The Brown Scapular -

1. Are there any good prayers on the internet for this? Are there various prayers or is it all the same?

2. Does anyone find that the promises are a bit excessive? Am I missing something?

3. What is the commitment involved?

4. Must one be a confirmed Catholic before starting this, or is Protestant baptism enough?

Thanks and God bless,

-- Emily (jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), November 11, 2004

Answers

Oops, I forgot to mention that I bought one today while visiting a lovely Carmelite convent.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), November 11, 2004.

Emily,

Funny you should ask about this. I just so happen to have a sermon on the Brown Scapular from one of my priests right here in my hands. My niece was asking him about it so he gave her and me and my kids a copy of his sermon.

1. Don't know, sorry.

2. You are probably referring to Our Lady's promise to St. Simon Stock that "those who die clothed with this habit will not suffer eternal fire." Right? Well, I quote Father Dupre (my priest): "But let us not be mistaken dear parishioners, the Scapular is not a magic thing that protects us nor saves us in spite of our sinful behavior." He talks about horrible stories of people presuming God's mercy on their deathbed merely because they were wearing a scapular. In some cases, he says, "the Scapular started to burn them so much that they would have to take it off, and they would die precisely at that very moment."

The other promise of relief from Purgatory the Saturday after death doesn't seem so excessive, provided one abides by the conditions set forth...

3. ...there are 3 conditions in order have the benefit of the Scapular. 1) To wear it always 2)To live a chaste existence according to one's state of life and 3)Pray the divine office daily or fast certain days (for those who cannot read). This has changed into the obligation of praying the daily Rosary.

4. I again quote Father Dupre: "To be admitted into the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular, you must be a Catholic in good standing and be enrolled by a priest having faculties to do so." Sorry Emily! I bet you can't wait till next Spring. My sister in law is going through RCIA too. Spring can't come soon enough for her.

I could send you the whole sermon when I get a chance. It's quite interesting. Hope this helps.

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), November 12, 2004.

Oops, I forgot to mention, but maybe you know already, that there are other scapulars. I believe green scapulars are worn by those who wish to convert to Catholicism. This might be something to consider for now.

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), November 12, 2004.

"..Does anyone find that the promises are a bit exessive? Am I missing something?"

Hi, Emily

I wear a brown scapular(medal) and have been for many, many years. The promises arn't excessive. The brown scapular is about faith. You can where one and loose your soul at any time.

Our Lady loves us dearly and would only point us in the right direction.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is on the front of the medal. You don't have to be a confirmed Catholic to wear one. There are exceptions to everything in life and you are one if you wear your habit.:-)

Our Lady of Sorrows pray for us

May God bless you.

-- - (David@excite.com), November 12, 2004.

Hi Emily, You can start wearing the Brown Scapular even right now! I've heard of conversion stories of non-Catholics who wore them. They developed a love for our Blessed Mother and converted to Catholicism. Wearing the Brown Scapular is a profession of one's love for our Blessed Mother. You are a sheep and "no sheep should be without her wool (the scapular is made of wool)." The devil is scared of the Brown Scapular because it bears Mary's name, promise, and protection. The Brown Scapular is highly indulgenced by the Church; you will reap the spiritual benefits of the Carmelite Order. You need to be properly vested by a priest as soon as you are eligible; and you need to abide by its stipulations. There is a specific prayer for the Brown Scapular. I will write it down here asap.

-- Max (max9999@yahoo.com), November 13, 2004.

Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Most blessed and immaculate Virgin, ornament and splendor of Mount Carmel, thou who regardest with particular goodness those who wear thy scapular, benignly look upon me also, and cover me with the mantle of thy maternal protections. Fortify my weaknesses with thy strength, illuminate the darkness of my mind with thy wisdom, increase Faith, Hope, and Charity within me, adorn my soul with such graces and virtues that it may be always precious to thee and thy divine Son: assist me in life, console me at the hour of death with thy most loving presence and present me to the most august Trinity as thy son and devout servant, to eternally praise and bless thee in heaven. Amen. Hail Mary, twice; Glory Be, once. (300 days indulgence, once a day). With Ecclesiastical approbation.

-- Max (max9999@yahoo.com), November 14, 2004.

Hello Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for your help, Brian, David, and Max.

Brian said: Sorry Emily! I bet you can't wait till next Spring. My sister in law is going through RCIA too. Spring can't come soon enough for her.

You got it, Brian! I live for that day. Jesus in the Eucharist means more to me all the time, and I think this time of waiting is increasing my patience and love for Him. How exciting for your sister in law! Is her husband already Catholic? What is she converting from and what inspired her conversion?

David said: You don't have to be a confirmed Catholic to wear one. There are exceptions to everything in life and you are one if you wear your habit.:-)

David, I have heard that the Brown scapular is a type of Carmelite habit. I think this is beautiful, in part due to my potential religious vocation. I'm sure you remember awhile back when I was asking about the orders of nuns and you told me that I should long to wear a habit. At the time I didn't understand, but now I do, and I have longed for this for awhile. I am still grateful to you for introducing me to the existence of traditional religious groups like the CMSWR.

What did you mean, though, by "You are one if you wear your habit"? I don't get it.

Max, thank you so much for posting this prayer. I am still a little foggy on this as I have heard different things. Some told me that one is supposed to pray the rosary every day to fulfill the requirement. A booklet that I bought with the scapular said I should pray the little office of the Virgin (or something along those lines?), but it did not provide such a prayer. I suppose it assumes people just know it??? And it also implied that there was a different one for each of the seven days of the week. Finally, you posted yet another prayer. Is this one, in your understanding, supposed to be said daily, the same one every day? To me this is all very confusing, as there are so many different ways. What is the original or official way? Thanks for the help :)

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), November 14, 2004.

Hi, Emily I was just joking about the conversation we had about wearing the habit a few months back.

God bless you

-- - (David@excite.com), November 14, 2004.

Is her husband already Catholic? What is she converting from and what inspired her conversion?

Emily, Yes her husband (my wife's brother) is Catholic. She is from Tennessee, right in the Bible belt, but she was not even baptised and was not a churchgoer. They got married in a marriage chapel. My wife had been working on her brother to get married in the Church, go to confession, attend Mass regularly etc. Her exhortations registered more with his wife who agreed with all of this. They got married in the Church, got their kids baptised and she got baptised herself. THEN, she saw The Passion of the Christ and had a spiritual conversion. She said that she saw Our Lady in a whole new light, and wanted to become Catholic. She has become more and more devoted, praying the rosary, praying novenas etc. Just a couple of days ago she mentioned that she was thinking of wearing a veil. What a wonderful day it will be for the both of you when recieve the Eucharist!

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), November 15, 2004.

Hi Emily, I think the easiest and best thing to do is to simply wear the Brown Scapular to start with. Mary, who is Our Lady of Grace, will give you the graces to fulfill all the requirements of wearing her scapular as you go along. These are the three requirements you need to satisfy:
(1) wear the scapular continuously
(2) be chaste
(3) Pray the Little Offiice of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily; OR with permission of a priest, Pray 5 decades of the Rosary daily; OR observe the fasts of the Church together with abstaining from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays; OR with permission of a priest, substitute some other good work.
Numbers 1 and 2 cannot be substituted. You have several choices to fulfill Number 3.
After satisfying 1,2, and 3, the Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which pertains to the Brown Scapular, is a nice optional indulgenced prayer to pray.
The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (little blue book published by Catholic Book Publishing Co. NY) is comprised of 14 prayers: 7 morning prayers and 7 evening prayers for the entire week. It follows the pattern of the Liturgy of the Hours (mostly prayed by priests but can be prayed by the lay faithful as well).
Take care.


-- Max (max9999@yahoo.com), November 15, 2004.

Brian, that is wonderful news! I do wish I could meet her.

Max, thank you so much for that information. You explained it very clearly and I think I understand it all now.

God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com"), November 15, 2004.