The Scapular

[MrsFrozen]

When I was visiting my family, my seventeen-year-old brother gave me a ride somewhere. Before he got into the car, he put on his scapular. I asked him why he did that, and he said in case he gets into a wreck and dies, he'll automatically get into heaven. I told him that the scapular doesn't guarantee him a place in heaven; that only living as a Christian could do that. He argued that the scapular says otherwise. The promise on the Brown Scapular by Our Lady of Mount Carmel is that whoever dies wearing it will not suffer in hell.

So, clarification is in order! I maintain that you can't sin all you want and still go to heaven as long as you wear the scapular. If I'm right, then what does the promise mean? Thank you for your help! :)

[BLAZEr]

This is one of those things that is very misunderstood, and its easy to understand why. When the Scapular was given to St. Simon Stock, Our Lady told him: "Receive, my beloved son, this habit of thy Order. This shall be to thee and to all Carmelites a privilege that whosoever dies clothed in this shall never suffer eternal fire."

This is not be understood superstitiously. There is no other way to get to heaven than to follow the Christian Life. In fact when Our Lady says to receive "this habit of they Order," Our Lady isn't just referring to the clothes that Carmelites wear, she is referring to their "habit," their way of life. The Scapular is an outward manifestation of this interior Christian life.

To be "clothed" in the scapular means, not only wearing the scapular, but living according to the rules of the Carmelite Order. When the Third Order (lay group) of the Carmelites was invested in the scapular they also had a rule, although simplified. It included regular confession, receiving the Eucharist, daily prayer, and chaste and holy living. The Brown Scapular is meant to be a sign of this type of life. If your brother isn't following the requirements of the Brown Scapular along with wearing it, then he isn't living up to his part of the bargain.

Here is what EWTN has to say about the Scapular:

History

A scapular is a garment worn by religious over the shoulders (scapula), and hanging down in front and back, usually to about the bottom of the habit. It developed as a practical garment, protecting the habit during work, and was in time invested with spiritual significance, consecration or dedication to God.

By analogy to the scapulars of religious, there are small scapulars that are derived from them which represent a particular devotion or spirituality, usually associated with a particular community. Such a scapular is two pieces of cloth (generally about an inch square), connected by cords and worn over the head. It often has a picture or a particular color, depending on the spirituality it stands for.

The best known and most highly esteemed scapular, and the one most favored by the Church, and by the Blessed Virgin in many of her apparitions, is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It is adapted from the scapular of the Carmelite Order and represents a special Consecration to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Those who wear it practice it a special devotion to Mary. In the past this was the Little Office of Our Lady, but today this can be commuted by any priest to the rosary. In addition, the person has a special entrustment of themselves to Mary for their salvation. This, in fact, has been promised to those who faithfully wear the scapular:  "Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." This must not be understood superstitiously or magically, but in light of  Catholic teaching that perseverance in faith, hope and love are required for salvation. The scapular is a powerful reminder of this Christian obligation and of Mary's promise to help those consecrated to her obtain the grace of final perseverance.

Investiture

Conferral with the scapular indicates a special devotion and consecration to Mary. No one should undertake it who is not spiritual prepared to live in accordance with it.

The short form of investing or conferral consists of a priest or deacon taking a blessed scapular and while placing it over their head reciting with the person any Marian prayer (e.g. Hail Mary, Memorare, Salve Regina). The person is now invested. They don't have any lists to join, though they are henceforth members of the Scapular Confraternity and share in its spiritual benefits (the prayers of the members). No special daily practices are obliged, though someone consecrated to Mary, of which the scapular is THE sign, should live chastity according to their state and recite the rosary daily.

There is also a long form in the Book of Blessings, chapter 46, which is very fitting for group investments. Every parish should have this ritual book.

For some years the Carmelite Order had permission from Rome to grant laity the Indult to enroll people. This permission is no longer given, but those who received the Indult in the past still have it. So, while laity may not bless a scapular, there are some lay people who can invest others, with a scapular previously blessed by a priest or deacon.

One final note, investing MUST be done with the cloth scapular. Those who wish to wear the medal can do so after investment. The scapular blessing attaches to each subsequent scapular. A new blessing is NOT required. This is not true of the medal, each of which must be blessed by a priest or deacon.

Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL

The Five Scapulars by R. J. Miller, C.SS.R. with 1960 imprimatur, Page 24, information about The Brown Scapular and the Sabbatine Privilege.

“We now come finally to the prayers that have to be said or good works done in order to gain the benefits of the scapulars. “For four of them, namely all but the brown, there is nothing imposed as of obligation. It is the brown scapular that has the special obligations. Not as regards our Lady’s promise to St. Simon Stock, about saving the wearers from hell; that requires only the faithful wearing of the scapular (from the word scapula, meaning one of two triangular bones at the back of the shoulders). But to gain the Sabbatine privilege: to make sure of being freed from Purgatory on the Saturday after our death (if not sooner); there we do have something special to do.

“The decree of Pope Paul V of January 20, 1613, which was partially quoted above, goes on to list these obligations of the Sabbatine privilege. It declares that we may believe that the Blessed Virgin will bring special help: especially on the Saturday after their death to the souls of those brethren and those members of the confraternity who depart this life in charity (the Virtue of Charity means the love of God above all life itself. It is the Supreme Law) and who, whilst living, have worn the habit, observed chastity according to their state, and who shall have recited the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or, if they cannot read, shall have observed the fast of the Church and shall have abstain from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays (unless the Feast of the Nativity or Our Lord fall on that day.)

“Note that, besides wearing the brown scapular, this decree imposes two obligations, with a substitute offered for the second.

“The first obligation is that of ‘chastity according to one’s state.’ That does not mean that the wearer of the brown scapular may not get married, but that married or single he must strive to avoid sins against chastity, and if he should fall into sin, must be prompt to repent.

“The second is ‘reciting the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.’ This is a very ancient Catholic devotion, consisting of a collection of hymns and psalms and prayers in honor of our Lady, modeled on the divine office which priests say every day; a kind of abbreviated breviary in honor of Mary. It must be said every day to gain the scapular (Sabbatine) promise. Those bound to say the regular divine office fulfill the obligation by that very exercise. Sisters who recite the new short breviary in English (as many are doing nowadays) would also seem to be fulfilling this obligation; at least, any priest who has faculties to enroll in the brown scapular can commute the obligation of the Little Office into this English office for them.

“The substitute for the second obligation in Paul V's decree is to ‘observe the fasts of the Church and abstain on Wednesdays and Saturdays.’ But very often in modern life even this substitute is practically impossible. So the Church, like a solicitous mother, has gone on to offer a substitute for the substitute. She has granted to every priest who has faculties to enroll in the brown scapular, the power to change or commute this fasting and abstaining into the performance of certain good works or the recitation of certain prayers. Good works would be; periodic almsgiving; regular contribution to the mission; hearing Mass on weekdays; kissing the brown scapular daily with the prayer; “Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!” As to the prayers to be recited, various suggestions are made by writers on the subject. Some say it should be seven Our Fathers and Hail Marys every day; some would bring it down low as one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be, every day. The exact prayers will depend on the judgment of the priest who does the commuting.” An observation about “wearing the scapular” should be noted. A soldier wears his rank in a badge or chevrons. If his wife in a rain storm wears her husband’s military jacket she has the sign of her husband’s rank, but we would not say that she is wearing a military badge. If she enters the services she could wear it just as her husband does.

Do not forget this. Just having the scapular on, is not the same as wearing the scapular with the purpose and desire of belonging to Our Lady’s sodality and being a participant in her Sabbatine privilege. Hence, the brown scapular can be worn devoutly without enrollment, and one would have Our Lady’s promise of that special help. Of course, when it is possible, one should be enrolled not only in the brown scapular but also in the five- fold scapular.