The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Article by Ezequiel L. Machado, OCDS, MTS
The word scapular indicates a piece of clothing worn over the head and shoulders hanging both front and back. In Latin, the shoulder blade is called scapula; thus, the name scapular is given to that external piece of clothing that traditionally monks have worn since the Middle Ages. At the beginning, it protected their regular monastic habits from the elements while they were working; later on, they wore it at all times, as it became part of their habit. Religious orders like the Carmelites were no exception and 750 years ago their Brown Scapular became a source of spiritual meaning; it became “an outward sign of the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sister, mother and queen.”
The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the scapular of the Carmelite family, is without a doubt the most famous devotional scapular of the Catholic Church. It is a sign approved by the Church and accepted by the Carmelite Order as an external sign of love for Mary, of the trust her children have in her, and of the commitment to live like her.
The Brown Scapular came to symbolize the special dedication of Carmelites to Mary, the Mother of God, and to express trust in her motherly protection as well as the desire to be like her in her commitment to Christ and to others. It stands for a commitment to follow Jesus, like Mary, the perfect model of all the Disciples of Christ; thus, it became a sign of Mary.
Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to the Carmelite Family in celebration of the 750th anniversary of the bestowal of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 2001. In this letter he writes:
“In their journey towards the ‘mountain of God, Christ the Lord’, the various generations of Carmel, from the beginning until today, have sought to model their lives on Mary's example. In Carmel there-fore and in every soul moved by tender affection for the Blessed Virgin and Mother, there has thrived a contemplation of her, who from the beginning knew how to open herself to hearing God's Word and to obeying his will (Lk 2: 19, 51).”
The Brown Scapular is the sign that reminds all Carmelites to the contemplation of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary – for “she already lives in herself all that every believer desires and hopes to attain in the mystery of Christ and the Church.” Pope John Paul II continues:
“Therefore, Carmelites have chosen Mary as their Patroness and spiritual Mother and always keep before the eyes of their heart the Most Pure Virgin who guides everyone to the perfect knowledge and imitation of Christ. For the members of the Carmelite Family, Mary, the Virgin Mother of God and mankind, is not only a model to imitate but also the sweet presence of a Mother and Sister in whom to confide.”
For the entire Carmelite family, the Brown Scapular, therefore, is a most precious devotion and sacramental that helps us in our daily challenges and spiritual journey. The scapular expresses our “trusting prayer, enthusiastic praise and diligent imitation” of Our Mother and Sister… [and] the sign of the Scapular points to an effective synthesis of Marian spirituality, which nourishes the devotion of believers and makes them sensitive to the Virgin Mother's loving presence in their lives”. Thus, the Blessed Virgin Mary guides, protects and illumines all who place their hearts in her – our Mother and Sister in Christ.
Pope John Paul II closes his letter by pointing out two truths that flow from the Brown Scapular:
“Therefore two truths are evoked by the sign of the Scapular: on the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life's journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her 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, through frequent reception of the sacraments and the concrete practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy”.
Those who wear the Brown Scapular are assured of the “constant protection of the Blessed Virgin”; but, her protection is realized as you imitate her life: “For Mary, taught and formed by the Spirit (cf. Lk 2: 44-50), was able by faith to understand her own history (cf. Lk 1: 46-55) and, [was] docile to the divine promptings”. In other words, it requires, as a condition, an inner conversion and change to wear the scapular as a spiritual ‘habit’ – “a permanent orientation of one's own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life” sup-ported by the grace of the frequent reception of the sacraments and a sincere love of our neighbor.
To conclude, those who wear the Brown Scapular must imitate Mary – our model disciple of Christ – by being open to God and to his will; by listening to the Word of God and put it into practice; by praying at all times and discovering the presence of God; and, by being attentive to the needs of others.
The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Catechesis and Ritual, prepared under the direction of the North American Provincials of the Carmelites Orders. Washington, DC 2000.
750th anniversary of the bestowal of the Scapular – MESSAGE OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE CARMELITY FAMILY. This letter can be found in the Discalced Carmelite Friars website at www.ocd.pcn.net/sc750_en.htm