Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel

. . . . (Whoever dies wearing the scapular will be saved) . . . . Saint Simon Stock was the sixth Superior General of the Carmelite religious Order during the years 1245–1265. Faced with serious difficulties of the Order, Saint Simon daily implored the protection of Mary. His prayer was heard, and "the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, accompanied by a multitude of angels, holding in her blessed hands the scapular of the Order and saying these words: This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites; whoever dies wearing it will not suffer eternal fire — that is, whoever dies wearing it will be saved." (Catalogue of Saints of the Order).

Another very ancient account reads: "Simon, an Englishman, a man of great holiness and devotion, in his prayer continually begged the Virgin to favor his Order with some singular privilege. The Virgin appeared to him holding the Scapular in her hand saying: This is the privilege for you and yours; whoever dies wearing it will be saved" (Brussels Sanctoral). That is, he will avoid hell. He will go to heaven after a stay in purgatory.

The date and place of the apparition are not known with certainty. London, 16 July 1251 is mentioned. Always within the generalate of Saint Simon and before 1252, since on 13 January of that year the Pope Innocent IV issued the Bull "Ex parte dilectorum" defending the Carmelites on this matter.

. . . . (And he will be freed from purgatory on the first Saturday) . . . . Sixty-two years later (1314), Our Lady appeared to Pope John XXII, who recorded her words in the Bull "Sacratissimo uti culmine", also called the Sabbatine Bull (3.III.1322): "If among the religious or confraternity members of this Order there are those who at death still need to purge their sins in the prison of purgatory, I, who am the Mother of mercy, will descend on the first Saturday after their death, and will free them to lead them to the Holy Mountain of Eternal Life."

Those who wear the Brown Scapular join the Carmelite family and can gain a plenary indulgence on the day the scapular is imposed on them and on the following days:

• 16 May (Saint Simon Stock).
• 16 July (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). 20 July (Saint Elijah the Prophet).
• 1 October (Saint Thérèse of Lisieux). 15 October (Saint Teresa of Jesus).
• 14 November (All Carmelite Saints).
• 14 December (Saint John of the Cross).

The following are required:

• To have the scapular imposed. (It suffices to have this done once.)
• To wear it. It may be replaced by a medal. (We will comment on this.) Both the medal and the scapular must be blessed.
• Devotion to Mary; striving to imitate her; desiring to be her good children. The scapular consists of two small pieces of cloth symbolizing a garment. And whoever wears Mary's habit must live as she did, practicing Christian virtues. So that the habit-garment is united to the habit-virtue.

In addition to the above, the following are required:

• To observe the chastity proper to one's state. (Confession recovers a lost situation.)
• To recite the Little Office of Our Lady. This prayer may be replaced by abstaining from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Other possible substitutions are also mentioned: the recitation of the Divine Office or the Rosary. Some even say that five or three Hail Marys would suffice, but this is not clear. (I would appreciate information: ijuez@ideasrapidas.org.)

The proper requirements for indulgences are needed, plus the conditions of the scapular in the promise of salvation.

- Saint Pius X (Holy Office, 16.XII.1910) decreed that the scapular, after its imposition, may be replaced by a metal medal bearing on one side an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on the other an image of the Blessed Virgin (usually Our Lady of Mount Carmel).

The Book of Blessings includes four blessings. One more specific (blessing and imposition of the scapular), and three more general (blessing of things intended for piety and devotion, where the scapular is expressly mentioned). The briefest blessing is: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit." R./ Amen. This blessing also serves for the medal.

(Brackets indicate a text omitted because it refers to enrollment in a confraternity, which is a less frequent case.) - Receive this habit [] and conduct yourself in such a way that, with the help of the most holy Virgin, for the glory of the most holy Trinity and for the good of the Church and of men, you strive each day to clothe yourself more fully in Christ and make his life manifest in yours. R./ Amen. (It is placed on each person.) - By the imposition of this scapular you have been admitted into the Carmelite family, so that you may serve Christ and his Church with greater dedication []. So that you may achieve this more perfectly, I, with the authority granted to me, admit you to participation in all the spiritual goods of this family. (He sprinkles them with holy water.) - May almighty God bless you with his mercy and fill you with eternal wisdom. R./ Amen. - May he increase faith in you and grant you perseverance in doing good. R./ Amen. - May he draw your steps toward himself and show you the path of love and peace. R./ Amen. - And may the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit descend upon you. R./ Amen.