Scapular or Miraculous Medal?

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Limoncello4021

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Yes, I know there’s been discussion on this in the past, but I want to ask the question in a new context. I don’t wear a brown scapular. I don’t think I’ve been enrolled in the scapular, although I may have been as a youth: I do remember possessing one at one time. I do wear a Miraculous Medal and have for about 50 years; I especially have a devotion after having visited Rue de Bac.
I sometimes think I “should” also wear the scapular although the bulk of both items around my neck keeps putting me off–ie esp with summer light clothes on. No excuse I guess. Anyway of course I’m attracted to the Sabbatine Privilege associated with the scapular–I could certainly use the promise of getting out of Purgatory within a week! However, with some research, I realized the story about this promise is on very shaky grounds, pretty much denied (it seems) by the Carmelites even though, of course, wearing any blessed image has its own efficacy. I was reading, for example, this page: Scapular Catechesis | Meditations from Carmel.
On the other hand, the vision of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine is well documented and “recent.” I think my question is: for those who wear the scapular and are convinced about the Sabbatine Privilege promise, on what do you base its truth? Thanks, and hope my question doesn’t offend anyone who does wear the scapular!
 
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Sabbatine Privilege
I wear both. I know for privilege but that isn’t main reason why I wear it. However, being true or not I do believe that Blessed Virgin will help me in Purgatory because of devotion to her. She promised to bl. Alan de la Roche to help faster leave Purgatory to those who pray Rosary (there is 14 other promises) . For example in Fatima she also promised help for salvation in death hour to those who practiced 5 Saturdays devotion.
 
I wear both but not because of the Sabbatine privilege.
I wear them out of devotion to Mother Mary. I trust that she will help me at the moment of death like she helps all her good children. Why would she make me wait till Saturday? Furthermore, if one wearer died on Monday and the other died at midnight on Friday, why would the Monday person have to wait a whole week and Friday person not at all, to get help from Mother Mary? Not to mention that God is outside time so there are no more days of the week after death, and the whole Sabbatine privilege is historically dubious.

In addition I’m hoping to join the OCDS at some point, so wearing the Brown Scapular is a way for me to get started practicing Carmelite spirituality. If I wished to affiliate with a different order then I would likely be wearing the scapular or whatever of that other order.

Wear what you want, love your mother Mary, trust God, be at peace.
 
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The key to shortening temporal punishment is penance done before departing this world. The use of a crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular, or medal is a partially indulgenced act, of course accompanied with certain prayers. Plenary indulgences, which involve even more acts, can be obtained also, for those actually enrolled in certain confraternities (with associated scapular or scapular medal).

Norm 15 *
The faithful can acquire an indulgence if they use devoutly one of the following properly
blessed pious objects, namely: a crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.
* Manual of Indulgences, NORMS AND GRANTS, Apostolic Penitentiary, Translated into English from the fourth edition (1999) of Enchiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones, USCCB, 2005, Washington DC.
 
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Thanks for your answers. Yes, that’s my conclusion too. That is, I understand the path to holiness, and I strive for it, including daily plenary indulgences. I just don’t see the value in “adding on” religious items like the scapular when I already wear the Miraculous Medal and the “Sabbatine Privilege” is dubious. I certainly don’t want to edge on superstition. Anyway, that’s my personal conclusion and what I will do.
 
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