The White Scapular of the Mercedarians

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Does anyone know about the white scapular of Our Lady of Mercy? Is it only available to the tertiaries of the Mercedarian order, or is it something like the brown scapular which any Catholic priest can enrol you in?

Also, as the Mercedarians were founded to ransom prisoners from the Islamic world, would it be inappropriate to wear the white scapular or encourage the devotion as a way of praying for freedom of conscience for the Christians of the Middle East?
 
Here is the English version of the enrollment from the old Roman Ritual.

Any Catholic priest can enroll you. I think you have been inspired. 🙂
  1. BLESSING AND INVESTITURE WITH SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF RANSOM
(Formerly reserved to the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for Ransoming Captives)

The one who is to receive the scapular is kneeling. The priest, vested in surplice and white stole, says:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Lord, show us your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, who condescended to clothe yourself in our mortal nature, we beg you in your boundless goodness to bless + his garment, which our holy fathers have sanctioned to be worn in token of innocence and holiness. May he (she), who is to wear it, deserve likewise to put on you, who live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen.

Then he sprinkles the habit with holy water, and invests the person with it, saying:

By the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and that of the apostles Peter and Paul, which has been granted to me, I present you with the habit of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy. This is done in recognition of your devotion to the most holy and immaculate Mary, Mother of God, as well as to the order founded in her name. And having been so enrolled, may it be your good fortune to have the grace of the Holy Spirit in this life, and everlasting glory, the reward of the elect, in the life to come; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Then the “Veni Creator” is said), followed by the versicle:

P: Send forth your Spirit and all things shall be recreated.

All: And you shall renew the face of the earth.

P: Save your servant.

All: Who trusts in you, my God.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray. Lord, hear our humble prayers, and be pleased to bless + this servant of yours whom we clothe in your holy name with the habit of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy. He (she) deserves out of piety to wear it as long as he (she) lives, so that by your bountiful help he (she) may remain loyal to your Church, and finally attain everlasting life through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
  1. BLESSING OF THE SAME SCAPULAR WITHOUT THE INVESTITURE
(Formerly reserved to the same Order)

The priest, vested in surplice and white stole, says: first, the versicles as given under No. 18; then he adds the following prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, who condescended to clothe yourself in our mortal nature, we beg you in your boundless goodness to bless + this garment which our holy fathers have sanctioned to be worn in token of innocence and humility. May he (she), who is to wear it, likewise put on you. We ask this of you who live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen.

Let us pray. Father of mercy and God of all consolation, you manifest above all how wonderful you are and how worthy of all praise in the gifts you have conferred on the most holy Virgin, Mother of your only-begotten Son. You have given her to us as our merciful Mother, raising her up to be the ransomer of captives, thus showing how it pleases you to be glorified in her. And so we humbly appeal to your kindness, asking that you graciously pour out your blessing + on every part of this scapular, designed to venerate the holy Virgin. Grant that whoever offers her due veneration may experience the powerful aid of this heavenly patron, along with your tender mercy both in this life and the life to come; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Let us pray. Lord God of clemency, who made the blessed Virgin Mary, the exalted Mother of your Son, shine forth forever in white-robed splendor and glorious array; we beg you to bless + this white garment, dedicated to the honor of the Virgin Mother, under the title of Help of Captives. Grant that whoever will wear it devoutly may be delivered from all evil, and deserve finally to be robed with the garment of heavenly glory; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.
 
Just a note of sincere gratitude for these two posts on the Mercedarian scapular!

The idea of devotion to it for the suffering Christians in the Middle East is quite magnificent - something we could all do.

Our Lady of Mercy is the patronal Madonna of Barcelona (where the Order took shape and where there are a number of Mercedarian saints) and also of the RC Diocese of Venice, Florida. It is a beautiful image of our Lady and the devotion of the white scapular is very touching and holy.

Thank you for these two joyful posts!

Alex
 
As a Mercedarian Friar, I can say that the white scapular is very much alive and a part of the universal life of the Church. In fact, given the state of affairs in the world with the persecuted Church throughout the world, it is of utmost importance to have recourse and refuge in the Holy Virgin of Mercy.

In fact, in one of our parishes, in Cleveland, we are resurrecting the Sodality of the Scapular of Mercy, wherein the faithful are invested in the White Scapular and pledge to pray daily, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Hail, Holy Queen for three ends: 1) the corporal and spiritual works of the Order of Mercy, 2) intentions of the Holy Father, our Supreme Pontiff, and 3) for the edification, perseverance of the Persecuted Church throughout the world. In this way, the lay faithful can be united spiritually with the work of the Redeemer through the efforts of the Order of Mercy. As such the members of the sodality, will keep greater and devotion to the Blessed Mother of Mercy and share in the spiritual fruits of the Order of Mercy. FOr further information regarding this Sodality, please visit the website for the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and contact us through the appropriate contact Link.
 
FraDavid said:
As a Mercedarian Friar, I can say that the white scapular is very much alive and a part of the universal life of the Church. In fact, given the state of affairs in the world with the persecuted Church throughout the world, it is of utmost importance to have recourse and refuge in the Holy Virgin of Mercy.

In fact, in one of our parishes, in Cleveland, we are resurrecting the Sodality of the Scapular of Mercy, wherein the faithful are invested in the White Scapular and pledge to pray daily, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Hail, Holy Queen for three ends: 1) the corporal and spiritual works of the Order of Mercy, 2) intentions of the Holy Father, our Supreme Pontiff, and 3) for the edification, perseverance of the Persecuted Church throughout the world. In this way, the lay faithful can be united spiritually with the work of the Redeemer through the efforts of the Order of Mercy. As such the members of the sodality, will keep greater and devotion to the Blessed Mother of Mercy and share in the spiritual fruits of the Order of Mercy. FOr further information regarding this Sodality, please visit the website for the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and contact us through the appropriate contact Link.
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Thank you for the good news Fra David!

‘I turn to you, O Father of mercy! Receive me, O God of all consolation! Sustain me with your grace and grant that so much suffering and so much love may not be in vain.’

St. Bernadette Soubirous
 
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