Scapulars
A scapular
is a sacramental that looks like two small pieces of wool cloth connected
by string that is worn over the neck, either under or over one's clothing
(typically under the clothing), such that one piece of cloth hangs over the
chest, and the second piece of cloth hangs over the back (see picture below).
They derive from the scapulars which make up part of monastics' religious
habits -- that ankle-length (front and back), shoulder-wide, apron-like part
of the habit that basically consists of a long rectangular piece of material
with a hole for the head (some of them have hoods and some had ties under
the arms). Monastic scapulars came, over time, to be called jugum
Christi (the yoke of Christ), and receiving the scapular (becoming
"invested") took on solemn meaning. Abbreviated forms of the full monastic
scapulars were to be worn even at night.
In addition to
regular monastics of the First Order (i.e., friars) and Second Order (cloistered
nuns), laity attached themselves to various religious orders, too, in what
are called "Third Orders." Some
 lay members of Third orders -- "tertiaries" -- are "Third Order Religious"
who live in a monastic community and generally take vows; most others are
"Third Order Secular" who live in the world and generally make solemn promises.
In the beginning, many of these lay people were invested with the full habit;
later, they came to wear only the very small scapulars, as seen at left,
under their clothing.
In addition to these Third Orders, Confraternities of lay-people (married
or single -- just "regular Catholics") developed whose members were invested
with Scapulars of Religious Orders to which they were attached. It is these
scapulars for lay people belonging to a Confraternity or a Third Order that
one generally thinks of when one hears the word "scapular."
Some scapulars have privileges and indulgences attached to wearing them,
but like any sacramental (holy water, blessed candles, etc.), scapulars are
not magic; their efficacy depends on the proper intentions and faith of the
wearer. Only by following through on the promises one makes when becoming
invested can the benefits associated with them be had. They are best thought
of as signs of a commitment to do certain things and of one's being a part
of a religious community. They act as reminders, too, of these things they
signify and of the Saints who are parts of the religious community in question.
They are reminders to behave with holiness.
How Get and Use Them
The first thing
you need to do is to find out if enrollment in a particular Confraternity
is necessary before wearing one with the rightful expectation of spiritual
benefit. This varies with the type of scapular, but most scapulars do not
require any sort of enrollment that your parish priest can't handle for you.
You can buy scapulars from Catholic Gift Shops, Catholic mail order catalogues,
etc. They're very inexpensive, and you can also often find free ones from
various places, such as the religious Order with which the desired scapular
is associated or from charitable organizations and souls who make them available.
Just do a
Google
Search for "Free Scapulars." Know, though, that free scapulars are often
poorly made, are not made of wool, and are not of traditional design. It
is best if you can find a traditional source for your scapulars, especially
the Brown Scapular.
After you get your scapular, you must have it blessed by a priest. After
it's been blessed, you then become "invested" when the priest recites certain
prayers (different scapulars have different prayers for investement). Many
scapulars do not require investment at all, but simply need to be blessed
-- as do all scapulars -- and then used properly per the directions below.
You only need to
have your first scapular blessed; it it wears out and you need to replace
it, the blessing "transfers" to replacements. (The proper way to get rid
of worn out scapulars -- or any sacramental -- is to either
burn it or bury it.)
Scapulars (excepting
those which are proper to the Third Orders) can also later be replaced by
a religious medal called the "Scapular Medal" (see picture at right), but
if this is done, the new medal must be blessed. This medal must "show the
image of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ, showing His
Sacred Heart, and the obverse that of the Most Blessed
Virgin Mary," according to a decree of Pope St. Pius X.
1
Below are some of the different types of scapulars. The religious Orders
they are associated with and the date of the scapular's origin appear in
italics under the Scapular's popular name.
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Brown
Scapular
Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Carmelites)
A.D. 1251
"The Brown Scapular
of our Lady of Mount Carmel," associated with the Carmelite Order, is the
most well-known. In A.D. 16 July 1251, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock
in Cambridge, England after he prayed for help for his Order. She appeared
to him with the scapular and said, "Take, beloved son this scapular of thy
order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special
sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting
fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace
and of the covenant."
Whether this happened exactly in this way or not (St. Simon's original
descriptions of the vision are not extant and the wording may not be exact),
the Scapular was given to St. Simon Stock, and the devotion spread and was
well-known by the 16th c. What can be safely believed because of papal decree
is the promise known as the "Sabbatine Privilege." The Sabbatine Privilege
is the promise that Our Lady will intercede and pray for those in Purgatory
who, in earthly life:
-
wore the Scapular
in good faith;
-
were chaste according
to their state in life;
-
daily recited the
Divine Office or, with the permission of one's Confessor, the Little Office
of Our Lady [a shorter form of the Divine Office in honor of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, used by certain religious orders and laity. It is similar to
the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Roman Breviary] or the Rosary;
and
-
departed earthly
life in charity.
You can be enrolled
in the Confraternity of our Lady of Mount Carmel by any priest. Just obtain
a scapular, take it to him to have it blessed, and express your desire for
enrollment.
Warning: Some falsely believe that wearing the Brown Scapular offers
some sort of guarantee of salvation because of the legendary words attributed
to Our Lady. This is against Church teaching, is superstitious and a grave
error. Sacramentals are not magical ways to manipulate God; they are
Church-instituted rituals/objects that remind us of what we are supposed
to be doing/thinking of, that depend on the faith, hope and love of the user,
and which help prepare us to receive God's saving grace. One must do more
than "wear the scapular"; one must wear it worthily.
You can get well-made, wool, traditionally-designed Brown Scapulars from
this traditional Carmelite Order of nuns. I don't know the cost:
Rev. Mother Superior
Carmel of the Holy Trinity
S. 4027 Wilbur Road
Spokane, WA 99206
Tel: 509-928-0114
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Blue
Scapular
Clerics Regular (Theatines)
A.D. 1605
"The Blue Scapular
of the Immaculate Conception" originated with the foundress of the Theatine
Order of nuns, Venerable Ursula Benicasa. To her, Christ promised favor to
that Order and she asked Him to extend those promises to those who associated
themselves with the Order through the faithful wearing of the Scapular. The
Blue Scapular is worn for the conversion of sinners.
Enrollment in the Theatine Confraternity is necessary for investment with
this scapular. |
Red
Scapular
Priests of the Mission (Lazarists)
A.D. 1846
"The Red Scapular
of the Passion" came about when a Sister of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
had a vision of Christ in 1846 in which He promised an increase in the
theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity) of those who wore the scapular
faithfully and contemplated His Passion. One side of the scapular shows Christ
on the Cross, with the words, ""Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Save
us"; the other side shows the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
of His mother with the words, "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, protect
us."
Pope Pius IX granted the Priests of the Mission ("Lazarists") the faculty
of investing the faithful with this scapular, and the Superior General of
the Lazarists may allow other priests this faculty. |
Black
Scapular
Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites)
A.D. 1240
"The Black Scapular
of the Seven Dolors of Mary," or "The Our Lady of Sorrows Scapular," has
on its front a depiction of Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lady appeared to seven
rich and prominent citizens of Florence who decided to give up their worldly
possessions and follow Christ, promising to honor His Mother in her sorrows.
Thus began the Servite Order. Mary gave them the Servite habit and said that
"these garments shall be to you a perpetual memory of the sufferings of my
heart." This is the more common Black Scapular.
The General of the Servite Order may grant the faculty of investment with
this scapular to other priests. |
Black
Scapular
Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus
Christ
Passionists
ca. A.D. 1720
St. Paul of the
Cross, before founding the Congregation of the Passionists, received in
apparitions the black habit of the order with the badge on the breast. Later,
after the foundation of the congregation, the Passionist Fathers gave the
faithful who wished to associate themselves more closely with their order
a black scapular in honour of the Passion of Christ. "The Black Scapular
of the Passion" has a replica of the emblem worn on the habits of the
Passionists. It includes the words "Jesu XPI Passio" and below "sit semper
in cordibus nostris."
The Superior General of the Passionists may grant to other priests the faculty
to bless and invest someone with this scapular. |
White
Scapular
Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians)
A.D. 1198
"The Scapular of
the Most Blessed Trinity" is the badge of the members of the Confraternity
of The Most Blessed Trinity. Its front depicts a red and blue Cross, and
it first came about in 1198 when a Spanish priest, John of Matha, had a vision
of an angel wearing a white robe adorned with a Cross whose vertical line
was red and whose cross-beam was blue (this Cross design came to be on the
habit of the Trinitarian Order). This Scapular was first used for the purposes
of of increasing action to "ransom the captives" -- the Christians taken
prisoner by Muslims.
The General of the Trinitarians may grant the faculty of investment with
this scapular to other priests. |
Green
Scapular
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (Paulists)
A.D. 1840
In 1840, Mary appeared
to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu (a Seminary Sister of the Daughters of Charity)
in Paris, France and commended the Green Scapular to her. It's known as "the
Scapular of Conversion," and its promises are the strengthening of faith,
protection against Satan, a happy death for Catholics, and, most of all,
for conversion for those outside the Church. It's to be worn or carried
by the faithful, or given to an unbeliever for their conversion. The following
prayer is to be said daily by the wearer:
Immaculate Heart
of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death
Latin version:
Cor immaculatum Mariae, ora pro nobis nunc et in hora mortis nostrae
If the scapular
is given to an unbeliever for their conversion, the person giving the scapular
prays the prayer for them if the unbeliever does not want to pray the prayer
himself. If the unbeliever does not want the scapular, it may be hidden in
their vicinity and the prayers said for him. Enrollment in a Confraternity
is not necessary for this scapular, but the scapular should be blessed by
a priest before use. |
Scapular
of St.
Joseph
Capuchin
A.D. 1880
A gold and
violet-colored scapular with a white cord, the front shows St. Joseph holding
the child Jesus in one arm and a staff of lillies on the other. Underneath
are the words, "St. Joseph, patron of the Church, pray for us." On the back
of the scapular are the papal crown under a dove as the symbol of the Holy
Ghost. Underneath those are the Cross, the keys of Peter, and the inscription:
"Spiritus Domini ductor eius" (The Spirit of the Lord is his Guide).
The scapular is to remind us of St. Joseph's virtues (humility, modesty,
purity); to remind us to pray to St. Joseph, asking him to pray for the Church;
and to assist the dying since St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death.
In addition to the above benefits, there is a plenary indulgence for those
who confess, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy
Father on the following feast days: 25 December the day of investment of
the scapular), 1 January, 6 January, 2 February, 19 March, 25 March, Easter,
Feast of the Ascension, 15 August, 8 September, 8 December, 3rd Sunday after
Easter and at the time of death. It is recommended also to say 5 Our Fathers,
5 Hail Marys and 5 Glorias before the Blessed Sacrament at these times. |
Five-Fold
Scapular
The Five-Fold Scapular
is made of 5 of the following Scapulars above: first, the "The Red Scapular
of the Passion," then the "The Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity," the
"The Brown Scapular of our Lady of Mount Carmel," the "The Black Scapular
of the Seven Dolors of Mary," and the The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate
Conception." Any priest can invest you with this scapular.
Footnote:
1 The document from Pius X which introduced the
Scapular Medal:
Holy Office December
16, 1910
For the future all the faithful already inscribed or who shall be inscribed
in one or other of the real Scapulars approved by the Holy See (excepting
those which are proper to the Third Orders) by what is known as regular
enrollment may, instead of the cloth scapulars, one or several, wear on their
persons, either round the neck or otherwise, provided it be in a becoming
manner, a single medal of metal, through which, by the observance of laws
laid down for each scapular, they shall be enabled to share in and gain all
the spiritual favors (not excepting what is known as the Sabbatine Privilege
of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and all the privileges attached
to each.
The right side of this medal must show the image of Our Most Holy Redeemer,
Jesus Christ, showing His Sacred Heart, and the obverse that of the Most
Blessed Virgin Mary. It must be blessed with a separate blessing for each
of the scapulars in which the person has been enrolled and for which the
wearer wishes it to suffice. Finally, these separate blessings may be given
by a single sign of the cross (unico crucis signo), whether in the act of
enrollment or later at the convenience of those enrolled, it matters not
how long after the enrollment or in what order they may have taken place;
the blessing may be given by a priest other than the one who made the enrollment,
as long as he possesses the faculty, ordinary, or delegated, of blessing
the different scapulars- the limitations, clauses, and conditions attached
to the faculty he uses still holding their force. All things to the contrary,
even those calling for special mention, notwithstanding"
Holy Office, Rome, December 16, 1910
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