observe chastity in your state of life and practice devotion to our Holy Mother.

 

[Crux_Sacra]

Thank you for your replies and prayers.

I ordered a copy of the Baronius Press Little Office this past weekend, which came while I was out of town. In the back, there is a chapter explaining why there are 7 offices and why they are prayed at those specific times. I think I would like to at least attempt praying the office the way it’s meant to be prayed, as part of the public prayer of the Church. On another forum, the brother who responds to people’s questions about the Divine Office basically said that if you miss one of the times you’ve missed it and you just catch the next one. I’d like to treat the Little Office the same way, given the reasons for the canonical hours and that it’s part of the Church’s liturgical prayer.

I think that I will simply take breaks at work for prayer time. The range of times for each office which I found on the other forum provide some flexibility. And not only would this allow me to pray the Office as it’s meant to be prayed, but maybe it will serve as a tool of evangelization.

Thank you all, and God Bless!

 

[fred_conty]

What is the official status of the Sabbatine Privilege?

Historical research has shown that the alleged fourteenth*-century appearance of the Blessed Mother to Pope John XXII is without historical foundation. As a matter of fact, in the year 1613 the Holy See determined that the decree establishing the “Sabbatine Privilege” was unfounded and the Church admonished the Carmelite Order not to preach this doctrine. Unfortunately, the Order did not always comply with this directive of the Holy See.

At the time the Carmelites were instructed to stop mentioning the “Sabbatine Privilege” the Holy See acknowledged that the faithful may devoutly believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary by her continuous intercession, merciful prayers, merits, and special protection will assist the souls of deceased brothers and sisters and members of the confraternity especially on Saturday, the day which the church dedicates to the Blessed Virgin.

The above was taken from:
carmelites.ie/Periodicals/citw2004.1.htm

 

[Damien88]

When I was enrolled with the brown scapular by a carmelite priest, He did not ask me to pray any specific prayers. I did, however asked him about the sabbatine privilege but he just showed me the brief cathechism on the brown scapular with the book that he had with him at that time.

He told me the sabbatine privilege was unfounded and only asked me to live a holy life

 

[poche]

I have a crazy schedule and I have been praying the divine office for more than 30 years.
Over the years the circumstances have changed. You should try to pray the hours that more or less correspond to the times of the day, but you don’t have to be exact. So yes there is some flexibility in how the hours are prayed. please pray for me.

 

[Crux_Sacra]

For the past few days I have been doing my best to pray the Little Office right around the times it’s supposed to be. Today was the first day back at work after the weekend and I took breaks just to pray. But the difference is great. Devoting just a few minutes every few hours to prayer, one gets the sense that instead of breaking from work for prayer, one is breaking from prayer for work, even though the time spent kneeling and praying from the book is short. Additionally, I feel encouraged to make work prayerful; to make it into more than simple physical labor. I think I now understand the concept of “ora et labora.”

Does anyone know a site with audio of the chanted Latin for the Little Office? My edition has the chant notation in the back, and I would love to learn it. So far all I have found is audio of the Latin being spoken.

Poche, I will pray for you.

Thank you again, and God Bless!

 

[corsair]

I have worn the Brown Scapular for years and have a very special place in my heart for it. It has influenced my desire to recite the Little Office of the BVM. I don’t always make the hours on the correct time and I don’t always complete them daily. but I consistantly try. Most always I can get Matins/Lauds and Vespers and Compline. Sometimes I can make them all. But daily life seems to want its “toll”.

 

[gxensen]

According to the Free Brown Scapular website, which is run by volunteers who are faithful devotees to the Order of the Brown Scapular from Our Lady of Mount Carmel:

THE SABBATINE (OR SATURDAY) PROMISE

In 1322, Our Lady appeared to Pope John XXII and made another promise for those
who wore her Scapular faithfully, practiced Chastity according to their state in life, and
said certain prayers known as the “LITTLE OFFICE”*: “I, THE MOTHER OF GRACE,
SHALL DESCEND ON THE SATURDAY AFTER THEIR DEATH AND WHOMSOEVER I
SHALL FIND IN PURGATORY, I SHALL FREE.”

*NOTE: The ROSARY may be substituted for the LITTLE OFFICE when permission is
obtained from a priest.

Source: Procedure for the Blessing and Investiture of the Scapular our Our Lady of Mount Carmel​

Anyway, I haven’t totally invested my time into the Little Office prayers, mostly because I’m not familiar with them…so I think that a daily rosary will do until I totally comprehend how to perform the Little Office prayers.

Which brings me to this grandly prophetic quote:

“ONE DAY, THROUGH THE ROSARY AND THE SCAPULAR, SHE WILL SAVE THE WORLD."

– St. Dominic’s Prophecy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rosary and the Scapular, AD 1208.

Source: Brown Scapular Prophecy: Our Lady’s Message to the World​

Also, the mini-booklet, which I got with my scapular, contains these great words of wisdom (I’ll just type everything it says since it’s very short ):

[Title Page]​

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Pray for us(repeat often)
http://ourladyofmtcarmel.webs.com/OurLadyofMt.Carmel2.jpg
“Whosoever Dies Clothed in This (Scapular) Shall Not Suffer Eternal Fire.”
This is Mary’s Promise made July 16, 1251 to St. Simon Stock.

[Page One of Three]​

"Immaculate Heart of Mary Pray for Us"
St. Alphonsus says: “Just as men take pride in having others wear their livery, so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her servants wart Her Scapular as a a mark that they have dedicated themselves to her service and are members of the family of the Mother of God”

True Devotion to Mary
CONSISTS IN THREE THINGS
Veneration LOVE Confidence
Without saying to Mary that we venerate Her, love and trust Her, we tell Her these things every moment of the day by simply wearing the Scapular.

The scapular is then a Prayer!
Our Lord, taught us to say the “Our Father.” Mary taught us the value of the Scapular. When we use it as a prayer, our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is well, therefore, to hold the Scapular in the hand while addressing Our Lady.

[Page Two of Three]​

The Morning Offering
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss your Scapular as a sign of your consecration; partial indulgence also), I offer the precious Blood of Jesus from all altars throughout the world, joining it with the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, altogether with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that She may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Because you love
Mary’s Scapular
VENERATE IT OFTEN

[Page Three of Three]​

Pope Benedict XV granted an indulgence of 500 days each time the Scapular is kissed. This Devotion and Garment can be traced back to the Old Testament, to the great prophet Elias and the remaining faithful living in the caves of Mount Carmel, and is recommended to people of all faiths.

Attach then, great importance to your brown Scapular. It is an assurance of your salvation, just as to reject Mary’s grace is to invite perdition.
“O Queen, who art the beauty of Carmel and the mdiatrix of all graces, pray for us” (prayer from the Racolta - may be said on your Rosary Beads)
Imprimatur: Thomas M. O’Leary, D.D.
Bishop of Springfield, July 16, 1941

“The Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world” is symbolized in the wool brown Scapular and is thus preferable to the medal. To spread the devotion of the Scapular write:
Radio Rosary, P.O. Box 9608
Pitsburgh, PA 15226
E-mail: rosary@megahits.com

So, yeah, every time I find out about of something dangerous, hear a police/tornado/fire truck/ambulance siren, think of the Syrian people, or things that make feel badly or scared for people, I say, “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us,” sometimes adding on things like, “and pray for those in trouble to be at peace;” and then I’d kiss my scapular.

You also have to keep in mind that Pope John Paul II was a (Lay) Carmelite, enrolled in the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, since he was a young man!

This is him, wearing the Brown Scapular, with his fellow factory workers:
http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/images/YoungKarolWojtyla.jpg

And, lastly, I must quote:

Pope Paul VI said the devotion of the brown scapular and the Holy Rosary are the two most recommended devotions by the magisterium of the Church.

Source: Our Favorite Carmelite!​