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May 19, 2006
Why Do Catholics Wear The Brown Scapular?
When speaking with non-Catholic friends and family about different Catholic devotions a question that is often asked is Why do Catholics wear the Brown Scapular? My simple answer is that they want to show their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Yet this answer is too simple and the more I have studied this popular Catholics devotion of wearing the brown scapular the more I’ve realized that this devotion is one that is steeped in history and tradition.
For starters, let’s look at the meaning of the word scapular. Taken from the Latin scapula which is translated shoulder, the scapular first appeared among the religious orders as part (the shoulder covering) of the monastic habit (i.e. clothing). Contrary to popular belief, the scapular originated among the religious order prior to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition to St. Simon of Stock. For religious orders, the scapular consists of a piece of cloth about as wide as one’s chest, reaching from one shoulder to the other (normally about fourteen to eighteen inches), and reaching to just above the feet in front and behind. There is normally an opening in the middle so that it can be fit over the head. The scapular serves as a sign or symbol of the monastic life, similar to the way clericals signify that one is a priest. Normally a monk or sister will be invested in the scapular when he/she makes their initial profession of vows.
Yet, this is not what most people are wanting to know when they ask Why do Catholics wear the Brown Scapular? They are speaking specifically about the devotion of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, i.e. the Brown Scapular.
This devotion began in 1251 when, according to tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon of Stock in Cambridge, England. The Blessed Mother told St. Simon:
"Take, beloved son this scapular of thy order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant".
Down through the centuries, the wearing of the Brown Scapular has become widespread throughout the world extending beyond the Carmelite order to include even the laity. It serves as a reminder of one’s devotion to Mary and to our belief, as Catholics, in the Blessed Virgin’s intercession. Similar to the rosary, the brown scapular is unique in that it was given by Mary in an apparition. There are promises or privileges tied to wearing the brown scapular including eternal life, but ultimately these privileges must be reflected in the life of the one who wears the brown scapular. One cannot wear the brown scapular in a superstitious way believing that it is the only thing necessary to guarantee one’s salvation. True devotion to Mary is most perfectly lived in doing what she tells us, namely to live a life imitating Her Son, Jesus Christ. So let’s look at a few more questions regarding the brown scapular.
Is the brown scapular necessary for salvation? The answer to this question is simple….NO. While all devotions to the Blessed Mother are worthwhile and beneficial the Church has never declared one of them to be necessary as She does the Sacraments, especially Baptism. One might ask what the reason is for this. The answer again is simple….Christ did not command it as He did the living of the Sacramental life.
So why wear the Brown Scapular? Within the Body of Christ, Mary holds a special place. She is the Mother of God. She was assumed into heaven. She is the queen of heaven and earth. For some specific reason God has deemed it necessary for her to intervene for us and to appear to some of us in this life. She counsels us always to pray without ceasing, to return to the Sacraments, to read and study the Scriptures, to be faithful to the Church, and to convert to her Son Jesus. If she has recommended a devotion to us as a means of demonstrating our devotion to her and as a possible means of growing in holiness than it must be worthwhile.
Wearing a brown scapular is meant to be an outward sign of an interior conviction and devotion to Mary. In imitating Mary, we model ourselves ultimately on the one who most perfectly imitated Christ while on this earth.
For more information on the brown scapular take a look at the following websites:
The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Information from the Carmelites.
The Brown Scapular, by Fr. William Most
The Brown Scapular, information provided by EWTN.
In Christ,
Joe
Posted by jay at May 19, 2006 12:58 PM
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Comments
I was invested by a priest in the brown scapular.
I was already wearing one and he said it wasn't necessary to remove it to have him place on me.
Is this true?
Was I invested?
What is meant by not having to be blessed again after being invested as I thought you had to have every new scaplular blessed?
I also find it confusing where the Carmelite sisters say the scapulat must be 100% wool and no plastic covering yet in another site brother Ignatious says quite the opposite.
Posted by: robert miller at March 9, 2007 11:50 PM
