Scapula: The devotion of a fanatic?

[CassiusLonginus]

I have always liked this particular story:

Another Scapular story that bears repeating took place in 1845. In the late summer of that year, the English ship, “king of the Ocean” found itself in the middle of a wild hurricane. As wind and sea mercilessly lashed the ship, a Protestant minister, together with his wife and children and other passengers, struggled to the deck to pray for forgiveness and mercy, as the end seemed at hand. Among the crew was a young Irishman, John McAuliffe. On seeing the urgency of the situation, the youth opened his shirt took off his Scapular, and, making The sign of the Cross with it over the raging waves tossed it into the ocean. At that very moment, the wind calmed. Only one more wave washed the deck, bringing with it the Scapular which came to rest at the boy’s feet. All the while the minister; a Mr.Fisher, had been carefully observing McAuliffe’s actions and the miraculous effect of those actions. Upon questioning the young man, they were told about the Holy Virgin and Her Scapular. Mr. Fisher and his family were so impressed that they were determined to enter the Catholic Church as soon as possible, and thereby enjoy the same protection of Our Lady’s Scapular.

 

[Lhhs]

but I’ve never seen anyone who wears it. .

Most people I see wear it.
It probably depends on the company you keep.

Have you done a google search on the topic? It should generate a lot of hits, websites to read up on.

 

[palmas85]

I know that it is a great way to express your devotion to the Blessed Mother, but I would find it rather inconvenient. What do you do when you want to go to the gym? Can you take it off? Also, what about on hot days, or when you go to bed? Do you have to wear it when you go to work?

I have gotten the impression that you aren’t supposed to take it off. Are there times when you can take it off and not wear it?

Wow, just think, it might be inconvenient It might be uncomfortable and maybe, just maybe God forbid, someone might actually see it:bigyikes: :bigyikes:

If you are worried about the inconvenience, the discomfort and the possibility that someone might se it, I’ve got a simple solution.

Don’t wear it. You don’t have to, but if you do, you are supposed to keep it on. Thats the whole purpose of it.

 

[OnlyAmbrose]

Fanatic? lol, I’ve seen them from time to time, there’s nothing odd about it! I stopped wearing mine because I tended to lose them at the beach/pool/locker room

 

[Matt33]

The only time I remove my scapular is when I take a shower. I wouldn’t be caught dead without it

UNless you have an accident in the shower.

 

[Mike_Searson]

I wear mine in the shower and have worn it swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling in 3 different Oceans and a bunch of lakes.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

UNless you have an accident in the shower.

I think of that every time I do so. Solution = have two. One to put on when you get out while the other one dries.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[drforjc]

I think of that every time I do so. Solution = have two. One to put on when you get out while the other one dries.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Or use a scapular medal fashioned from a rustproof metal (chain too) for the shower or swimming.

 

[Genesis315]

Usually I wear mine under the clothes (the five-fold), but on the Solemnity of the IC a few years ago the Pope offered an indulgence for public acts of Marian devotion so I wore my blue scapular (I just wore that and the brown at the time) on the outside of my clothes–nobody said anything to me

As an aside, my local Cathedral gift shop sells First Communion gift packs that have a Sunday missal, a Rosary, and a Brown Scapular

 

[palmas85]

I too have worn mine through thick and thin, three tours overseas in Vietnam, thirty years as a Police Officer, through birth, deaths, frantic athletic activities, showers, baths, hospitilizations some bad drinking binges:blush: yes I used to, and everything else you can think of. It is part of me and of who I am. I cannot even imagine not wearing one.

 

[peary1]

I’ve heard of the brown scapular but I’ve never seen anyone who wears it. I hope I didn’t offend anyone with the title of this thread but I would imagine anyone who publicly wore the scapula would be labelled as a fanatic.

Is it possible to hide the scapula under your clothing or do you wear it so that everyone can see it?

Also, why would a person want to wear it? What benefits to you get from it? I could imagine a priest or nun wearing one of these but it seems strange that a layperson would.

I used to wear one but for some reason I discontinued to do so. However, I have a house scapular hanging. Many young people roll it up and wear it around their necks which I guess is o.k. I used to just wear it and let it hang down into my clothing. Nobody saw it, and I didn’t think of it as fanatical.

 

[Chaldean_Rite]

A scapular is like a wedding ring symbol for devotion to Our Lady. Just as marriage is a path of salvation for the ordinary, so to is Our Lady a path of salvation. I wear mine and hope I will continue to do so until I die.

 

[Matt33]

I think of that every time I do so. Solution = have two. One to put on when you get out while the other one dries.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

If you die without it on does it affect your salvation?

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

While there is no absolute teaching on this that I know of, I believe that God would be an infinitely just and merciful judge.
Prayers & blessings
deacon Ed B

 

[Matt33]

While there is no absolute teaching on this that I know of, I believe that God would be an infinitely just and merciful judge.
Prayers & blessings
deacon Ed B

I thought we were judged by faith and works, and being in a state of grace you would go to heaven. Is not wearing it a sin? If I take my blessed necklace off and die does that affect me. In my understanding if you believe that then you are dangerously close to idol worship and attributing magical powers of an object over Gods plan of salvation. Am I wrong?

 

[peary1]

I thought we were judged by faith and works, and being in a state of grace you would go to heaven. Is not wearing it a sin? If I take my blessed necklace off and die does that affect me. In my understanding if you believe that then you are dangerously close to idol worship and attributing magical powers of an object over Gods plan of salvation. Am I wrong?

**You are totally wrong. A scapular is a *personal and devotional covenant *that one makes through the Communion of Saints to God. Scapular comes from Latin. It means “shoulder bone” and had to do with monastic habits (clothing) which hung from the neck down. They were usually made of wool.

There arose a movement in the Church during the Middle Ages where many of the common people desired to emulate the monastic discipline in their personal lives but could not join orders because of their state in life. ‘Third’ orders arose within the monastic traditions where lay people practiced the monastic virtues but still remained in the world. Scapulars were devised as an outward connection to these monastic traditions. At the beginning, many of these scapulars were large but not quite full habits that people wore. As centuries passed they became smaller until they appeared much as what we have today - two pieces of wool connected by two cords hanging over your shoulder, one square in the front and one in the back.

There are several different scapulars. The most famous is the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites (1251). The Black Scapular was from the Order of the Servants of Mary (1233). The Blue Scapular (in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary) originated with the order of the Theatine Nuns (1605). The White Scapular of the Trinity originated in the habit of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (1190). The Red Scapular originated in 1840 with the Sisters of Charity.

Each scapular is connected to Mary in some way, and usually with some promise from Her for those who wear it. Because these are sacramentals, they can be a source of God’s grace for us. This has nothing to do with ‘magic’ but God’s grace to help us live a good life and bring one closer to Christ. Each scapular denotes a particular type of spirituality which is found within the charism of the order’s founder and the order itself. There is much more to wearing a scapular than what you may have been led to believe.

Wearing a scapular is committing oneself to living the teachings of the Church through the spirituality of the order from which it originates. There is nothing magical about it, but it is covenental, much as it was in the Middle Ages among the common people.**

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I thought we were judged by faith and works, and being in a state of grace you would go to heaven. Is not wearing it a sin? If I take my blessed necklace off and die does that affect me. In my understanding if you believe that then you are dangerously close to idol worship and attributing magical powers of an object over Gods plan of salvation. Am I wrong?

Not wearing a scapula is not a sin. Yes, our eternal disposition depends on whether we die in a state of grace or not. One of the promises of the scapula is that those who die wearing it, will not die in a state of mortal sin. This does not come from the scapula itself, but from a promise of the Blessed Mother. It is an outward sign of our commitment to a holy life and also serves as a reminder to us to avoid sin.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Matt33]

Not wearing a scapula is not a sin. Yes, our eternal disposition depends on whether we die in a state of grace or not. One of the promises of the scapula is that those who die wearing it, will not die in a state of mortal sin. This does not come from the scapula itself, but from a promise of the Blessed Mother. It is an outward sign of our commitment to a holy life and also serves as a reminder to us to avoid sin.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Thank you that explains it to me, I feel better. It is what I thought but you confirmed it.

 

[Matt33]

**You are totally wrong. A scapular is a *personal and devotional covenant ***that one makes through the Communion of Saints to God. Scapular comes from Latin. It means “shoulder bone” and had to do with monastic habits (clothing) which hung from the neck down. They were usually made of wool.

There arose a movement in the Church during the Middle Ages where many of the common people desired to emulate the monastic discipline in their personal lives but could not join orders because of their state in life. ‘Third’ orders arose within the monastic traditions where lay people practiced the monastic virtues but still remained in the world. Scapulars were devised as an outward connection to these monastic traditions. At the beginning, many of these scapulars were large but not quite full habits that people wore. As centuries passed they became smaller until they appeared much as what we have today - two pieces of wool connected by two cords hanging over your shoulder, one square in the front and one in the back.

There are several different scapulars. The most famous is the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites (1251). The Black Scapular was from the Order of the Servants of Mary (1233). The Blue Scapular (in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary) originated with the order of the Theatine Nuns (1605). The White Scapular of the Trinity originated in the habit of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (1190). The Red Scapular originated in 1840 with the Sisters of Charity.

Each scapular is connected to Mary in some way, and usually with some promise from Her for those who wear it. Because these are sacramentals, they can be a source of God’s grace for us. This has nothing to do with ‘magic’ but God’s grace to help us live a good life and bring one closer to Christ. Each scapular denotes a particular type of spirituality which is found within the charism of the order’s founder and the order itself. There is much more to wearing a scapular than what you may have been led to believe.

Wearing a scapular is committing oneself to living the teachings of the Church through the spirituality of the order from which it originates. There is nothing magical about it, but it is covenental, much as it was in the Middle Ages among the common people.

You must have misunderstood my question. The good deacon nicely cleared it up for me. Nice history facts though:thumbsup:

 

[peary1]

You must have misunderstood my question. The good deacon nicely cleared it up for me. Nice history facts though:thumbsup:

**Did it hurt you to learn some history of the devotion? **