Scapular Enrollment

[buffalo82]

I’m thinking of getting enrolled. I have been wearing the Brown Scapular for a couple of years and feel I may not be truly getting the full benefit of it. Is this something you should or have to schedule with a priest or simply just asking. Doesn’t seem like there is much to it. Thanks

 

[ctb95]

I’m thinking of getting enrolled. I have been wearing the Brown Scapular for a couple of years and feel I may not be truly getting the full benefit of it. Is this something you should or have to schedule with a priest or simply just asking. Doesn’t seem like there is much to it. Thanks

Just ask your priest. It only takes five minutes.

 

[cjforJesus]

Yes.any priest can enroll you,and it is a brief ceremony.

 

[Vico]

I’m thinking of getting enrolled. I have been wearing the Brown Scapular for a couple of years and feel I may not be truly getting the full benefit of it. Is this something you should or have to schedule with a priest or simply just asking. Doesn’t seem like there is much to it. Thanks

You can simply start wearing it, it is no longer necessary to be formally enrolled, but you can be. carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

I wear the brown scapular as part of the fivefold scapular, and previously wore the brown scapular by itself, or the scapular ring. The wool and the moving around of the scapular, which gets unbalanced, is inconvienient, but I find that inconvenience is also a blessing as it is a reminder.

The spiritual benefits are from the wearer’s devotion, not the object. The Church grants indulgences, that is, remission of the temporal punishment due sin, for sins already forgiven. An indulgence may be obtained from using a crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.

In 1967 Indulgences were revised (the latest revision is 1999), rescending all previously given, and requiring orders to re-establish them. The Carmelites did. So if you read about the indulgences for a particular scapular anywhere, keep in mind that the information given is only historical, if before 1967.

Also, on specific days, wearers of a scapular and members of certain confraternities that wear them, are eligible to obtain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions of: intention, in the state of grace (at least by the time of completion), sacramental confession (within 20 days), communion, vocal prayers for the intentions of The Pope, and detachment from all sin (regret for even venial sins).

These are the days for the brown scapular indulgence:
The day of investiture. Feast of Saint Simon Stock, May 16
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jul 16
Feast of Elijah, the Prophet, Jul 20
Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (Lisieux), Oct1
Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Oct 15
Feast of The Saints of Carmel, Nov 14
Feast of Saint John of the Cross, Dec 14
The fasts are part of the Sabbatine Privilege which is not an indulgence granted by the Church. Some believe that this originated from Pope John XXII in the year 1322 in a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but it is without historical foundation. In 1613 the Holy See instructed the Carmelites to stop mentioning the “Sabbatine Privilege”, but that people may believe that The Blessed Virgin Mary will help them especially on Saturday, which is her day. Read about it here, exerpted from The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual: carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html
For Church indulgence, the scapular or the scapular medal can be used.

 

[pensmama87]

You can simply start wearing it, it is no longer necessary to be formally enrolled, but you can be. carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

I wear the brown scapular as part of the fivefold scapular, and previously wore the brown scapular by itself, or the scapular ring. The wool and the moving around of the scapular, which gets unbalanced, is inconvienient, but I find that inconvenience is also a blessing as it is a reminder.

The spiritual benefits are from the wearer’s devotion, not the object. The Church grants indulgences, that is, remission of the temporal punishment due sin, for sins already forgiven. An indulgence may be obtained from using a crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.

In 1967 Indulgences were revised (the latest revision is 1999), rescending all previously given, and requiring orders to re-establish them. The Carmelites did. So if you read about the indulgences for a particular scapular anywhere, keep in mind that the information given is only historical, if before 1967.

**Also, on specific days, wearers of a scapular and members of certain confraternities that wear them, are eligible to obtain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions of: intention, in the state of grace (at least by the time of completion), sacramental confession (within 20 days), communion, vocal prayers for the intentions of The Pope, and detachment from all sin (regret for even venial sins).

These are the days for the brown scapular indulgence:
The day of investiture. Feast of Saint Simon Stock, May 16
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jul 16
Feast of Elijah, the Prophet, Jul 20
Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (Lisieux), Oct1
Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Oct 15
Feast of The Saints of Carmel, Nov 14
Feast of Saint John of the Cross, Dec 14 **
The fasts are part of the Sabbatine Privilege which is not an indulgence granted by the Church. Some believe that this originated from Pope John XXII in the year 1322 in a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but it is without historical foundation. In 1613 the Holy See instructed the Carmelites to stop mentioning the “Sabbatine Privilege”, but that people may believe that The Blessed Virgin Mary will help them especially on Saturday, which is her day. Read about it here, exerpted from The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual: carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html
For Church indulgence, the scapular or the scapular medal can be used.

Thanks for the information on indulgences in particular. I have been wearing the brown scapular for a few years, but didn’t know about that. Most of the information I have found out there is very heavy on the Sabbatine Privilege, which has made me wonder if I should even continue wearing the scapular at all, lest I seem to be promoting superstition.

 

[drforjc]

Here is the rite itself:

carmelitanacollection.com/rite.php

 

[porthos11]

Thanks for the information on indulgences in particular. I have been wearing the brown scapular for a few years, but didn’t know about that. Most of the information I have found out there is very heavy on the Sabbatine Privilege, which has made me wonder if I should even continue wearing the scapular at all, lest I seem to be promoting superstition.

Because the Carmelites are the ones who “own” the Brown Scapular, their word is what carries the day. The Carmelitana Collection catechesis link provided in this thread is the current official teaching, and as you can see, it focuses more on sharing in the spirituality and spiritual goods of the Carmelite family, and hardly makes any mention of the so-called Sabbatine Privilege or the “Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire” promise, and in fact, downplays them with proper Catholic teaching on grace, sacramentals and perseverance. It’s a valuable resource for those who wear the Scapular.

Most of the sources out there are based on legend that have been mutated and passed down over the centuries, becoming what the Carmelites considered “abuse” of the sacramental, which prompted the Carmelites to “retake” the Brown Scapular, clean up the legends and issue a sound, solid, Catholic catechesis on how it’s to be worn and treated.