Wear a Scapular?

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Yes, I always wear my brown scapular. I was invested back in 1959 at a Carmelite monastery in New York. In 1978 I made my Definitive Promise (for life) as a Secular (Third Order) Discalced Carmelite. As I am a rather tall guy I always have my scapulars hand-made for me. Most of the ones in stores and commercially available are much too short for me. The one that I currently wear is 100% wool, handmade by a Carmelite Nun, plain with no decoration. The strings are actually white tennis shoe laces and should outlive me. The scapular does not have to be 100% wool. The new Carmelite regulations, approved by the Holy See, state that any brown material, even polyester double knit is perfectly fine. As a matter of fact, most all Carmelites now wear polyester double knit habits. Wool is too expensive. I prefer the wool only because I have a deep devotion to Saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus (Avila). I also wear the wool as a personal penance, though it really does not bother me that much.
I wear a scapular medal in the shower and while swimming or physical therapy as I am disabled.
I wash the scapular ever few days in the bathroom sink with a little shampoo and then just let it air dry. While it is air drying I just wear an alternate one or the medal. Either is perfectly acceptable.
I am truly blessed to be a Discalced Carmelite!
May God make me worthy of so great a privilege of wearing the Habit of the Mother of God herself!
Blessings! Polishman
 
Polishman said:
Yes, I always wear my brown scapular. I was invested back in 1959 at a Carmelite monastery in New York. In 1978 I made my Definitive Promise (for life) as a Secular (Third Order) Discalced Carmelite. As I am a rather tall guy I always have my scapulars hand-made for me. Most of the ones in stores and commercially available are much too short for me. The one that I currently wear is 100% wool, handmade by a Carmelite Nun, plain with no decoration. The strings are actually white tennis shoe laces and should outlive me. The scapular does not have to be 100% wool. The new Carmelite regulations, approved by the Holy See, state that any brown material, even polyester double knit is perfectly fine. As a matter of fact, most all Carmelites now wear polyester double knit habits. Wool is too expensive. I prefer the wool only because I have a deep devotion to Saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus (Avila). I also wear the wool as a personal penance, though it really does not bother me that much.
I wear a scapular medal in the shower and while swimming or physical therapy as I am disabled.
I wash the scapular ever few days in the bathroom sink with a little shampoo and then just let it air dry. While it is air drying I just wear an alternate one or the medal. Either is perfectly acceptable.
I am truly blessed to be a Discalced Carmelite!
May God make me worthy of so great a privilege of wearing the Habit of the Mother of God herself!
Blessings! Polishman
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That is a BEAUTIFUL story! :heaven: Since you are familiar with Teresa of Avilia: If I had half the devotion and piety you do, I’d be able to think more about what my “mansion in heaven” would be like, than figuring out if I have even made it inside the door of the first castle/mansion. 😉

Thanks, that made my day! 😃
 
My Dear Sister, Convert in 99:
Thank you for your beautiful reply. If you are interested, there is a magnificent biography of Saint Teresa of Avila by William Thomas Walsh. It is the definitive biography of the Doctor and Saint available in English. Here is a place where you can find it:
marianland.com/hist026.html
I encourage you on your journey. Ask Saints Teresa, Therese and John to always accompany you in your daily life and responsibilities. Faithfulness to your daily duties is a most generous and sanctified way of life. You can become a great saint just by loving faithfulness to the details of your “everyday life” As Holy Mother Teresa wrote: “You can find God amidst the pots and pans”. When you can, simply offer a look of love to the Lord and say in your own words “Jesus, I love you. I offer all to you. Be with me today and everyday”. Totus Tuus! Totally Thine!!
Richest blessings! Polishman
 
I recently lost my Brown scapular, but my new one is coming soon from sistersofcarmel.com/

I also ordered books on Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross today.
 
i have tried to wear one but the rope always breaks off. is there any reccomendation of a more durable type to wear?
 
I have one, I’ve had it blessed, but I haven’t been “enrolled” with the scapular. I was told that one shouldn’t wear it unless one is enrolled in the scapular. Now I just need to get it “official.”
 
Michael038 said:
i have tried to wear one but the rope always breaks off. is there any reccomendation of a more durable type to wear?
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Yes, I have TWO!

There are cloth scapulars especially designed for atheletes. They are both more compact and more durable.

There are also scapular medals. It wears just like a necalace.

www.ewtn.com used to sell both. Just go to their catalogue section and check around. However, I have not shopped there for a while, and do not know if they still do.

Hope this helps! Glad you are wanting to honor Our Lady. She will bless you for your devotion. :yup:
 
Convert_in_99 said:
Yes, I have TWO!

There are cloth scapulars especially designed for atheletes. They are both more compact and more durable.

There are also scapular medals. It wears just like a necalace.

www.ewtn.com used to sell both. Just go to their catalogue section and check around. However, I have not shopped there for a while, and do not know if they still do.

Hope this helps! Glad you are wanting to honor Our Lady. She will bless you for your devotion. :yup:
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information!
 
I have found that if you know someone who sews, the best kind of scapular is one that is hand-made for you. You can use any brown fabric, wool is fine but so is polyester double knit, Mine is handmade for me using brown wool with tennis shoe laces as strings (cords). I was measured for the proper length and the size of the brown panels that I wanted. If you are a man, maybe your wife or girlfriend or Mom can make one for you. Remember, the habit worn by Saint John of the Cross was handmade for him by the Discalced Nuns of a nearby monastery.
Any priest or deacon can enroll in the scapular. Also, if you can find one, there are a few laity who have received the privilege of enrolling others in the scapular after it has been blessed by a priest or deacon.
What is really paramount however, is to live the spirit of Carmel. The spirit of Carmel is to become prayer. Reading the writings of the Carmelite Saints and Blesseds will halp anyone who wants to share in some way the charism of the Carmelites. I would especially suggest the writings of Saints Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Jesus (Avila), John of the Cross and Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. Wearing the scapular is a sign of consecration to Mary as well as wanting to live in some closeness with the Spirit of Carmel.
Blessings! Polishman
 
Do you have to wear the scapular or the medal visibly or can you have it under the shirt?
 
Hi. I’m glad to find a scapular thread, as i know very little about them.

I have one. It’s made up of two brown squares with pictures on them, and they are connected by two white strings. On one of the squares there’s a picture of Mary with baby Jesus and the text " Mater et decor Carmeli ora po nobis", on he other there’s a picture of Jesus and the text " Cor Jesu miserere nobis".
  1. What kind of Scapular is this? Carmelite?
  2. What is a scapular really?
  3. What do i use it for? How?
  4. How do i wear it?
 
Hilde89 said:
Hi. I’m glad to find a scapular thread, as i know very little about them.

I have one. It’s made up of two brown squares with pictures on them, and they are connected by two white strings. On one of the squares there’s a picture of Mary with baby Jesus and the text " Mater et decor Carmeli ora po nobis", on he other there’s a picture of Jesus and the text " Cor Jesu miserere nobis".
  1. What kind of Scapular is this? Carmelite?
  2. What is a scapular really?
  3. What do i use it for? How?
  4. How do i wear it?
Click to expand...
 
The scapular you have is a Brown Carmelite Scapular. The wording is Latin. The words " Mater et decor Carmeli ora po nobis" mean, “Mother and Beauty of Carmel, pray for us”
The words " Cor Jesu miserere nobis" mean “Heart of Jesus have mercy on us”.
A great place to start an authentic understanding of the Scapular as the habit of Carmel is here: ocd.pcn.net/OC-OCD/OC-OCD7EN.htm
Another great source for iinformation is this: geocities.com/korvesem/carmel/doctrinalstatement.html
I would suggest that, after you have read this material, you prayerfully consider whether or not you feel called to this form of spirituality. If you do then I would urge you to contact a Catholic priest or deacon and tell him of your desire to be enrolled in the Scapular of Carmel.
The essential prayer of enrollment is: Short form for giving the Scapular

“Receive this Scapular, a sign of your special relationship with Mary the Mother of Jesus, whom you pledge to imitate. May it be a reminder to you of your dignity as a Christian, in serving others and imitating Mary. Wear it as a sign of her protection and of belonging to the family of Carmel, voluntarily doing the will of God and devoting yourself to building a world true to his plan of community, justice and peace.”

The Carmelite website in Rome explains this: ocd.pcn.net/scap_en.htm
Your local parish priest will have all the necessary enrollment prayers.
Blessings! Polishman
 
I wear a five fold scapular. Go to www.rosescapular.com to find out information and/or purchase a scapular. The five fold scapular requires a prayer to be receited with you and your priest and once prayed, you can wear the scapular and replace it without having it blessed.

The scapular brings me a special peace knowing that Our Lady promised to free us from Purgatory on the First Saturday following our death. Since I’m not perfect, the less time I’m there the better!

God Bless Everyone!
 
I wear the fivefold scapular most of the time; others while it is drying from being washed - Mt Carmel, Sacred Heart, etc.
There are 17 different scapulars recognised by The Church. I’m trying to research my new brown scapular with the Jerusalem (or Crusaders) Cross (history, indulgences, connection to any particular saint, etc.). I always have them blessed by a priest.
 
PaleRider said:
The scapular brings me a special peace knowing that Our Lady promised to free us from Purgatory on the First Saturday following our death. Since I’m not perfect, the less time I’m there the better!

God Bless Everyone!
Click to expand...
Does Church approval of this item equal a guarantee on the ‘promises’ from private revelation?
 
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