The Brown Scapular

[ken72]

Can you or should you wear the Brown Scapular in the shower or water? Also, if it comes apart, how do you properly dispose of it?

 

[MarieVeronica]

I take mine off, for bathing and hair washing. I no longer swim, but I would probably remove it for that… too. As far as I know, it’s OK to take a scapular off for these reasons. Wouldn’t seem quite right… to get a blessed scapular soaking wet.

I usually wear my scapulars, until they literally fall off (break apart). Then, I purchase a new one. Once it has fallen apart… I believe it has lost its identity (in other words, it is no longer technically a scapular… but pieces of a scapular), and can be discarded. I’ve heard people here say that the best way to discard an old scapular, is to bury or burn it. Hope this helps.

 

[jmjconder]

I wear by Borwn Scapular all the time…I never take it off until it literally falls apart and needs to be replaced.

The Blessing is not on the Scapular - it is on on the person wearing the Scapular. Therefore when it wears out it need only be replaced. The Scapular itself need not be blessed the first time or subsequent times.

When one is enrolled in the Brown Scapular the enrollment blessing is bestowed upon the person and that is why the Scapular is the outward sign of the blessing on the person wearing the Scapular.

Glory to God.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I wear by Borwn Scapular all the time…I never take it off until it literally falls apart and needs to be replaced.

The Blessing is not on the Scapular - it is on on the person wearing the Scapular. Therefore when it wears out it need only be replaced. The Scapular itself need not be blessed the first time or subsequent times.

When one is enrolled in the Brown Scapular the enrollment blessing is bestowed upon the person and that is why the Scapular is the outward sign of the blessing on the person wearing the Scapular.

Glory to God.

Good information. Thanks. But, many people do get their scapulars blessed. And if a scapular is blessed… the scapular itself is then a sacramental (like a rosary). I think this is what the OP was inquiring about.

 

[jmjconder]

I agree that it is always a good idea to take carefully dispose of blessed items.

The Brown Scapular is a unique scared devotion. It involves a way of life and a comittment to a life of prayer and those who are drawn to wear this particular Scapular need to seek the proper enrollment by a priest for enrollment in the Confraternity of the Scapular.

During the enrollment the Scapular and person are Blessed and therefore when the initial Scapular is worn out the replacement Scapular does not need to be blessed - because the initial blessing is for a lifetime.

I know that as Catholics we use religious symbols to express our devotions and love of our faith. I believe that when I wear my Brown Scapular it means more to me than wearing my crucifix around my neck, because I have made promise to follow every day that include the way I live and prays I say.

As a Lay Carmelite I wish for people to understand what this popular devotion - Brown Scapular - is truly about.

memorare.com/mary/scapularbrown.html

Glory to God!
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[RevDrNorth]

Thank you for this information. I posted a thread (under apologetics) inquiring about the scapular and the World Apostolate of Fatima (aka Blue Army). They require wearing the Brown Scapular.

I was curious about what it meant to people in terms of their devotion and did they use it to explain the faith to Non Roman Catholics.