Scapulars

[RevDrNorth]

Has the use of scapulars among Catholics decreased? I had a thread and there was another one posted by someone else asking questions. Not much was posted. On top of that, when I went to purchase a scapular at a Catholic book store, they did not have what I have traditionally seen as scapulars. They just had some very small ones attached by thin thread (hastily stitched and with nothing on the back).
I was very interested in the sacramental aspect (understand it is NOT meant to be used superstitiously) and read about the Brown Scapular and also its use in connection with the World Apostolate of Fatima (a Public Association of the Faithful). They require wearing it as a part of membership (think it is the only Fatima association with the designation of Public Association of the Faithful).

In any case, I wonder if it is like the Rosary these days where people wear them and put them on their rear view mirrors but fewer actually pray it?

This site has a picture of the owner giving scapulars to Pope JP II (who wore a Brown Scapular form the time he was young). It also has a picture of Mel Gibson wearing a scapular.

rosescapular.com/entersite.htm

 

[holdencaulfield]

Has the use of scapulars among Catholics decreased? I had a thread and there was another one posted by someone else asking questions. Not much was posted. On top of that, when I went to purchase a scapular at a Catholic book store, they did not have what I have traditionally seen as scapulars. They just had some very small ones attached by thin thread (hastily stitched and with nothing on the back).
I was very interested in the sacramental aspect (understand it is NOT meant to be used superstitiously) and read about the Brown Scapular and also its use in connection with the World Apostolate of Fatima (a Public Association of the Faithful). They require wearing it as a part of membership (think it is the only Fatima association with the designation of Public Association of the Faithful).

In any case, I wonder if it is like the Rosary these days where people wear them and put them on their rear view mirrors but fewer actually pray it?

This site has a picture of the owner giving scapulars to Pope JP II (who wore a Brown Scapular form the time he was young). It also has a picture of Mel Gibson wearing a scapular.

rosescapular.com/entersite.htm

I have a friend who wears them. And I do pray the Rosary usually once a week.

 

[Freshman88]

I had no idea that scapulars existed until a year ago.

I was raised Catholic, went to a Catholic school (for 14 years) and went to mass/sunday school every Sunday for the whole of my life.

Never did I come across a scapular until I discovered a traditionalist parish.

That’s my own experience, take it for what its worth.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I had no idea that scrapulars existed until a year ago.

I was raised Catholic, went to a Catholic school (for 14 years) and went to mass/sunday school every Sunday for the whole of my life.

Never did I come across a scrapular until I discovered a traditionalist parish.

That’s my own experience, take it for what its worth.

I don’t even know what they are. However I have seen them.

 

[Brother_John]

I had no idea that scapulars existed until a year ago.

I was raised Catholic, went to a Catholic school (for 14 years) and went to mass/sunday school every Sunday for the whole of my life.

Never did I come across a scapular until I discovered a traditionalist parish.

That’s my own experience, take it for what its worth.

We made them in VBS around 1970 or so. I occasionally go on service calls to Catholic homes and see them tacked up over doorways. Dunno what that means or does.

 

[holdencaulfield]

We made them in VBS around 1970 or so. I occasionally go on service calls to Catholic homes and see them tacked up over doorways. Dunno what that means or does.

Me either.

 

[Genesis315]

The Cathedral bookstore/gift shop where I used to live had many different kinds. I wear the five-fold

They also sold them as part of 1st Communion gift packs (a Sunday Missal, a Rosary, and a Brown Scapular).

I notice them sticking out of people’s shirts now and then–an older woman I used to volunteer with at the SVDP soup kitchen was a relatively recent convert from Greek Orthodoxy and she wore a brown one–so she obviously found out about it somehow.

 

[holdencaulfield]

The Cathedral bookstore/gift shop where I used to live had many different kinds. I wear the five-fold

They also sold them as part of 1st Communion gift packs (a Sunday Missal, a Rosary, and a Brown Scapular).

I notice them sticking out of people’s shirts now and then–an older woman I used to volunteer with at the SVDP soup kitchen was a relatively recent convert from Greek Orthodoxy and she wore a brown one–so she obviously found out about it somehow.

What compels one to convert from Orthodoxy?

What are they though?

 

[Genesis315]

What compels one to convert from Orthodoxy?

The discovery that it is missing elements Christ intends His Church to have.

What are they though?

Scapulars? They are a kind of mini-habit–and so they show a kind of spiritual solidarity with the religious order who may wear that habit.

Likewise, in the middle ages it was a custom for a vassal to wear a cloth of the colors of their lord or lady to show who they were loyal to. This practice was adopted to show loyalty to the Trinity, Christ, Mary, etc. I find it to be a beautiful sign of fidelity.

Next, it can be a little itchy sometimes, so its good penance and a good reminder of Who we belong to.

Finally, to encourage us to wear them, angels, Jesus, Mary, etc. have appeared and offered spiritual benefits besides the one’s mentioned above (for example, Jesus promised an increase in faith, hope, and charity to those who wear the red scapular). Of course, these are private revelations so you can choose to believe them or not. That being said, the Church also offers indulgences for wearing scapulars:

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/g35.htm

 

[holdencaulfield]

The discovery that it is missing elements Christ intends His Church to have.

Like what? I’m just being hypothetical btw. The only real argument I could see is that the Church has gotten less traditional.

Scapulars? They are a kind of mini-habit–and so they show a kind of spiritual solidarity with the religious order who may wear that habit.

Likewise, in the middle ages it was a custom for a vassal to wear a cloth of the colors of their lord or lady to show who they were loyal to. This practice was adopted to show loyalty to the Trinity, Christ, Mary, etc. I find it to be a beautiful sign of fidelity.

Next, it can be a little itchy sometimes, so its good penance and a good reminder of Who we belong to.

Finally, to encourage us to wear them, angels, Jesus, Mary, etc. have appeared and offered spiritual benefits besides the one’s mentioned above (for example, Jesus promised an increase in faith, hope, and charity to those who wear the red scapular). Of course, these are private revelations so you can choose to believe them or not. That being said, the Church also offers indulgences for wearing scapulars:

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/g35.htm

Sounds fun, can men wear them?

 

[Genesis315]

Like what? I’m just being hypothetical btw. The only real argument I could see is that the Church has gotten less traditional.

I don’t want to get the thread off topic, but obviously the Petrine ministry is a big element. Then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote a book called “Called to Communion” which has an excellent section on why missing this element is such a grave wound to the participation of particular Churches in the universality of the whole Church–so much so that many modern Orthodox theologians have even adopted an exclusively Eucharistic ecclesiology abandoning any universal ecclesiology altogether (while the Catholic Church holds to both). He does a good job explaining more about this.

Sounds fun, can men wear them?

Of course!! (I am a man too ).

 

[Genesis315]

It also bears noting, while you get most sacramentals themselves blessed, the scapular blessing (I think it’s called an investiture or enrollment) is actually given to the wearer himself. So, if you lose the scapular or something and you get a new one, you don’t need to get it blessed because the blessing stays with you.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Likewise, in the middle ages it was a custom for a vassal to wear a cloth of the colors of their lord or lady to show who they were loyal to. This practice was adopted to show loyalty to the Trinity, Christ, Mary, etc. I find it to be a beautiful sign of fidelity.

ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/g35.htm

What a great explanation!

Also, I should note that apparently I made a mistake. Any picture can be on a scapular since the original had none. I have read that the band can be made of anything but the scapular (by regulation) must be made of wool.

What is the five fold one that was mentioned.

 

[Genesis315]

What a great explanation!

Also, I should note that apparently I made a mistake. Any picture can be on a scapular since the original had none. I have read that the band can be made of anything but the scapular (by regulation) must be made of wool.

This is correct for most of the scapulars. However, the white and red each have a particular image. The white (Scapular of the Trinity) has a red and blue cross and the red (Scapular of the Passion) has a crucifix and a ladder with the words “Passion of Christ save me” on one side and the Hearts of Jesus and Mary with the words “Sacred Hearts and Jesus and Mary protect me” on the back.

What is the five fold one that was mentioned.

It’s five scapulars sown together at the top (like a flip book)–it’s the brown (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), white (Trinity), blue (Immaculate Conception), black (Sorrows of Mary), and red (Passion).

 

[markadm]

I have one!

My take is that they are declining universally. However, I note that, as with many things, they are becoming a symbol of young catholic orthodoxy.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I want one. Anyone know a good place to get one.

 

[CB_Catholic]

When I worked in the ICU, the Green Scapular seemed to be popular. People would bring them in and request that they be tied to the siderails of the sick person’s bed or pinned to their gowns. They were usually encased in plastic.

I looked up the Green Scapular on the internet, and it seems to be associated more with conversions rather than healing. I don’t know why people would bring them to the sick so often for healing. Maybe it’s a local thing. Also there is no enrollment in anything, but there is a prayer.

In any case, I found one among my father-in-law’s effects, and now it belongs to me, but I can’t wear scapulars because of the wool or plastic encasement, nor any jewelry that isn’t at least 14kt gold. Even my gold Crucifix has caused a major red area on my upper chest, but I put up with that because it does not itch. So I am going to hang it on my bedpost as a reminder to pray for conversions.

 

[holdencaulfield]

When I worked in the ICU, the Green Scapular seemed to be popular. People would bring them in and request that they be tied to the siderails of the sick person’s bed or pinned to their gowns. They were usually encased in plastic.

I looked up the Green Scapular on the internet, and it seems to be associated more with conversions rather than healing. I don’t know why people would bring them to the sick so often for healing. Maybe it’s a local thing. Also there is no enrollment in anything, but there is a prayer.

In any case, I found one among my father-in-law’s effects, and now it belongs to me, but I can’t wear scapulars because of the wool or plastic encasement, nor any jewelry that isn’t at least 14kt gold. Even my gold Crucifix has caused a major red area on my upper chest, but I put up with that because it does not itch. So I am going to hang it on my bedpost as a reminder to pray for conversions.

Good Idea.

 

[chrisb]

Grace and Peace,

They have been largely replaced by scapular medals. I wear one blessed by my Parish Priest.

 

[RevDrNorth]

I want one. Anyone know a good place to get one.

Any Catholic Book store should have one. They range in price from 1.50 to 5.00. Also, the link I posted has a way to order them (including the one worn by Mel Gibson in the picture).

Interestingly (since you have a Star of David) one site compared the scapular in a sense to the Jewish Teffilin.