"Test Driving" a Scapular

[LordHaveMercy]

Hello Friends.

I am a new Catholic and looking to develop a deeper spirituality. I am considering enrolling in a Scapular, probably the Brown Scapular. However, I do not want to enter into this devotion half-heartedly and I do not want to be enrolled and then decide at a later date to remove the scapular.

Is it acceptable to “test drive” a Scapular by simply wearing it and practicing the spirituality associated with it and then be formally enrolled at a later date? This seems like a way to get a taste of the particular devotion so I can be fully prepared for possible enrollment.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

 

[Mrs_V]

I didn’t consider it a ‘test drive’ at the time, but during my conversion/RCIA I wore a scapular even though I wasn’t enrolled yet. I was told it was fine for me to do so.

 

[Bookcat]

You mean the brown scapular right? One may begin to wear it --even if one later decides to set it aside. One need not be “enrolled” in order to wear it. Have it blessed --turn your heart in devotion to our Lady and put it on.

 

[louisak]

You might consider the green scapular, or the miraculous medal. Unlike the brown scapular and the many other scapulars, these are not associated with a particular religious order. There is no investiture associated with them.

 

[Bookcat]

One of the kinds of wearing of the Brown Scapular noted by Carmelites is:

Those who wear the scapular out of devotion, practice the Order’s spirituality, but who have no formal association to the Order.

 

[LordHaveMercy]

You might consider the green scapular, or the miraculous medal. Unlike the brown scapular and the many other scapulars, these are not associated with a particular religious order. There is no investiture associated with them.

I like what I have read about the Green Scapular. Are there any sites you recommend with more info? I’ve done a few google searches and searched this board bit as well. Thanks!

 

[Carolus_Martell]

Good luck with the test drive…never thought of that so let us know how you make out with that.

I still have a brown scapular in it’s original package back from the bronze age. After deliberating on it I reached the conclusion I couldn’t live up to it. I think my scapular orbited about the life of St Benedict, but that’s just a guess…I forgot. All I can recall was that at the time I could not, in good faith, maintain that devotions requirements.

Like was mentioned by OP’s I settled on the MM and DM. And as easy as they appear to be they’re not an easy take.

Outside of mass nothing compares with a daily Rosary(s)…that’s the heavy artillery of all other sacramental’s combined. And thankfully, saying a Rosary is easy…you can do that on your commute to work or while walking the dog.

If you want to keep the world spinning than settle on the Rosary.

 

[louisak]

I like what I have read about the Green Scapular. Are there any sites you recommend with more info? I’ve done a few google searches and searched this board bit as well. Thanks!

I can’t recommend any one site. I have looked at a couple, but they all present basically the same information.