The Scapular

  • Thread starter Thread starter rowermath
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

rowermath

Guest
About 5 years ago, i was enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mt. Carmel. Then, roughly 3 years later, I came to a realization that I was not upholding all of the “requirements,” and proceeded to discontinue wearing it. I believed that since I was not upholding my end of the bargain, so to speak, I was and am not worthy to wear it. I still struggle with that same sin, so I still could not very well wear it. What should I do? Was it a sin to start in the first place if I did not know that this specific sin was a violation of the requirements? Was it a sin to ever discontinue wearing it? What should I do?

Thanks!
 
Hmm, no help yet? Well, I don’t really know the answer 🤷 but I would say that if you didn’t know then it wasn’t a sin, and if you want to wear it then go to confession :o Anybody else?
 
When I seen the topic to this thread it really drew my interest. Although I was raised as a Cradle Catholic, I never really learned what the Scapular was for. I’ve seen them in the Catholic Book Store where I stop in Texas to buy different Catholic Books and such, but I was too embarassed (at my age, 51) to ask what they are for.

Sorry I didn’t help answer your question, but since you’ve worn one maybe you can tell me what they are for.
 
rowermath said:
What should I do? Was it a sin to start in the first place if I did not know that this specific sin was a violation of the requirements? Was it a sin to ever discontinue wearing it? What should I do?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
there was no bargain so you did not violate your “agreement”. The conditions are not imposed for wearing this sacramental, the conditions are those required to gain the full spiritual advantages and growth that accrue to those who through this devotion express and grow in the love and closeness to Mary and her Son. It would be very rare for someone to be able to live up to all those conditions at the beginning, one of which is freedom from attachment to sin, but the sacramental is a reminder of the devotion it represents, and that devotion helps us grow toward that conversion. Continue by all means to wear the scapular, to pray the devotions most of all the rosary, and above all remain close to Christ in Mass and the sacraments. In time with his help and that of his mother you will come closer to the ideal represented in this devotion, but nobody gets there overnight.

in my generation most Catholic children were enrolled at the time of first confession and first communion, when in our innocence we were probably closer to this ideal than are most adults. Like all sacramentals it is a tool, and in and of itself has no value. Its benefit lies in the heart that makes the consecration, in the blessing and enrollment, and in the effort to grow in holiness, which this devotion represents. Above all, it represents acknowledging our dependence on Christ and in recourse to his mother in interceding for us with Him.

those with questions on the devotion should visit the spirituality forum where sacramentals and devotions are discussed.
 
I have found a website about The Scapular. I belive it has the information you are looking for and will answer your questions. I know it answered mine. (thank you for posting this topic of The Scapular.)

freebrownscapular.com/index.html

This website has a lot of information on the Scapular.
 
rowermath said:
About 5 years ago, i was enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mt. Carmel. Then, roughly 3 years later, I came to a realization that I was not upholding all of the “requirements,” and proceeded to discontinue wearing it. I believed that since I was not upholding my end of the bargain, so to speak, I was and am not worthy to wear it. I still struggle with that same sin, so I still could not very well wear it. What should I do? Was it a sin to start in the first place if I did not know that this specific sin was a violation of the requirements? Was it a sin to ever discontinue wearing it? What should I do?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The requirements for wearing the Scapular are really to have filial devotion to Our Lady, to have a commitment to prayer, and to try to live a holy life. If you are struggling with a particular sin, this does not mean you are not trying to live a holy life, it means you are failing from time to time because of weakness. You should, in this case, wear the scapular all the more, and ask our Lady to intercede for you so that you can overcome this sin. Normally, sins of weakness can only be overcome, in cooperation with God’s grace, through (1) remaining close to the Sacraments, especially Penance and, when in the state of grace, Holy Communion, (2) having a commitment to daily mental prayer, such as the rosary, and (3) the practice of regular (and prudent) mortification --the giving up of things that we do not really need, but enjoy, which trains the will, so that we can belong more completely to the Lord.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd, OCDS
 
That is a great website! Thanks everyone for helping me with this. I’m still not sure what I will do. I definitely need to take some time for prayer about it.

Here’s another question though (sorry I have so many!):
Even thought the Scapular is associated with the Carmelite order, if a person enters the religious life with a different order, such as… the Dominicans… would the person still wear it and observe its ‘requirements’?

Thanks again for all your help!

m.a.t.h.
 
rowermath said:
Here’s another question though (sorry I have so many!):
Even thought the Scapular is associated with the Carmelite order, if a person enters the religious life with a different order, such as… the Dominicans… would the person still wear it and observe its ‘requirements’?
Click to expand...
By being enrolled in and wearing the Scapular, you become associated to the Carmelite Order, but you do not become a Carmelite (i.e., a member of the 1st order–friars-- the second order --nuns-- or the 3rd order --seculars). You may join another order and still be associated to the Carmelites through the Scapular.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd
 
rowermath said:
About 5 years ago, i was enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mt. Carmel. Then, roughly 3 years later, I came to a realization that I was not upholding all of the “requirements,” and proceeded to discontinue wearing it. I believed that since I was not upholding my end of the bargain, so to speak, I was and am not worthy to wear it. I still struggle with that same sin, so I still could not very well wear it. What should I do? Was it a sin to start in the first place if I did not know that this specific sin was a violation of the requirements? Was it a sin to ever discontinue wearing it? What should I do?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
*I am a member. I can only speak for myself, but I would encourage you to start wearing it again. I would encourage you to pray, read “the true devotion to the Blessed Virgin” by St. Louis Marie De Montfort, and start praying the rosary and doing the preparation in the book. I know that it really helps me. I like to read a little bit everyday before I pray my Rosary.

Our Mother looks at the heart and knows our struggles. Don’t give up trying just because you feel guilty. Just remember the only one who wins if you give up is the enemy. Trust Mother Mary and our Lord Jesus to help you live up to the promises.

To be honest with you, I am human too. Mother Mary knows we are human and that we sometimes fail to do the things we should do because we become lazy or because we get discouraged and just give up. Mother Mary loves us and I believe she will help us overcome the struggles and feelings we have. I like to tell people be patient with me as God isn’t finished with me yet, lol. We all have certain areas in our lives that we struggle with.

For some people it is hard for them to pray the rosary everyday, for some it is going to mass every Sunday because they have a priest who makes them feel like he can’t be bothered and if they need a priest he wouldn’t be there for them. That is the problem I have. I am a member of two Catholic Churches because the priest at the church closer to me, can’t be bothered and the priest that I do like because I think he really cares about the Catholic people in his church is not the closest church to me.

For me it is easy to pray my rosary everyday, but it is hard to get excited about going to mass because the priest there makes one feel like he can’t be bothered and doesn’t really care about the people in the parish who are hurting, who need a spiritual advisor, or makes it easy for people to have a good confession because he wants to push them out the door and every Saturday there are people who have to leave not being able to go to confession. I know I have a bad feeling everytime I go into the church and so I am trying to go to another church that is further away, because I actually feel like Christ’s love is in the priest there.

The only thing we can do is to keep on trying and keep on praying that God will help us overcome the areas in our lives that we are weak or struggling with. The only thing we can do is to pick ourselves up, and keep praying to Mary and Jesus to help us with the areas in our lives that need changing.

I hope you will pick yourself up and know that Mary looks at the heart.

God Bless and love in Christ

Chrisy*
 
Listen, I was tought to leave m. medals everywhere I thought neccesary, because they have an excorcistic force.

It is not that sacramentals are amulets. What it is that it has all the force of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church behind it. And that is a a lot of force. Even a decadent priest, but still in valid and licet orders, has such a union with God, that when he gives a blessing, say like in the mass, that priest could be a random bullet from Hell, but God is almost like “forced” to bless what the priest wishes.

Sacramentals participate in this force, as their force comes from the very Church. Holy water, for example, has an incredible force against the Devil. Yet many wish to reduce it to a mere symbol and take it away during Lent.

You ask about the Brown Scapular? I believe only the Rosary has so many more promises and indulgences.
Oh I am a sinner so I don’t get the privledges!
It is not an amulet, but still it works miracles. Our Lady made such a covenant that the Scapular is like Her Mantle.
It protects us and is a refuge. You can choose to leave, but She will hold on to you somehow unless you run away.

Wear it. You don’t lose. The Miraculous Medal as well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top