About the Devotion of the Scapular
- HISTORY / PROMISE
- “Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge ofpeace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.”
This is Mary’s promise made July 16, 1251 to Saint Simon Stock.
- One of the great mysteries of our time is that the majority of Catholics either ignores, or hasentirely forgotten this Heavenly promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady further says:“Wear the Scapular devoutly and perseveringly. It is my garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life.”
- Old Testament History
Mount Carmel is on the northwestern coast of Palestine. The Hebrew word for Carmel means'Beautiful Garden Land'. Truly that is what Our Lady is, the beautiful garden that brought forthJesus Christ, Our Savior.
The Origin of Carmel goes back to about 860 B.C. to the time of the prophet Elias and hisvictory over the pagan prophets and their god, Baal. The account of this event is given in 3Kings 18:21-40. The Jewish people had taken to worshipping false gods, especially the godBaal. Their evil King Achab had married the gentile, Jezebel, who worshipped Baal. The kingbuilt a temple to this pagan deity. When the prophets denounced him for this, he had themkilled. Elias stood firm and challenged the prophets of Baal to gather on Mount Carmel todetermine which God, Baal or the Lord was the true God. Each built a stone altar with firewoodand a sacrificial bull upon it. The "God" who would send fire from Heaven upon the altar wouldbe accepted as the true God.
The prophets of Baal prayed and danced and chanted all day to no avail. Elias, though beforebeginning his prayer poured gallons of water over his sacrifice, making it humanly impossibleto light the fire. Elias called upon the Lord and immediately a bolt of lightning came down fromheaven consuming the sacrifice and the stones of the altar.
The pagan prophets were killed and Elias went into hiding on Mount Carmel. Later acommunity of prophets joined him. They dwelt in caves, praying to God, living in peace.
- Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Before coming into Europe, the Carmelites were hermits living on Mount Carmel in Palestine.They believed themselves to be the spiritual sons of Elias. They led a life of contemplation,modeled after the prophet.
At the base of this holy mountain; in the little village of Nazareth, the Incarnation wasaccomplished. The Blessed Virgin Mary, there in the shadow of Mount Carmel, uttered hersublime “fiat” thus enabling the second Person of the Blessed Trinity to become Man for oursalvation. To the wondrous delight of the hermits, Our Lady with Saint Joseph and the ChildJesus visited Mount Carmel upon returning from their two years of exile in Egypt. As a result ofthis visit the contemplatives of Carmel professed their unqualified belief in Jesus as the longawaited Messias, the Saviour of the World. Tradition assures us that, because of their childlikefaith, the Carmelites were among the first to be baptized by the Apostles after Pentecost.Likewise, their great love for the Mother of God induced them to erect on Mount Carmel the firstChurch honoring Our Lady. Moreover, as a reward for their devotion to Mary, the Carmeliteswere the first to be entrusted with the guardianship of the Holy House of Nazareth, followingOur Lady’s death and Assumption into Heaven. So great was their Love for Our BlessedMother that the Carmelites were known as the "Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel".
Many of the holy Carmelites were forced to leave Palestine because of the Saracen invasion.St. Louis IX of France conducted them to Europe. As they were leaving they sang the SalvaRegina. Our Lady appeared to them and promised to be their Star of the Sea. Along the waysome stayed in Cyprus, others in Naples. Still some went to France to live. A few went on toEngland. Lord Richard de Grey gave them Alyesford in Kent.
- St. Simon Stock, Vicar General of the Carmelite Order
It was in England that Simon Stock joined the group, later to be elected their first Vicar General.Many problems plagued the new order. The people made fun of the 'striped bedouin mantle'.Others felt there were enough religious orders already. To make matters worse there wasinternal strife and bickering between the older and younger monks.
By 1251, St. Simon realized that Our Lady was his only hope. With tears in eyes, he saluted heras the Flower of Carmel and the Star of the Sea. He prayed fervently for her "privilegium". Thespecial protection a Lord gave to his vassals. The Lord would protect his life and property, inreturn for the loyalty of the one making the request.
In the 13th century there was no commerce or industry. Land was the only means of alivelyhood. The vassals paid homage to the Lord of the land. The Lords owned the land and bythis act of homage the vassal was given the right to till the land. He was guaranteed theprotection of the Lord.
The scapular was not something new to medieval Europe. It had been around since around550, when the monastic orders came about. The two pieces of cloth joined at the shouldersand hanging down the back and breast had deep spiritual meaning. Our Lord said in thegospels, 'My yoke is sweet and my burden is light.' The monks by putting on this garmentrealized that the sweet burden of Divine service was upon him and the whole day wasdedicated to God.
Faith and actual living were one in the middle ages. The monk presented himself to God, HisDivine Master, just as a vassal presented himself to his lord 'to pay homage.' So too, did thefriar make his vows to God.
As we have seen the idea of the scapular and the giving of yourself to another for protectionwas not a novel idea. Our Lady chose that which was traditional and widely practiced.
Our Lady appears to St Simon Stock
While praying, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, giving him the Brown Scapular andmaking this promise:
"Take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge ofpeace. Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."
There are those today who say this apparition doesn't have the documentation to prove its
validity. John Haffert in his book, "Mary in Her Scapular Promise," states that the documents
were originally stored in the Carmelite libraries at Bordeaux and at London. A hundred years
after the Vision, the library at Bordeaux was burned by the city officials to prevent the spread of
the Black Plague. During the Anglican schism, Henry VIII ordered the London library burned to
the ground.
Still Our Lady continued to favor the Carmelite Order and her scapular with further blessings
and promises. In 1321, St. Peter Thomas was told by Our Heavenly Mother that 'the Order of
Carmel is destined to exist until the end of the world'.
validity. John Haffert in his book, "Mary in Her Scapular Promise," states that the documents
were originally stored in the Carmelite libraries at Bordeaux and at London. A hundred years
after the Vision, the library at Bordeaux was burned by the city officials to prevent the spread of
the Black Plague. During the Anglican schism, Henry VIII ordered the London library burned to
the ground.
But there is one document that is authentic. In 1389, the General of the Carmelite Order, John
Grossi, wrote the book known as "The Viridarium". It is a catalogue of the Carmelite Saints and
gives an accurate account of the Vision. John Grossi consulted and talked to companions of
St. Simon. He had access to all the libraries in the Order. He explicitly declared that he wrote
nothing in his Viridarium that was not from the ancient documents.
Grossi, wrote the book known as "The Viridarium". It is a catalogue of the Carmelite Saints and
gives an accurate account of the Vision. John Grossi consulted and talked to companions of
St. Simon. He had access to all the libraries in the Order. He explicitly declared that he wrote
nothing in his Viridarium that was not from the ancient documents.
After Our Lady appeared to Saint Simon, almost immediately a miraculous change took place
in the Order. The order was saved, its Marian character confirmed and Mary became more a
Mother than a Queen to it. In the beginning only the Carmelites wore the scapular. But by the
14th century the privilege of wearing the scapular extended outside the order. Lay groups and
third orders were formed. Some of these groups were called confraternities.
in the Order. The order was saved, its Marian character confirmed and Mary became more a
Mother than a Queen to it. In the beginning only the Carmelites wore the scapular. But by the
14th century the privilege of wearing the scapular extended outside the order. Lay groups and
third orders were formed. Some of these groups were called confraternities.
Still Our Lady continued to favor the Carmelite Order and her scapular with further blessings
and promises. In 1321, St. Peter Thomas was told by Our Heavenly Mother that 'the Order of
Carmel is destined to exist until the end of the world'.
- .
More true stories about the Devotion of the Brown Scapular by the Saints:
St. Alphonsus had a very special devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and while alive wore his brown scapular faithfully. Many years after his death his grave was opened; the body and priestly vestments in which he was buried had turned to dust! But his scapular was found PERFECTLY INTACT!
St. Alphonsus Liguori's Brown Scapular is still miraculously intact and on exhibit in his Monastery in Rome
The Brown Scapular | Garment of Grace
The Thirteenth Century was a turbulent time and the Church was threatened by enemies on all sides. It was then that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, Superior General of the Carmelite Order, on July 16, 1251, and in her hand she held the "Garment of Grace", which we know as the Brown Scapular, and She gave this promise:
"Take this Scapular, it shall be a Sign of Salvation, a Protection in Danger and a Pledge of Peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." - Promise of Our Lady made July 16, 1251 to Saint Simon Stock
Pope Benedict XV, addressing seminarians in Rome:
"Let all of you have a common language and a common armor: The language, the sentences
of the Gospel - the common armor, the Brown Scapular of the Virgin of Carmel which you
ought to wear and which enjoys the singular privilege and protection after death."
The Brown Scapular | A True Story
You will understand why the Devil works against those who promote the brown scapular when
you hear the true story of Venerable Francis Yepes. One day his Scapular fell off. As he
replaced it, the Devil howled, “Take off that habit which snatches so many souls from us! All
those clothed in it die piously and escape us!” Then and there Francis made the Devil admit
that there are three things which the demons are most afraid of: the Holy Name of Jesus; the
Holy Name of Mary and the Holy Scapular of Carmel.
The Brown Scapular | A Sacramental
"One of the most remarkable effects of sacramentals is the virtue to drive away evil spiritsSt. Alphonsus had a very special devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and while alive wore his brown scapular faithfully. Many years after his death his grave was opened; the body and priestly vestments in which he was buried had turned to dust! But his scapular was found PERFECTLY INTACT!
St. Alphonsus Liguori's Brown Scapular is still miraculously intact and on exhibit in his Monastery in Rome
The Brown Scapular | Garment of Grace
The Thirteenth Century was a turbulent time and the Church was threatened by enemies on all sides. It was then that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, Superior General of the Carmelite Order, on July 16, 1251, and in her hand she held the "Garment of Grace", which we know as the Brown Scapular, and She gave this promise:
"Take this Scapular, it shall be a Sign of Salvation, a Protection in Danger and a Pledge of Peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." - Promise of Our Lady made July 16, 1251 to Saint Simon Stock
Pope Benedict XV, addressing seminarians in Rome:
"Let all of you have a common language and a common armor: The language, the sentences
of the Gospel - the common armor, the Brown Scapular of the Virgin of Carmel which you
ought to wear and which enjoys the singular privilege and protection after death."
The Brown Scapular | A True Story
You will understand why the Devil works against those who promote the brown scapular when
you hear the true story of Venerable Francis Yepes. One day his Scapular fell off. As he
replaced it, the Devil howled, “Take off that habit which snatches so many souls from us! All
those clothed in it die piously and escape us!” Then and there Francis made the Devil admit
that there are three things which the demons are most afraid of: the Holy Name of Jesus; the
Holy Name of Mary and the Holy Scapular of Carmel.
The Brown Scapular | A Sacramental
whose mysterious and baleful operations affect sometimes the physical activity of man. To
combat this occult power the Church has recourse to exorcism, and sacramentals" (The
Catholic Encyclopedia., 1913, VXIII, p. 293Undoubtedly, Satan is pleased with the tremendous lack of gratitude shown toward the Scapular. The Prince of Darkness despises devotion to Mary, for he knows that in the end the humble Virgin shall crush his head. He is especially humiliated by those who practice this simple wordless Marian devotion, for all who piously wear the Scapular join themselves to Mary in a mystical union. Scapular wearers show that they wish to be perpetually united to Our Lady even though they may not be always conscious of, or adverting to their union. The Blessed Mother in turn, is continually protecting, and assisting her special children who are clothed in the scapular of Carmel, that they might pass through the temptations and trials of this life to the never ending happiness of Heaven. This is the essence of Mary’s promise. To those who piously wear the Scapular she will grant either final perseverance in the state of grace or the grace of final contrition. It must be added that she will not grant the gift of final repentance to obstinate sinners who sacrilegiously use the scapular as an excuse for sin. Such unfortunate souls invariably, at one point, rid themselves of the holy garment and die without the consolation of its promise
What the Saints say about the Brown Scapular:
"When Mary became the Mother of Jesus, true God and true Man, She also became our Mother. In His great mercy, Jesus wished to call us His brothers and sisters, and by this name He constituted us adopted children of Mary." - St. John Bosco
Nobody loves Our Blessed Lady more then Her Son, Jesus Christ. As Christians we imitate Christ's own love in loving His Mother as our own. For in Christ we have become the children of God and the children of Mary (Rev 12:17). "Spreading devotion to Our Lady's Scapular is the most favored of all forms of love expressed to Our Blessed Mother." - St. Claude de la Colombiere
“Modern Heretics make a mockery of wearing the Scapular. They decry it as so much trifling nonsense.” - St. Alphonsus Ligouri
Saints devoted to the Brown Scapular:
St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Peter Claver
St. Robert Bellarmine, SJ
St. Claude de la Colombiere
St. Vincent Pallotti
St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars
St. Bernadette Soubirous
St. John Bosco
St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini
Pope St. Pius X
St. Conrad
and many more!!