Re: Scapulars

Whenever I hold my one-year old daughter (which is often), she likes to reach her little fingers under my collar and find my scapular. Then she pulls a strand of it out somehow and keeps pulling. To what end? None. But she is stronger than she looks and I think I will be going through more scapulars than usual until she gets bored with this game. She gives no sign that she will move on from it soon.

Today she ripped a scapular that had gotten pretty old. So I went to a drawer full of miscellany and looked around in it. I found another old scapular which had been through the mill, so to speak. Finally, I did find a new one, as shown in the above picture.

Anyway, it seemed to be good time to bring up the subject of scapulars. It is a devotion that my family is keen on, but it is one that many are unfamiliar with.

Below are portions of the entry on scapulars in the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. (If you go to that entry, scroll down to the part about the "small scapular"--not the monastic ones.)

Excerpts:

The small scapulars consist essentially of two quadrilateral segments of woolen cloth (about two and three-quarter inches long by two inches wide), connected with each other by two strings or bands in such a manner that, when the bands rest on the shoulders, the front segment rests before the breast, while the other hangs down an equal distance at the back. The two segments of cloth need not necessarily be equally large, various scapulars having the segment before the breast of the above dimensions while the segment at the back is much smaller. The material of these two essential parts of the scapular must be of woven wool; the strings or bands may be of any material, and of any one colour. The colour of the segments of woollen cloth depends on the colour of the monastic habit, which it to a certain extent represents, or on the mystery in honour of which it is worn.

Only at the original reception of any scapular is either the blessing or the investment with such by an authorized priest necessary. When a person needs a new scapular, he can put on an unblessed one. If the investment with a scapular be inseparably connected with reception into a confraternity, the reception and enrollment must take place on the same occasion as the blessing and investment. To share in the indulgences and privileges of a scapular, one must wear it constantly; it may be worn over or under one's clothing and may be laid aside for a short time, if necessary. Should one have ceased wearing the scapular for a long period (even through indifference), one gains none of the indulgences during this time, but, by simply resuming the scapular, one again participates in the indulgences, privileges, etc. Every scapular, which is not merely an object of private devotion (for there are also such) but is also provided with an indulgence, must be approved by the ecclesiastical authorities, and the formula of blessing must be sanctioned by the Congregation of Rites.

Below is a bit about the brown scapular, the entry at New Advent has a bit of history on a great number of other kinds of scapulars:

Also known as the Brown Scapular, this is the best known, most celebrated, and most widespread of the small scapulars. It is spoken of as "the Scapular", and the "feast of the Scapular" is that of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July. It is probably the oldest scapular and served as the prototype of the others. According to a pious tradition the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock at Cambridge, England, on Sunday, 16 July, 1251. In answer to his appeal for help for his oppressed order, she appeared to him with a scapular in her hand 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. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant". This tradition, however, appears in such a precise form for the first time in 1642, when the words of the Blessed Virgin were given in a circular of St. Simon Stock which he is said to have dictated to his companion secretary, and confessor, Peter Swanyngton. Although it has now been sufficiently shown that this testimony cannot be supported by historical documents, still its general content remains a reliable pious tradition; in other words, it is credible that St. Simon Stock was assured in a supernatural manner of the special protection of the Blessed Virgin for his whole order and for all who should wear the Carmelite habit, that the Blessed Virgin also promised him to grant special aid, especially in the hour of death, to those who in holy fidelity wore this habit in her honour throughout life, so that they should be preserved from hell. And, even though there is here no direct reference to the members of the scapular confraternity, indirectly the promise is extended to all who from devotion to the Mother of God should wear her habit or badge, like true Christians, until death, and be thus as it were affiliated to the Carmelite Order.

What is the best thing about a scapular? The Sabbatine Privilege. If you don't know what that is, someday you might wish that you had heard about it.

If you care to, say in the combox whether of not you wear a scapular and, if so, which color/devotion is it dedicated to? As shown above, mine is the common brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The one I buy also has pictures of St. Michael on it, as well as a St. Benedict Medal.