The Brown Scapular (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel)

Association of Marian Helpers (Marians of the Immaculate Conception) | 1991 | Rt. Rev. Charles A. Klauder

[Pyro7480]

The Brown Scapular
by Rt. Rev. Charles A. Klauder.
Copyright 1991 Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

Almost everyone knows of our Blessed Mother's apparition at Fatima in 1917, and almost every Catholic knows some of the requests she made for all of us to put into practice in our daily lives. Now, the sad part is that most Catholics have not put into practice these important requests:

1. Daily saying five decades of the Rosary.

2. Wearing of the Brown Scapular, the Sign of Consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart.

3. Holy Communions of Reparation on the First Saturdays, meditating for at least fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the rosary. (The time might well be spent before the Blessed Sacrament as part of the reparation Our Lady requested.)

4. Offering of the sacrifices of daily life for the conversion of sinners.

5. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

It is really a shame, this terrible neglect on the part of so many Catholics. What a great and sad disappointment this must be to Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God and our own mother.

A Simple request

Let us take, for a short consideration, the wearing of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - such a simple request made by the Holy Mother of God for us to wear a tiny piece of brown cloth as an act and proof of devotion to her - and yet the request is not heeded and put into use by very many. If one is not willing to carry a small piece of cloth, how can it be expected that greater things will be done? Therefore, start with wearing the Scapular and Mary will see to it that you begin to do the other things requested by her.

The Saintly Pius X, when giving the privilege of wearing the Scapular Medal, plainly stated, "We would prefer that all would wear the cloth scapular, such as those in the service of their country, those in boiler rooms or similar industries and natives in tropical countries. In spite of St. Pius' request, almost everyone laid aside the cloth Scapular and carried the Medal.

Benedict XV, the Saint's successor, on July 8, 1916, placed an indulgence on the cloth Scapular when it is kissed with devotion, and he plainly stated this indulgence does not apply to the Medal.

An extraordinary promise

About one year later at Fatima in 1917, our Blessed Lady appeared to Lucy and the other two children, Francesco and Jacinta. She was clothed in the Brown Garb of Carmel. Holding in her hand the Brown Scapular, she reminded us all to wear it and enjoy her extraordinary Promise:

"Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."

Very few wear the Scapular. You may prove it to yourself by asking ten people this question, "Do you wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel?" and you will be surprised to find perhaps none will answer yes!

What a deplorable shame that our Blessed Mother's request is so totally ignored by so many and the treasure of the indulgence is lost; the promise of eternal life is not appreciated.

Although we all know that the whole world is in an unsettled condition, including our beloved America, yet Mary's requests are fulfilled by only a few. Why do we always wait until something terrible happens before we hurry to Mary? Why?

A serious call

Now perhaps the most important point in the whole message of Fatima is precisely this making us aware of the seriousness of life and the urgent need there is for solid thinking and praying. "The whole land," wrote the prophet Jeremiah of Old, "is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart" (Jer 12:11). The same is true today; the whole world has come to such a sorry pass and lives in dread of a third world upheaval because there are so few that really "think in their hearts!" It was the keensighted Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII who assured us of this.

A large number of Scapular orders come from children asking for one or two Scapulars.

Where are the adults who could assist by helping to distribute many more Scapulars?

The Scapular is Mary's Mantle, thrown over our shoulders with a promise of eternal salvation and an indulgence for all who kiss it with devotion. After the Rosary, the Scapular is the most highly indulgenced sacramental in the Church.

Three things are necessary:

1. One must be enrolled only once. This is usually done at First Holy Communion but can be done at any time by the priest. No further blessing is required for a new cloth Scapular.

2. The Scapular must be worn with devotion.

3. The Scapular must be worn over the shoulders so that the one piece falls in front, the other in the back, although it is not necessary that the cloth be worn next to the skin.

Such a simple thing to do - such a wonderful reward - the wearing of a tiny piece of cloth. The Blessed Mother's Promise of Eternal Salvation!

with Ecclesiastical approval

[american colleen]

My husband just took my kids to the triple A team for tonights game :-)

I have some leftover spaghetti from a great Italian restaurant, some rented movies (Gods & Generals, Bloody Sunday, The Hours and Bobbie's Girl). I AM OUTTA HERE!!!

Saw "Gangs of New York" last week and liked it a lot.

[Desdemona]

BTW, I don't recall getting a scapular at my first Communion in 1967. Wow. When I look at that date, I feel OLD.

Before my time....

Seriously, I did get one at first Communion and no one told us how to wear it or why we do. I think that first one got lost. It might be in my mother's drawer somewhere. The Rosary was always more emphasized to us.

[RnMomof7]

Seriously, I did get one at first Communion and no one told us how to wear it or why we do. I think that first one got lost. It might be in my mother's drawer somewhere. The Rosary was always more emphasized to us.

Our teachers made a big deal out of it. Possibly because they were "brown" Franciscans .We had a service where it was placed over our heads by the sister and a prayer (maybe the Hail Mary ??) was said. We were "enrolled and given a certificate indicating such.

[RnMomof7]

I have the difference between my Savior and His mother firmly established.

Some times the line sounds very thin (not from you ,in specific but in general) to people hearing it that are not Catholics.

I had kids making their first communion in the late 60's and early 70's and I do not remember ever seeing a scapula associated with it. I thought that kind of thing had been discontinued by Vatican II

[Codie]

I can understand that, but for those properly catechised, it's really not an issue. For those that are not, they probably don't even know what a scapular is.

I was never properly catechised,and still know about scapulars.Thank God for EWTN and not discussion forums.

[sinkspur]

Do you agree with the belief that it is mary that dispenses grace?

No. God dispenses grace, but he can dispense through the intercession of Mary, or saints.

Let me ask you: when you evangelize someone, doesn't God's grace use you as an intercessor with that person?

Our baptism makes us Christ-like, and He uses us to reach others.

[Uri’el-2012]

The Brown Scapular
by Rt. Rev. Charles A. Klauder.
Copyright 1991 Marians of the Immaculate Conception.


Almost everyone knows of our Blessed Mother's apparition at Fatima in 1917, and almost every Catholic knows some of the requests she made for all of us to put into practice in our daily lives. Now, the sad part is that most Catholics have not put into practice these important requests:

1. Daily saying five decades of the Rosary.

2. Wearing of the Brown Scapular, the Sign of Consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart.

3. Holy Communions of Reparation on the First Saturdays, meditating for at least fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the rosary. (The time might well be spent before the Blessed Sacrament as part of the reparation Our Lady requested.)

4. Offering of the sacrifices of daily life for the conversion of sinners.

5. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

THE ROSARY AND THE SCAPULAR ARE INSEPARABLE. PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY.


1 posted on 07/16/2003 8:22 PM MDT by Pyro7480

From the Holy Word of G-d:

Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words:
Exodus 20:2 ?I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Exodus 20:3 ?You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:4 ?You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of
anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the
LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children
for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
Exodus 20:6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Do you have a god before YHWH ?

Have you made an idol ?

Are you enslaved to a man made god ?

Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" [Psalm 118:26]

Barukh haba b'Shem Adonai
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord
Y'shua HaMashiach

chuck <truth@YeshuaHaMashiach>

[fishtank]

To the FR Religion Protestants.

Thanks for your notes about the BS. After I got saved, I realized that these types of things serve only to diminish Christ.

[RnMomof7]

Thanks for your notes about the BS. After I got saved, I realized that these types of things serve only to diminish Christ.

Remember what happened when Peter took his eyes off Christ? That is why Protestants see some thing like this as important

[MeekOneGOP]

Your last post ! Where are ya ???? ;^(

I hope everything is okay with ya ...

[Salvation]

BTTT on the optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2007!!

[Coleus]

bttt

[Salvation]

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Optional Memorial
July 16th

The Virgin of Carmel
Moretto da Brescia
c. 1522
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was first instituted in the late 14th century in commemoration of the approval of the rule of the Carmelite Order a hundred years earlier. According to legend, a religious community was established even before the time of Christ on Mount Carmel. This is the mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on which the prophet Elijah successfully challenged the priests of Baal and won the people to the true God. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel entered the Calendar of the universal Church in the early 18th century.

Although there is no historical evidence for the pre-Christian Carmelite community, references in the 12th century record a community of monks on the holy mountain. Despite continual difficulties, the community built a monastery and church dedicated to the Virgin Mary on Mount Carmel in 1263. Saint Louis, King of France, had visited Mount Carmel in 1254, and brought back six French hermits for whom he built a convent near Paris. Mount Carmel was taken by the Saracens in 1291, and the brothers were killed and the convent burned. The spread of the Carmelites in Europe is largely attributable to the work of Saint Simon Stock (1247-65). The Carmelite Order was formally approved in 1274 at the Council of Lyon.

Among the best known Carmelites today are two women: Saint Theresa of Jesus (Theresa of Avila - 1515-1582) who despite many difficulties reformed the Carmelite Order (the Discalced Carmelites); and Saint Edith Stein (Theresa Benedicta of the Cross - 1891-1942), a Jewish convert and philosophy professor, who was killed at Auschwitz, canonized in 1998, and proclaimed "co-patroness" of Europe in 1999.

Collect:
Father, May the prayers of the Virgin Mary protect us
and help us to reach Christ her Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading:
Zechariah 2:14-17 (RSV Zechariah 2:10-13)
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem."

Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Gospel Reading:
Matthew 12:46-50
While He was still speaking to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood outside, asking to speak to Him. But He replied to the man who told Him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Here are my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother."

[Pyro7480]

Beautiful painting!