Brown Scapular Question

[AnneLine]

There are a lot of different replies to this question on the internet, ok?   All I will do is refer you BACK to what I posted that is the current stand on this by the Discalced and O.Carm Provincials.  I know some sites and some people insist you need to be enrolled... and a whole list of other things about what must and cannot be done with the scapulars. 

 

But what the Carmelite Friars are telling us -- and telling us to tell others when this comes up -- is to refer us BACK to that document. 

 

It indicates that there are people who are NOT formally enrolled and NOT formally associated with the Carmelite Order. 

 

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. 

 

However, there is no good reason for NOT getting enrolled if one wishes to get all the graces attached to the scapular.  But I have known people who have had very wonderful things happen in their spiritual life while wearing a scapular BEFORE being enrolled...

 

AND  (and I know some of you are going to be really unhappy with me... and maybe this will head to debate table, but this is the reality...) 

 

The Discalced and O.Carm Carmelites have been FIRMLY told by the Holy See (and told several hundred years ago!) NOT to make any claims about the 'Scapular Promise' or 'Sabbatine Privilege'.  The reasons for that are ALSO outlined in that document.  

 

As an obedient Carmelite, that is what I am doing, OK?

[blazeingstar]

There are a lot of different replies to this question on the internet, ok?   All I will do is refer you BACK to what I posted that is the current stand on this by the Discalced and O.Carm Provincials.  I know some sites and some people insist you need to be enrolled... and a whole list of other things about what must and cannot be done with the scapulars. 

 

But what the Carmelite Friars are telling us -- and telling us to tell others when this comes up -- is to refer us BACK to that document. 

 

It indicates that there are people who are NOT formally enrolled and NOT formally associated with the Carmelite Order. 

 

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. 

 

However, there is no good reason for NOT getting enrolled if one wishes to get all the graces attached to the scapular.  But I have known people who have had very wonderful things happen in their spiritual life while wearing a scapular BEFORE being enrolled...

 

AND  (and I know some of you are going to be really unhappy with me... and maybe this will head to debate table, but this is the reality...) 

 

The Discalced and O.Carm Carmelites have been FIRMLY told by the Holy See (and told several hundred years ago!) NOT to make any claims about the 'Scapular Promise' or 'Sabbatine Privilege'.  The reasons for that are ALSO outlined in that document.  

 

As an obedient Carmelite, that is what I am doing, OK?

 

But what if your church is Jesuit, Franciscan, Domnican or Vincentian?  Do you still enroll with the carmelites?  If so why?

[AnneLine]

Good question, Blazeingstar.  

 

The Scapular is a Carmelite devotion, just as the Rosary is a Dominican Devotion, Our Lady of Perpetual help is associated with the Redemptorists, Miraculous Medal with the Daughters of Charity/Vincentians, etc.  So in that sense, the Carmelites do get to 'make the rules' but they have extended the privilege of enrolling people in the Carmelite scapular (the Brown Scapular) to all priests and deacons.  I don't totally understand all the whys and wherefores, but I know that is the case.

 

Now the same is true of all the other devotions I listed above.  Most of us don't think of the Rosary as a specifically Dominican devotion, but it is, and there are special indulgences and things like that that ONLY a Dominican priest can attach to a rosary... but any priest (or deacon?) can bless them.  So....kind of a mixed thing? 

 

If someone attends a parish that is run by one of the Orders or Congregations (the orders listed above, the Jesuits, etc.), you will quickly find that like any other family, they have their own favorite celebrations and devotions... and for many, their own calendar of saints and blessed that they do in addition to the usual one that the Roman (or other Catholic) Church follows.   That means that sometimes things are celebrated with greater solemnity or that their might be a special novena leading up to a feast, etc.  And often there are special devotions and customs.  If you are around a Jesuit Church, you will know what the Novena  of Grace is.   The Dominicans have special processions for Rosary Sunday.  Carmelite parishes often distribute blessed Roses for St. Therese' day, etc.  These are just kind of family customs -- many with many graces attached -- and while I guess they could be done elsewhere, the are associated with those groups.   Other devotions really are associated with particular groups but have been absorbed by the church as a whole to such an extent most of us don't recognize them as being part of that family.  The Redemptorists gave us the Weekly devotions in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help... the Franciscans gave us the Stations of the Cross and the Christmas Creche.  

 

But being enrolled in the Scapular (invested is the word that USED to be used and it is a clue...) is a participation in the HABIT of the Carmelite Order.

 

Long answer... hope it helps?

 

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thanks! :)

 

I have been enrolled in the scapular (by an FSSP priest)... is there a separate part of joining the Carmelite confraternity of the Scapular? Does a Carmelite priest need to do that? or any priest?

 

I only recently heard of the Miraculous Medal enrolment and I've been wearing one for years! Definitely would like to be enrolled then :)

[AnneLine]

I really don't know the answer to either of those, MLF!  

As far as the Carmelite Confraternity, I think it is something that once was really common, has fallen into disuse (at least in the USA), and that there is a lot of talk about bringing it back into prominence but I haven't seen much done with it.   I don't know anything about the one for the Miraculous Medal.

 

Now, what I can give you is a link to a really interesting article by Fr. Aloysius Deeney, OCD, who was the General Delegate to the Secular Order until the last year or two.  (That means he was the person in charge of all the Secular Carmelites throughout the world.)  Fr. Deeney makes reference to the Scapular Confraternity, and explains how someone might be called to be in the Confraternity vs. having a vocation to the Secular Order (and tells a lot more about an OCDS vocation, of course!).   But I don't know of any local Scapular confraternity groups, or anything like that.  If you are really curious, I will see what I can find out -- are you comfortable with telling us (or me by PM) where in the world you are?  USA? Europe? Asia?  Because then I can see what might be around in 'your neck of the woods'.

 

Anyway, here's the article on the OCDS Vocation that references the Scapular Confraternity--check out what he says on Page 3:

 

http://www.ocds.info/Formation%20Guidelines/PDFS/pdfs/Discernment%20of%20OCDS%20Vocation.pdf

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thanks AnneLine! :) I live in Canada. If you come across anything, please let me know! God bless!

Edited November 14, 2013 by MarysLittleFlower

[Freedom]

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:

Yeah I'm not sure.  When I was first Enrolled my Scapular had a bad typo on it but I still wore it till the Carmelites gave me a new one.  I had the priest say his blessing and use holy water.  Personally I just think it's awesome to have a freshly blessed Scapular!

[reminiscere]

I'd like to see the source for your several hundred years ago claim please.

 

The Discalced and O.Carm Carmelites have been FIRMLY told by the Holy See (and told several hundred years ago!) NOT to make any claims about the 'Scapular Promise' or 'Sabbatine Privilege'.  The reasons for that are ALSO outlined in that document.