1.   What is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

The Brown Scapular is a little garment, made of two pieces of brown woven wool, joined by strings and worn over the shoulders. The Brown Scapular was first made known by Our Lady Herself, July 16^th 1251, to St. Simon Stock, according to the tradition of the Carmelite Order.

  2. What is Our Lady’s Scapular promise?

In revealing the significance of the Scapular, Our Lady spoke as follows: Receive this habit of your Order; this shall be to you and to all Carmelites a privilege that; "WHOSOEVER DIES CLOTHED IN THIS HABIT SHALL NEVER SUFFER ETERNAL FIRE".

  3.  What does the Promise mean?

Our Lady does not mean by Her promise that those who die in mortal sin will be saved. The Promise means that anyone dying in Mary’s family or Confraternity will receive through Her at the hour of death, the grace to die well.

  4.  What is necessary in order to die a member of Our Lady’s Confraternity?

In order so to die, it is necessary that we be validly enrolled in the Confraternity, that we have worn the Scapular faithfully in life, and, above all ,that our manner of life has been worthy of Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother. Because "by Her motherly love, Mary cares for the brethren of Her Son who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led to their happy home in Heaven", (Constitution on the Church, n.62)

In the spiritual tradition of the Carmelite Order, the Scapular has always been regarded as a little garment signifying our consecration to Our Lady and Her motherly care of us. However, for grave reasons, a Scapular Medal may be worn, according to the authorisation of St. Pius X who was most anxious that no one should be deprived of the spiritual benefits of the Scapular, even though they might not be able to wear the cloth form. He added: "However, I desire most vehemently that the cloth Scapular be worn as heretofore". Also there are no miracles recorded by the wearing of the Scapular Medal.

7.   But is it not possible to attach superstitious meanings to the wearing of the Scapular?

Yes, it is. But ignorance can attach superstitious meanings to anything. It may be true that some people regard the Scapular as a charm that will secure Heaven for them in spite of their unchristian way of living. It will do nothing of the kind; the Scapular is a Sacramental: that is a material object used as a sign and signifying effects of a spiritual kind, through the intercession of the Church. The principal effect of the Sacred Scapular is to obtain Our Lady’s motherly help and protection during life and after death. But all this takes for granted that we, for our part, are trying to live in a state of friendship with God. The wearing of the Scapular is simply an open declaration that this is what we are doing. If our lives do not correspond with what the Scapular proclaims, to wear it is a mockery.

No; Our Lady made the promise on behalf of those who wear the Scapular worthily and die wearing it. But we should note that this means living in a true Christian manner and practising real devotion to Our Lady. By this we prove to Her that we are Her children and merit Her loving protection.

Here is what the Vatican Council says: "Let the faithful remember that true devotion to the Blessed virgin consists neither in a fruitless and passing emotion, nor in a certain vain credulity, rather it proceeds from The True Faith by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God and are moved to a filial love towards Her, and to the imitation of Her virtues." (Constitution on the Church, n. 67)

  9.   Must the Scapular be blessed each time it is renewed?

No. The Scapular is blessed by a priest when a person is first invested in it, and a new Scapular does not require another blessing.

  10. What is the Sabbatine Privilege?

This privilege applies to people who:

• Wear the Scapular of Carmel and who die wearing it.

• Live chaste lives according to their state in life.

• Say the Little Office of Our Lady or (with permission of   a priest) say the Rosary each day. This is how the Church officially explained in July 1908: "It is permitted to Carmelite Fathers to preach, and Christians may believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary will extend Her motherly help to souls in Purgatory who were, while on earth, Her faithful servants. Furthermore we may believe that Her beneficence in this respect may be exercised on Saturdays, the day of the week which is specially dedicated to Her."

  11.  In what other ways do Catholics show special devotion to Our Lady?

The Sovereign Pontiffs have given the greatest number of approbations to the Brown Scapular, more than to any other confraternity. Pope Paul V1 wrote: "Among the practices (commended by the Second Vatican Council) we would mention by name the Marian Rosary and the devout use of the Scapular of Carmel."

Pope John Paul 11; " Through the Brown Scapular, those devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel express their desire to mould their existence on the example of Mary as the Mother, Patroness, Sister, Most Pure Virgin: to accept God’s word with a purified heart, and to devote themselves to the zealous service of others."

 13.  Has Our Lady Herself reminded us of the Scapular devotion?

Yes.   At the moment of the great miracle of the sun at Fatima, 13^th Oct. 1917, She appeared in the garb of our Lady of Mount Carmel, reaching down towards the 70,000 witnesses present, Her centuries-old sign of affiliation, the Brown Scapular. She wants us to live the true consecration to Her which the Scapular means, to make our lives truly worthy of Her, so the Her promise of Eternal Salvation may be fulfilled for each one of us.

O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, (here kiss your Brown Scapular)I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus, from all the altars, throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every Indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate Queen that She may best apply them to the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, Save us! 
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us!