Do you know the Scapular? More precisely, the brown one, the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel? The word scapular has its roots in the Latin “scapula”, literally translated as “shoulder”. Originally, it was a type of garment that was worn over the shoulders,
Very long and covered the front and back, extending to the feet. It was a habit specially worn in the order of Mount Carmel, that is to say among Carmelites and Carmelites. Their spiritual father is the prophet Elijah. Origin of the scapular and devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
In the 12th century, Western Christians, crusaders, opted for an eremitical life in the caves of Mount Carmel, in search of the divine presence. They were inspired by the prophets Elijah and Elisha, who, according to tradition, would have inhabited these caves and established a “School of Prophets” there.
Berthold guided the first hermits who erected a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, developing a particular devotion under the title of “Our Lady of Mount Carmel”. They quickly recognized her as the patron saint of their community. Around 1209, the hermits of Mount Carmel established a rule of life approved
By Patriarch Albert of Jerusalem, placing prayer at the heart of it. Following the conquest of Palestine by Saladin (from the fall of Jerusalem in 1187 to the capture of Saint-Jean-d’Acre in 1291), the hermits gradually withdrew to Europe during the 13th century, their security not being more guaranteed in their hermitages.
At the Lateran Council in 1215, the papacy, in its effort to reorganize the mendicant orders, suppressed several of these new communities, merging their members with the two official mendicant orders (the order of Saint Francis and the order of Saint Dominic ). It also threatens the fledgling existence of the Carmelite order.
Honorius III, in 1226, consented to the preservation of the Carmelite order. The Council of Lyon in 1274 formalized the suppression of 22 religious orders born after 1215, but suspended the suppression of the Carmelites and the Hermits of Saint Augustine.
In 1379, Pope Urban VI confirmed the title of Order of the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Mount Carmel for Carmel. Origin of devotion to the Scapular Originally, devotion to the Scapular is rooted in the desire of lay people,
During the Middle Ages, to be closely associated with the Order of Carmel and its spirituality. During this period, it was common for lay people belonging to a brotherhood, a fraternity or a third order linked to a religious order to wear a distinctive sign,
Often derived from religious clothing, such as a rope, a cloak, or a scapular. At the end of the Middle Ages, the trend developed greatly, with the adoption of more modest versions of clothing, designed to fit easily under everyday clothing . This is how the scapular underwent adjustments over time,
Gradually evolving between the 17th century and our era to take the form we know it today. Although various Scapulars exist today, the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel remains the oldest. But why have the laity made it an object of piety? Why
Is it a precious object in our eyes and how can a piece of fabric bring us graces while avoiding hell? Where does this devotion come from? This is where Simon Stock will interest us. Simon Stock was born in 1164 in Kent,
Kingdom of England. A religious man and prominent member of the Order of Carmel, also known as the Carmelite Brothers, he was given the nickname “Stock” because of his many years spent as a hermit, nestled in the trunk of a tree. Driven by a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, he received the scapular
Directly from the hands of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He died in 1265, at the venerable age of 101, and his body rests today in Bordeaux Cathedral. Although he was not canonized, the Church celebrates him on May 16 as a Roman martyr. Thus, on July 16, 1251, the Most Holy Virgin
Appeared to this devout son giving him this garment while saying to him “It will be the privilege for you and for all the Carmelites, that whoever dies in this garment will be saved. ” Promises of the Blessed Virgin The Blessed Virgin Mary promised to save those who wear the brown scapular from hell.
She promised to protect them against the trials and temptations of the devil. She also promised to shorten their stay in purgatory. She said that on the Saturday after their death, whoever she finds in purgatory, she will free him and take him to the holy mountain of eternal life.
There are certain conditions that the Blessed Virgin Mary set forth for the faithful to receive the promises she made. Wear the scapular at all times. Be chaste according to the person’s state of life (married, single, ordained). Recite Marian prayers (e.g., the rosary, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin) daily.
You will understand why the Devil opposes those who promote the brown scapular by hearing the true story of Venerable François Yepes. One day his scapular fell off. Putting it back in place, the Devil screamed: “Remove this garment which takes so many souls from us! All those who wear it die piously and
Escape us!” It was then that Francis made the Devil confess that there are three things that demons are most afraid of: the Holy Name of Jesus, the Holy Name of Mary and the Holy Scapular of Carmel.
It is especially thanks to Pope John XXII that the laity also began to want to wear it while adhering out of devotion to the rule of Christian life of prayer. The Scapular and the Catholic Church The Catholic Church approved this devotion, in 1317, the Virgin Mary appeared to Pope John XXII,
Asking him to take the Carmelites under his protection and told him: “I, their mother, will come down through grace with them, on the Saturday after their death, and all those I find in purgatory, I will deliver them and bring them to Eternal Life. »
Following this, on March 3, 1317, the good John XXII proclaimed the privileges of the Scapular of the Order through the bull “Sabbatine”, extending this privilege to all those who would adopt the Scapular for reasons of devotion and would commit themselves to follow a rule of life and prayer.
The content of this bull was actually confirmed by other pontiffs: Clement VII in the Bull “Ex clementis” of August 12, 1530. Paul III in 1530 and 1549. Pius IV in 1561. Saint Pius V in the bull Superna dispositione of February 18, 1566. Although this promise was not directly stated by Mary,
The Church has the authority to proclaim this type of privilege. Following the Sabbatine Bull and subsequent ones, a fervent devotion to the Brown Scapular spread throughout the Catholic Church. Many artistic works were created in the Middle Ages, depicting the Virgin of Carmel rescuing souls in purgatory clothed in the Carmel scapular.
In 1613, the Church banned the broadcast of images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel descending into purgatory due to erroneous interpretations concerning certain privileges linked to the Scapular Sabbath. However, this decision did not call into question the substance of the privileges granted in the previous papal bull. Subsequently, other popes reaffirmed this privilege
: Saint Pius seems to corroborate the veracity of the Sabbath privilege: “A brother of our Order, seriously ill, has died. Hearing mass one Saturday, I knew, in deep meditation, that he had ascended directly to Heaven without going through purgatory. I later learned that he had died exactly at
The time I had had this vision… It was explained to me that he had avoided purgatory because he had faithfully followed the rule of his profession and had benefited of the grace granted to the order by specific bulls concerning the penalties of purgatory. »
The Scapular more recently Quickly, the Carmel scapular became the emblem of true Marian devotion, accessible to all, regardless of age or condition, until today. This is why Pope Pius XII declared on July 16, 1951: “Devotion to the Scapular has poured out on the world an immense river of spiritual and temporal graces. »
More recently, in 1951, on the 700th anniversary of the vision of Our Lady to Saint Simon Stock, Pope Pius XII addressed an apostolic letter to the Carmelites. He expressed his wish that the Scapular would become “a sign of consecration to the Sacred Heart of the Immaculate Virgin” for them.
Also, he emphasized that the Scapular, as the main garment, creates an association between the person who receives it and the order of Carmel, a degree varying according to their acceptance of the garment. On that same occasion, the pope noted that devotion to the
Scapular is “adapted to the spirit of all because of its intrinsic simplicity” and that it has spread universally among the faithful, bearing abundant salutary fruits. He underlined the unity of the Carmelite family, encompassing all Carmelites, whether in the circles of Carmelites, Carmelites, members of the Third Order, regular
Or secular, all linked by a particular love towards our Blessed Mother. Any priest can place the scapular on a faithful Unlike the usual sacramentals, scapulars are not simply blessed, but must be invested by a priest. Any Catholic priest can invest a baptized Catholic with the
Brown Scapular. Lay people do not have the power to bless a Scapular. There is a form of blessing and investiture in the Book of Blessings that is usually found in any Catholic parish. The most recent ritual for the blessing and inscription on the Scapular, approved in
1996 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, is available in booklet form, the “Catechesis and Ritual for the Scapular of Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel”, published in 2000 and distributed by Publications. The abbreviated form of the investiture is as follows:
“Receive this Scapular, a sign of your special relationship with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, whom you undertake to imitate. May it remind you of your dignity as a Christian, by serving others and imitating Mary. Wear it as a sign of her protection and
Of belonging to the Carmel Family, voluntarily doing the will of God and devoting yourself to building a world faithful to his plan of community, of justice and peace.” Warning It is important to note that the Scapular is not a magical talisman providing
Automatic protection or an exemption from the responsibilities that God expects of a Catholic in matters of Salvation. Rather, the Scapular invites the Catholic to follow Jesus and Mary, to do good, to practice the sacraments and to be in a state of
Grace as much as possible. Whether there is a scapular or not, the Church reminds us that committing a single mortal sin can, in the event of death, lead directly to hell. Wearing the brown scapular means showing devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and
Choosing to live following Jesus through Mary, who will help you in this process. Not doing it correctly means misinterpreting the meaning of the scapular, using it incorrectly thinking that a sinful life is acceptable can be very dangerous to your soul, the Lord will not tolerate this at your particular judgment.
This makes it impossible to receive the promises attached to it if you take it all lightly and think it’s a guaranteed ticket to heaven.
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