Brown Scapular Question

[MarysLittleFlower]

I was told that brown scapular don't need to be blessed except the first one... I was just wondering, are we supposed to only replace scapulars when they're no longer wearable, or does the blessing transfer even if we just replace them cause the other one is getting tattered (but not broken yet). ? Maybe that's really getting technical, lol, but I'm just wondering, if it matters or not. I want to wash my previous scapular so I put on a new one today. How does it work with the blessing? thanks!

[AnneLine]

The blessings on the first scapular attach to all future scapulars.

 

The scapular is an article of CLOTHING given to us by our Lady!  Do you think she doesn't want you to wash clothing?  I don't think so?  Or want her child to walk around in tatters?  Again, I don't THINK so.  So... yes, you can take the Scapular off to wash it... to mend it... and you can replace it when appropriate.... because it is a sacramental, you need to give it a proper send-off if you are replacing it --- burn or bury.  I like to put them in our garden....

 

If you are interested, there is a really nice book on the Scapular that was prepared under the guidance of the Discalced and O.Carm. orders for the 750th anniversary of the Scapular. 

 

Here is a link:

 

http://carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thanks! :) well I was wondering, do we only replace them when they're no longer wearable ie broken? I just got a new one also because I put a blessed St Benedict medal on it, and the one on the other scapular is not blessed I think.

 

I've only gone through one other scapular so far - and I didn't throw it out, it's just in a box in my room.

[AnneLine]

MLF, you can replace them for whatever reason you want, I believe, just as long as you treat them respectfully.  

 

As I said, they are treated like an item of clothing that the BVM made for you.... I don't think you'd just trash it... but even clothing gets worn out... or you just want something different. 

 

But you still respect the gift and the giver... as I suppose we should take all Gifts from the Maker of All Gifts... our Beloved Lord, yes?

 

So as I said, you can burn it, bury it, do something respectful with it.  you can shred it and put it in a park.  You don't want to toss it in the trash.   Just select an option that would be intended to give our Lady honor.....

[Freedom]

Blessed by a priest with holy water, yes.  Enrollment, no.  

 

Of course Anneline was much more poetic about it ;)

[Chiquitunga]

Blessed by a priest with holy water, yes.  Enrollment, no.  

 

Of course Anneline was much more poetic about it ;)

 

I was also told like MLF that once the first one has been blessed by a priest, the ones you use after that don't need it, as they "take on" that same blessing the first one received, which is what AnneLine is saying here too. I think so at least. It's interesting... :think:

[AnneLine]

Awww...  Um, trust me, AnneLine isn't always poetic!  :blush:

 

Yes, that IS what I was saying about the blessings are to the 'form' of the Scapular, ie, all Scapulars, not the 'accident' of the scapular, i.e., this particular piece of cloth.   (You'll need to find a Dominican to explain 'form' and 'accident' if that is confusing...)  But yeah, the blessing attaches to ALL scapulars after being invested... hm.. now that I think about it, not sure if you haven't been invested if that would be the case... you can get any priest or deacon to bless them, however....

 

Freedom,  this info -- taken from the link I posted above -- might be helpful:

 

========= snip ============

 

 

 What is the relationship of the Carmelite Order to the Brown Scapular?

The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the habit of the Carmelite Order.  For the religious members of the Order it takes the form of two long, undecorated panels of brown cloth joined at the shoulders and falling, one to the front and one to the back.   For the laity it takes the form of a two smaller pieces of brown or dark cloth, preferably plain, joined over the shoulder by ribbons, and falling, one to the back, the other to the front. As the Order’s habit, the scapular signifies some degree of affiliation to the Carmelites.  

Six practical ways of affiliation are recognized by the Carmelite Order:  

 

1.  the religious men and women of the Order and aggregated institutes 

2.  the Secular/Lay Order (Third Order)

3.  members of public associations and confraternities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, such as active communities of the Scapular Confraternity.

4.  Those who have been invested in the scapular, practice the Order’s spirituality, and have been granted some association with the Order.

5.  Those who wear the scapular out of devotion, practice the Order’s spirituality, but who have no formal association to the Order. 

6.  Those who are committed to practice the Marian characteristics of Carmelite Spirituality but use outward forms other than the Brown Scapular to express this devotion.

 

The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the common habit of all branches of the Carmelite Family and a sign of unity of that family.  For that reason the Scapular Confraternity and similar associations of the faithful centering around this sacramental belong not to any one branch of Carmel but to the entire Carmelite family.  Thus, there is only one common public association of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  

 

If  a person wears the scapular, but has no formal association to the Order, does that person still gain the benefits associated with the scapular?

A person who wears the scapular and practices the spirituality of the Carmelite Order has an affiliation, loose as it may be, to the Carmelite family and so shares in the graces traditionally associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  

 

However, simply to wear the scapular without accepting the responsibilities attached to it would be to reduce this precious sacramental to the status of a charm or good-luck piece.

 

AND

 

Who may invest people with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

According to the Rite for the Blessing and Enrollment in the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, approved by the Holy See in 1996, any priest or deacon has the faculties for blessing the scapular.  A person given authority to act in the name of the order may receive people into the confraternity of the scapular.  The official ritual provided by the Holy See makes no provision for someone other than a priest or deacon to bless the scapular. 

 

Is it necessary to enroll people in the Scapular Confraternity for them to share in the spiritual benefits attached to the scapular?

No, those who wear the scapular out of devotion, practice the Order’s spirituality, yet who have no formal association to the Order share in a spiritual affiliation to the Carmelite Order.  It gives them the assurances of the graces pertinent to this sacramental.  Indiscriminate enrollment in the Scapular Confraternity or other such associations weakens the purpose and mission of those associations and should be avoided. 

 

A valuable insight from the Ecclesiastical Censor
 

The Ecclesiastical Censor of the Archdiocese of Washington, upon reviewing this booklet, wrote the following comment which deserves inclusion in this catechetical section.

 

That the Scapular is a garment, a piece of clothing, does much to make this a beloved and meaningful sacramental.  Clothing is, even today, a sign of parental love and care—even when the clothing is purchased at K-Mart.  How much more in Jesus’ day when mothers carded the wool, spun the thread, wove the cloth and made the clothing!  There is a sign value by the very nature of clothing that precedes even the scriptural examples form the Old and New Testaments.  I think this helps to make the Scapular appealing to the faithful.  Our earthly mother clothes us; our heavenly Mother clothes us. Without a word of explanation we know exactly what that means. 

 

(highlighting is my own - AL)

 

========= snip ============

 

The info in that link (1st response of AnneLine on this thread) is part of a fuller 'catechesis' on the scapular that can be obtained from the Institute of Carmelite Studies press.  It is called The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual. Don't get this one from Amazon, get it from ICS - for some reason the Amazon ones are SUPER EXPENSIVE!

 

Here's a link to where you can order it:  http://www.icspublications.org/bookstore/others/b_others13.html

Edited November 13, 2013 by AnneLine

[Ed Normile]

I have always been told to have each new scapular blessed, as one would do with any other sacramental, such as a new crucifix, a new rosary etc. I read the link that Anneline supplied and although it mentioned everything I had ever heard before about scapular use, including that the preferred one is brown cloth, medal scapular is valid, it did not mention the blessing transferring from one scapular to the next. On a side note, I do not remove my old scapular until I have my new one blessed and as it usually visible, I have never  had any priest say, "hey your last scapular was blessed, this one does not need blessed as it automatically passes on to your new one."

 

ed

[AnneLine]

Huh, Ed, that is interesting.  I just pulled the full book from my own library, and gave it a quick re-read (and realized how much really beautiful spirituality and theology regarding the scapular is in there, btw!) -- but you are right, it does NOT specifically say that, although the Carmelite Friars have told us this many times.  I'll have to ask if they can give me a cite for it... would have thought it was in there.  My bad!

 

Part of the confusion (at least in my world) is that we get all our scapulars from the Carmelite Nuns, and they have all of them blessed, so we know all of ours are blessed.

 

It's never a bad idea to have one blessed, I suppose....?!

 

Thanks, Ed!

[AnneLine]

Ed, you have really got me intrigued with this question about the blessing of scapulars!   I am finding sources that say both things!   This one seems to have the best over-all instruction, and it says they don't need to be re-blessed. 

 

http://www.catholicdigest.com/articles/faith/heritage/2009/01-01/discover-the-secrets-of-the-scapular

 

But I will check with the Carmelite Friars!

[reminiscere]

You can have new Scapulars blessed, but it's not necessary for members of the Confraternity (those who were enrolled in the Brown Scapular) as the blessing remains with the person throughout life. To obtain the traditional Scapular Promise one must be enrolled in the Scapular and not simply wear it. 

[AnneLine]

I'm beginning to think maybe that is the key, Reminiscere, which is why it has never come up... we're all enrolled, and well, members of the Secular Order!  So it just never occurred to anyone to check.  But if someone was NOT enrolled for whatever reason, probably not a bad idea to get the scapular blessed.  But I will check  :)

[Nihil Obstat]

Mind if I cut in with a small question? I have wondered on and off; what is the status of a person who wears a blessed scapular, but is not enrolled in the confraternity? Does the scapular promise not apply?

[blazeingstar]

Mind if I cut in with a small question? I have wondered on and off; what is the status of a person who wears a blessed scapular, but is not enrolled in the confraternity? Does the scapular promise not apply?

 

Nihil beat me to it.  I just read on another site where a person was told if he wasn't enrolled it didnt' count for anything.

[reminiscere]

Traditionally, no. There is also the enrollment in the Miraculous Medal which many do not know about. One priest told me it is necessary to gain all the graces attached.

 

Mind if I cut in with a small question? I have wondered on and off; what is the status of a person who wears a blessed scapular, but is not enrolled in the confraternity? Does the scapular promise not apply?