Scapular and superstition

[CompSciGuy]

Hi,

Before I start I wanted to make a statement on salvation. I believe that salvation, as taught by scriptures and the Church, comes to us by grace through repentance and conversion of heart and through the Church (sacraments, etc). I trust there is no disagreement there. I know that the Church forbids superstition. That being said, I am wondering why the practice of wearing the scapular is accepted and not considered superstition. I have heard many say that it is only effective if you are already doing these things (conversion of the heart, repentance, etc.) but if that is the case, why even bother with the scapular? Why not just do the conversion, repentance, etc.? The apparition supposedly said that those people who were wearing the actual trinket itself at the time of their death would receive “special favors” so to speak. That sounds an awful lot like superstition to me, to say that a superficial act of wearing a physical object around your neck will somehow grant you more favor than if you don’t wear it. In good conscience I couldn’t possibly accept such a teaching.

 

[hudson]

To an atheist, all of Christianity would be a superstition. To Martin Luther the Papacy was the fountain and source of all superstitions. So as you can see, superstition isn’t easily defined. If it(scapular) is approved by the Catholic Church and you are Catholic, you should not consider it to be superstition.

 

[JamestheOlder]

The scapular is properly called a sacramental (when blessed), and, as such, is present and worn to REMIND us of all the duties we have to live our Faith. No superstition, but a reminder. The same would be true of a blessed crucifix or Miraculous Medal worn around the neck, or pinned to a garment.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Let me give an example of things that are considered superstitious by the Catholic Church. For example, burying a statue of St. Joseph on your property believing that this will help to sell your home. Basically trinkets or prayers that, if said, hold “promises” to, in and of themselves, bring fortune/salvation/etc. upon the participant. I know there was an article about this somewhere. These ideas are contrary to the classical understanding of prayer and salvation and really don’t make any sense.

Your response doesn’t really fit either. You are basically saying that “well other people think that our core beliefs are superstitious, so we should be allowed to believe any wild thing, even if it is contrary to what we already believe about salvation and prayer as long as the Church doesn’t forbid us from doing so.” I have seen so many instances where the scapular has inspired superstition. I know a Lebanese former Catholic who used to wear it all the time, fearing that the moment he took it off, that was when he would die and it would result in his condemnation for not wearing it at the time of his death. Others lose it while swimming, and start fearing for their salvation because the scapular was lost. This mindset is not uncommon, and really, it flows directly from the supposed words that Mary spoke on mount Carmel. Doesn’t this create any concern for anyone? How can it not bother you?

 

[Bluegoat]

I also have these kinds of worries about this practice.

I think the correct answer is that the item itself is a kind of reminded on a moment to moment basis of what we are supposed to be doing, or how we are meant to be disposed. Kind of like a string on your finger to keep you from forgetting something.

But I have talked to quite a few people who have a frankly superstitious attitude, and who seem to spend a lot of time pursuing these kinds of sacramentals, special promises, and reading private revelations.

I believe the group that gives out brown scapulars has actually changed the wording of what the scapular is meant to do and represent, so as to avoid these kinds of misconceptions. I’m not Catholic of course, and personally I have a lot of doubts about this practice. The wording of the original promises seems to likely to lead to serious misunderstanding to my mind. But that would be a difficult position for a Catholic to take.

 

[midori]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Not all sacramentals resonate with all Catholics. If a scapular doesn’t appeal to you, that’s great; but I wouldn’t lose any sleep worrying about people who gain great spiritual profit from it.

The thing you’re talking about is called “Sabbatine Privilege”, and even though the Carmelites had been banned for centuries from promulgating it, such promises obviously resonated enough with its devotees so that it’s pretty much taken for granted. I’d have to read up on it some more (I think they eventually worked it out), but the point is, it’s definitely faced its share of skepticism in its 800-year history.

Devotional scapulars have their roots in monastic scapulars-- if you’ve ever seen a Cistercian or a Carmelite, for example, or a statue of a Cistercian or Carmelite saint, you’ll see those full-body monastic scapulars that they wear over their front and back. They were an extremely important part of their habit-- there were some pretty severe/extreme punishments for those who didn’t wear them according to the set guidelines.

Devotional scapulars serve the purpose of providing a visual sign of the wearer’s devotion, so that’s the importance attached to the physical object. It not only serves as a sign to others, but a reminder to yourself as well, that you’ve pledged yourself to a confraternity, to a way of life, etc.

So taking the Brown Scapular as our example, you’ve pledged yourself to Mary as her spiritual child. You look to her as a mother for protection. You entrust your prayers to her intercession. You look to her example so you can model your own life of prayer in following Jesus. If you do that throughout your life on earth, would it not follow that you would be confident she would extend her special protection to your soul after your time here had concluded? Whether or not it happens exactly as the Sabbatine Privilege spells out ultimately doesn’t matter— but you can’t deny that people’s hope and faith that it does work that way has helped it grow far more popular than it might have otherwise.

 

[CompSciGuy]

The scapular is properly called a sacramental (when blessed), and, as such, is present and worn to REMIND us of all the duties we have to live our Faith. No superstition, but a reminder. The same would be true of a blessed crucifix or Miraculous Medal worn around the neck, or pinned to a garment.

This is a much better understanding. I can accept this. But is this what Our Lady was reported to have said on Mt. Carmel? From what I’ve heard she actually said the physical scapular itself would bring some sort of “special favor.”

 

[rosary_guy]

I have found wearing the scapular in giving great spiritual comfort and a solid defense against supernatural demonic influence towards sin. I found out after the fact of wearing it that there are stated advantages towards these ends and so, in other words, I had the benefits before learning about its effects. To me, it is not superstitution but a solid weapon of defense against Satan.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

This is a much better understanding. I can accept this. But is this what Our Lady was reported to have said on Mt. Carmel? From what I’ve heard she actually said the physical scapular itself would bring some sort of “special favor.”

The nuns in my parish school back in the '50’s were careful to impress on us that the scapular must be worn with the proper attitude of faith in Jesus, there’s no getting around that. So here’s the story my second grade teacher told us:

It seems there was a very bad man. He decided to wear the scapular to protect him so he could be bad all his life but still get into heaven as long as he was wearing it when he died. The man died in a war. A piece of metal was shot at him and cut off his head, the scapular went flying, and then he died. You can’t fool God!

 

[TuAutem]

But is this what Our Lady was reported to have said on Mt. Carmel? From what I’ve heard she actually said the physical scapular itself would bring some sort of “special favor.”

According to legend, the scapular was not given on Mount Carmel, but to St. Simon Stock, who was English.

Like Marian apparitions such as Lourdes and Fatima, this falls into the category of ‘private revelation’, which no Catholic is required to believe. So whether you choose to believe the scapular promises, and in what way you interpret them, is largely up to you. As has been mentioned, the promises have always been controversial–in fact in the 20th century many Catholic historians called into question whether Simon Stock even existed! So there are faithful Catholics who run the gamut from, the whole thing originates in pure legend, to those who believe that the Blessed Mother guarantees that those who faithfully wear the scapular will not face hell, and can be delivered from purgatory on Saturday.

The Church does not say either extreme, or any of the many gradations in between, are right or wrong.

What all should recognise in the scapular, I think, is that it is a participation in the spirituality of the order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which, no matter how you decide the question of what is legend vs. what is revelation, should be the primary meaning of the sacramental.

So I would say, do not view the scapular as superstitious–it is a form of devotion. But do not feel that you have to believe in any of the claims, rooted in private revelation, that you feel are superstitious. And do not let those claims colour too much your understanding of what the scapular stands for–not any more than you would object to hanging a crucifix in your home, just because you met some eccentric people who hung one in theirs to keep out vampires!

 

[RosaryFan]

Hi,

Before I start I wanted to make a statement on salvation. I believe that salvation, as taught by scriptures and the Church, comes to us by grace through repentance and conversion of heart and through the Church (sacraments, etc). I trust there is no disagreement there. I know that the Church forbids superstition. That being said, I am wondering why the practice of wearing the scapular is accepted and not considered superstition. I have heard many say that it is only effective if you are already doing these things (conversion of the heart, repentance, etc.) but if that is the case, why even bother with the scapular? Why not just do the conversion, repentance, etc.? The apparition supposedly said that those people who were wearing the actual trinket itself at the time of their death would receive “special favors” so to speak. That sounds an awful lot like superstition to me, to say that a superficial act of wearing a physical object around your neck will somehow grant you more favor than if you don’t wear it. In good conscience I couldn’t possibly accept such a teaching.

Wearing the scapular is one part of a two-part promise: We promise Mary that we will wear it as a sign of our fidelity to a true Christian way of life (i.e. following Christ through the example of Mary, His greatest disciple) in return for her obtaining from Christ for us the graces necessary for our salvation.

Wearing the scapular (I’m referring specifically to the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) is not a superstitious act, but a reminder of our part of the promise. And believe me, when that woolen scapular is scratching at your skin, it’s a real reminder. Along with wearing the scapular, we are also bound by a promise of reciting certain prayers daily - either the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Rosary (if permission is granted by a priest for substitution of the Rosary).

No one believes that if you toss a scapular around your neck right before you die you’re not going to hell no matter how carelessly you’ve lived your life. That is a ridiculous thought. We have to keep our part of the promise - which is true Christian living and daily prayer.

So, the scapular is not a magic charm. It is a reminder of our promise to follow Mary’s example of being the perfect disicple of Christ.

Also, by wearing the Brown Scapular, you are a member of the confraternity of the Carmelites and share in their prayers. Not only does the scapular act as a reminder of this, but it is also our “membership card”, for lack of a better term.

If you have a membership card to an elite club, you wouldn’t consider it to be a magic charm, would you? Same idea.

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

I would like to know how many of you posting wear a Brown Scapular daily?

I wonder if next the Rosary is going to be a called a superstition in this thread? Just a few beads Catholics pray to? Just another superstition?

Then Holy Water would be next in line!

I’m going to be up front. I wear a Brown Scapular! I do believe! When I first got one, I just got it blessed. Then I found out about having it enrolled properly. What a difference! Mary has been with me ever since. Satan has hit the road. No superstitions! Nothing but spiritual power! What a weapon!

Do what you want. I’ll not be talked out of my Brown Scapular as being a superstition.

Now it’s time for the daily Rosary!

See Ya!

 

[midori]

I’ve worn through more than one brown scapular myself. When I wore through my last one, I got a new one and I just didn’t like it— the scapular tabs were encased in plastic, rather than just being the soft wool of a well-worn scapular, and my old scapular had a habit of having both tabs slide down to the front, rather than being front-to-back as it’s supposed to be worn, and it was tough readjusting to a new, properly worn scapular. But it’s still always in my purse; I need to buckle down and shop for a replacement. I also have a green scapular, which I use occasionally; and a red scapular, which I never felt very connected to.

One of the cool things I do like about the brown scapular is just the tons of anecdotes out there about people who thought they could treat it like a lucky charm or a get-into-heaven-free card, but were not permitted to die wearing it. (Of course, I like the anecdotes about the usefulness and merits of the scapular even better, lol.)

But I also understand that people feel connected to different sacramentals in different ways, and that’s fine, too. The OP wasn’t the first person to worry that the scapular promises were superstitious. I hope they find something that does resonate with them spiritually.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Your answers are helpful and have helped to clear some things up. Thank you. I don’t have any qualms about it anymore.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,

Before I start I wanted to make a statement on salvation. I believe that salvation, as taught by scriptures and the Church, comes to us by grace through repentance and conversion of heart and through the Church (sacraments, etc). I trust there is no disagreement there. I know that the Church forbids superstition. That being said, I am wondering why the practice of wearing the scapular is accepted and not considered superstition. I have heard many say that it is only effective if you are already doing these things (conversion of the heart, repentance, etc.) but if that is the case, why even bother with the scapular? Why not just do the conversion, repentance, etc.? The apparition supposedly said that those people who were wearing the actual trinket itself at the time of their death would receive “special favors” so to speak. That sounds an awful lot like superstition to me, to say that a superficial act of wearing a physical object around your neck will somehow grant you more favor than if you don’t wear it. In good conscience I couldn’t possibly accept such a teaching.

My priest explained the scapular to me when I was enrolled… basically , it doesn’t replace the Sacraments, - but it helps because Mary prays for you and you share in the spiritual graces of Carmel… (in the case of the brown scapular). It’s a sign of devotion to Mary. I imagine that it would give a person more peace at the hour of their death, because they’ll see that they are wearing the scapular - in many cases when a person didn’t repent of sin, they somehow lost the scapular right before they died. (or it burned them and they took it off, etc… I read that in an article somewhere). God bless