Jul
16
The Brown Scapular
July 16, 2008 |
Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the patron saint of the Carmelites - St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa de Lisieux (the “Little Flower”), St. Edith Stein, St. Simon Stock.
One of the great devotions handed down to us from the Carmelites is the Brown Scapular.
Don’t know anything about the Brown Scapular?
Go here . . . Called By Name (Fr. Kyle Schnippel)
Then here . . . Da Mihi Animas (Fr. Stephen Leake)
Then here . . . Carmelite Sisters
or here . . . A Catechesis on the Brown Scapular (h/t Terry @ Abbey Roads2)
Then here . . . Where to Buy (the photo is the “Crusader” or “Athletes” Brown Scapular).
As the Carmelite Sisters put it:
“The scapular is not a magic charm or a free ticket into heaven, nor is it an excuse to live an immoral life. The scapular is a visible sign that you are pledging to live a Christian life with Mary as your example. To wear the scapular is a sign of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Claude says “because all forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin and all its various modes cannot be equally pleasing to her…I say without a moments hesitation the the Brown Scapular is the most favored of all!” Our Lady told St. Simon Stock that she wished her children to wear the scapular, the garment she chose to signify her protection. Mary has promised that she will obtain the graces and protections necessary for those who show their devotion to her by wearing the scapular. She will not let her children fall into the eternal fire, but rather protect them under her mantle, the brown scapular. By wearing the scapular, you visibly show that you desire to live a holy life, and you trust that God, through the intercession of Mary, will give you the graces you need to reach heaven.”
I have often written that we need to get back to some of the traditions that our generation has seemingly cast off or missed for one reason or another. The more I read about the Brown Scapular, the more I am attracted to this simple sacramental devotion.
The Brown Scapular and what it represents can help us live life the way Christ intends for us, while continually invoking the protection and help of our Blessed Mother. It is there for us to hold onto in times of need, is a continual reminder of the divine presence guiding our lives, and is a sure-fire way to help us resist temptation.
And when we couple it with the Rosary, how can we not live life following Christ’s path for us?
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I am starting to weaar it!
I am ordering 75 Brown Scapulars-40 for our ACTS Retreat Team at St Clare Catholic Church and possible 35 for our Retreatants we will conduct an ACTS Retreat hopefully in November.
These are powerful weekends starting on Thursday night and ending on Sunday with return Masses at each parish and a promise of a reunion within 30-45 days to check each retreatant and their walk down from the mountain!
[...] but, over the past week, I’ve noticed that I’ve been getting a great number of reads on my July post concerning the Brown Scapular. Interesting. I wonder if Mary is doing some [...]