St. Simon Stock receives the Brown Scapular
One of the Stained Glass windows in the Basilica depicts an instance of Our Lady’s intercession on behalf of the Carmelite Order at a critical moment in its history. During the Crusades in the 13th century, Simon Stock, an Englishman, went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There he joined a group of hermits on Mt. Carmel, followers of Elijah. When Muslims invaded the Holy Land, Simon fled back to England, taking the group with him.
The group settled there and grew, evolving from hermits to mendicant Carmelites who lived in several communities. In 1254, Simon was elected Superior General of the Order as it wrestled with numerous challenges from within and without. In turmoil, Simon beseeched the Virgin Mary for a sign of her favor to strengthen the Order. According to tradition, on July 16, 1251, he had a vision of Our Lady, who gave him the Brown Scapular and promised final perseverance in grace to those who remained faithful to Carmel until death.
What is the Brown Scapular?
The “scapular,” originally the word for a monk’s work apron, eventually became a symbol of a way of life and of Marian devotion, a sign of spiritual affiliation with the Carmelites. The Scapular today is a sacramental approved since its origins by the Church.
“The Scapular is a small sign of the great ideal of Carmel: intimacy with God and friendship among the disciples,” states Fr. Sam Anthony Morello, OCD, one of our friars, in The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Catechesis and Ritual.
The Scapular “echoes the promise of Divine Revelation: ‘The one who holds out to the end is the one who will see salvation’ (Matt. 24:13), and ‘Remain faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life’ (Rev. 2:10). The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a reminder to its wearers of the saving grace that Christ gained upon the cross for all: ‘All you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in him’ (Gal. 3:27).”
How to take on the Scapular
The Carmelite Order is eager to share Our Lady’s patronage and protection with all those who are devoted to her and who share a spiritual affinity with the Order. We extend both our habit—the scapular—and affiliation to all.
In the Province of St. Thérèse, around 900 Discalced Carmelite Secular Order (OCDS) members in 37 communities now share the Carmelite vocation. The Confraternity of the Brown Scapular is another means to participate in the Carmelite charism. This group formed at the Basilica in the 1930s and is open to all. Five of its members have been in the group since the 1970s, including Eloise Moran.
“The scapular is like an apron, a work habit,” Mrs. Moran explained. In its early days, the group used to collect clothes, wash and mend them and give them to the poor, she noted. Now they hold fundraisers to support the parish and meet every month for spiritual talks presented by members or guest speakers on various topics.
“I belong to the parish in a more fulfilling way,” Mrs. Moran said. “We can see concretely the results of our efforts to promote and continue the Carmelite Order. We help it keep going.”
For those interested in associating with the Discalced Carmelites, any priest can confer the Brown Scapular on an individual. Perhaps Our Lady is calling you to start a Confraternity of the Brown Scapular in your parish.
“Devotion to Our Lady cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honor on certain occasions, but must become a ‘habit,’ that is, a permanent orientation of one’s own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life,” explained St. John Paul II, who wore the Brown Scapular himself.
This window is part of the largest window in the Basilica, which depicts several traditions of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The window was installed in memory of Fr. Joseph Cantavello, OCD, who was the Provincial Superior of the Province of St. Thérèse. He died in a car crash in 1946 in the Texas Panhandle along with the General of the Discalced Carmelite order and his secretary, who were visiting from Rome.