Scapular troubles

[someperson555]

okay so, a while back I enrolled in the rosary confraternity and have been praying the rosary ever since. after that i decided that maybe i want to start wearing a brown scapular, so i obtained one. but heres where im confused, i read that i was supposed to have it blessed and “placed on me by a priest”, the priest i took it to merely blessed it, i put it on myself afterwards. so does it still count as blessed and am i still participating in its indulgences?

but here my biggest problem, does the sacpular have to hang at equal lengths on the front and back? because i read that it has to, but I CANNOT do that, because i have OCD so i have nervous tics which cause it to kind of hang a little lower in the front, so i dont want to keep constantly re-adjusting it, its actually causing me a little stress, i really want to wear the scapular, but if its that much trouble then im thinking maybe i shouldnt. all this has got me thinking that maybe this is a sign from God that i am not yet ready to wear it (?).

 

[Blenderx]

Perhaps not a sign from God, so much as a sign of your anxieties and OCD. No, it need not be perfectly even front and back. It only has to hang over the shoulders, with a piece of cloth on each side. They ride up all the time, and you may adjust it to where you feel comfortable. If it is causing you a great deal of anxiety and worry, you really don’t have to wear it. God understands perfectly. Peace.

 

[someperson555]

thank you, now one more thing, do you think i have to get it blessed again? because i dont know if the priest i took it to did it right, because i read that to share in the indulgences and benefits, a priest has to recite a certain prayer and actually place the scapular on you. but this priest didnt, he just blessed it. and he didnt mention any special prayers.

 

[WoundedIcon]

thank you, now one more thing, do you think i have to get it blessed again? because i dont know if the priest i took it to did it right, because i read that to share in the indulgences and benefits, a priest has to recite a certain prayer and actually place the scapular on you. but this priest didnt, he just blessed it. and he didnt mention any special prayers.

Yes, you do need to get the blessing re-done. There’s an official form that needs to be done in order to enroll you and confer the specific blessings.

 

[Dorothy]

thank you, now one more thing, do you think i have to get it blessed again? because i dont know if the priest i took it to did it right, because i read that to share in the indulgences and benefits, a priest has to recite a certain prayer and actually place the scapular on you. but this priest didnt, he just blessed it. and he didnt mention any special prayers.

Dear “Sameperson”,

What a blessing that Our Lady is calling you closer to her Son!

Here is a recent site offered by both Carmelite branches, Calced and Discalced to explain with updated explanations what the Brown Scapular is all about. It is a great blessing of a sacramental!
carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

Procedure for the Blessing and Investiture
Of the Scapular of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Priest - Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.

Respondent- And grant us Thy salvation.

Priest - Lord, hear my prayer.

Respondent - And let my cry come unto Thee.

Priest - The Lord be with you.

Respondent - And also with you.

Priest - Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, sanctify by Thy power these scapulars, which for love of Thee and for love of Our lady of Mount Carmel, Thy servants will wear devoutly, so that through the intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protected against the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace. Thou who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

THE PRIEST SPRINKLES HOLY WATER AND INVESTS PERSON(S) WHILE SAYING:

Receive this blessed Scapular and beseech the Blessed Virgin that through Her merits, you may wear it without stain. May it defend you against all adversity and accompany you to eternal life. Amen.

AFTER THE INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:

I, by the power vested in me, admit you to participate in all the spiritual benefits obtained through the mercy of Jesus Christ by the Religious Order of Mount Carmel.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, bless you, He who has deigned to join you to the confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Of Mount Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent so that you my enter into possession of your eternal heritage, through Christ our Lord.

Respondent - Amen.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

thank you, now one more thing, do you think i have to get it blessed again? because i dont know if the priest i took it to did it right, because i read that to share in the indulgences and benefits, a priest has to recite a certain prayer and actually place the scapular on you. but this priest didnt, he just blessed it. and he didnt mention any special prayers.

No you don’t have to have it re-blessed.

The blessing spelled out is when done in a ceremony for those joining the fraternity, when a special Mass is celebrated for the event.

Other wise, the scapular just has to be blessed by the priest as yours was.

Keep in mind, this isn’t a magical trinket which protects you.

It’s the devotion in your heart that makes it holy.

Jim

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

thank you, now one more thing, do you think i have to get it blessed again? because i dont know if the priest i took it to did it right, because i read that to share in the indulgences and benefits, a priest has to recite a certain prayer and actually place the scapular on you. but this priest didnt, he just blessed it. and he didnt mention any special prayers.

Great! Peace be with you. Yes the above Investiture Of the Scapular can be printed, and given to the priest to do. Be sure to ask him if you can substitute the Rosary for the Little Office of the Virgin Mary. He shouldn’t have any problems with it.

The very same thing happened with me. I didn’t, and the priest didn’t know about investing the scapular. But what a difference it made after investment. Oh don’t worry about it not being even front to back. Mine wonders all over the place all day and night.

Here’s a printer friendly form.

Rite for the Blessing and Investiture of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel