The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the most widespread and ancient sacramentals in the Catholic Church. Its origin is tied to a 1251 apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Simon Stock, the sixth Prior General of the Carmelite Order, at Cambridge, England. According to long-attested Carmelite tradition, Mary appeared holding a brown scapular (a small piece of woolen cloth worn over the shoulders as part of the Carmelite habit) 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.' The promise — known as the Sabbatine Privilege after a related 1322 papal bull tradition — is that those who die wearing the scapular, who have lived chaste according to their state in life, who have prayed the Office of the Blessed Virgin or otherwise sustained Marian devotion, will be assisted by Mary's intercession after death. The Brown Scapular is the lay-Catholic equivalent of the Carmelite habit — wearing it is a public sign of consecration to Mary and entry into the spiritual family of the Carmelite Order (which includes St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Edith Stein, and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity). The scapular is enrolled by a priest using the approved Carmelite blessing — once enrolled, the wearer is spiritually a Carmelite for life. Pope Pius XII, in his 1950 letter Neminem Profecto Latet on the seventh centenary of the Brown Scapular, called it 'a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.' Pope St. John Paul II wore the Brown Scapular his entire life from a teenager onward, including throughout his pontificate. The devotion is appropriate for: any Catholic seeking to enter the Carmelite spiritual family; sustained Marian devotion through a tangible daily-worn sacramental; preparation for death (the Sabbatine Privilege); and the pastoral accompaniment of the dying.
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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The devotion has three parts: (1) Enrollment in the Brown Scapular by a priest. This is done once, using the approved Carmelite blessing (the priest may use the abbreviated form for individual enrollment; the formula is in any Catholic Book of Blessings). After enrollment, the wearer is in the Carmelite spiritual family for life — the cloth scapular itself can wear out and be replaced without re-enrollment. (2) Wearing the Brown Scapular daily. The traditional form is two small pieces of brown wool joined by cords, worn under clothing over the shoulders. A medal substitute (a Brown Scapular medal) was approved by Pope Pius X for those who cannot practically wear the cloth — but the Carmelite Order maintains that the cloth is preferable. (3) A simple daily Marian commitment — typically the daily recitation of the Salve Regina, the Memorare, or three Hail Marys; or fidelity to one's state in life lived in Marian dedication. The Carmelite tradition does not require formal prayer obligations beyond what one's state in life demands. The devotion is especially appropriate for: anyone wanting to enter the Carmelite spiritual family (St. Therese of Lisieux's Little Way is part of this tradition); preparation for death (the Sabbatine Privilege's central promise); the pastoral accompaniment of someone dying — the traditional Catholic practice is to ensure the Brown Scapular is on the dying person and that the prayers above are recited at the bedside; and any Catholic who wants a daily tangible Marian sign of devotion. The Brown Scapular can be obtained from any Catholic religious-goods store, Carmelite parishes, and many devotional online retailers (Carmelite Sisters, the Discalced Carmelite shrine at Lisieux, and similar maintain free or low-cost distribution).
O most holy Virgin, Mother of God and our Mother, who in your tender love for me hast deigned to clothe me with the holy scapular of Mount Carmel, I most humbly beseech thee to assist me at the hour of my death by the power of this sacred sign and by thy maternal love. Make me, O sweetest Mother, faithful to thy service in life, that my last hour may find me in thy maternal embrace and that, through thy intercession, I may pass from this life into life eternal. Grant me also the grace I now ask through this same scapular (mention your intention). Amen.
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