Scapular Corner

[HisKid1973]

Les,
There are many different scapulars and each has their own purpose and spiritual gifts associated with them.
All true believers in Christ have equal access to the gifts of the Spirit with out these scapulars, correct? K

 

[geocajun]

All true believers in Christ have equal access to the gifts of the Spirit with out these scapulars, correct? K

All "True believers" have access to spiritual gifts yes, but the particular gifts promised to those who use these sacramentals are sometimes particular to using the sacramentals.
It is almost always possible to get similar gifts through different means or for different reasons however.
If Mary promises she will intercede for you in a particular way for doing a particular thing (i.e. wearing a certain scapular) then while she is free to intercede anytime she wants, it is safe to say the surest way to get that type of intercession is by doing that thing she requested.

 

[poppinskw]

saloman, thank you for your post and for the link.. I will read up on them and learn more.

Les

 

[AnnieG]

Saloman…I think it is possible to interprete the quoted directive in such a way that the first medal should be blessed, but the following don't have to. I also read that if you want to substitute other scapulars with your medal (for example the other four scapulars in the fivefold one) than the medal has to be blessed once for each and every one of the scapulars it is supposed to replace.
My scapular medals are blessed. The one I usually wear together with the MM, on a chain, was blessed repeatedly during my life, and the smaller aluminum one I keep to pin on my clothes in emergency situations is blessed, too. I'm not invested in other scapulars. I once considered travelling to Wigratzbad, a Bavarian town where you can get invested into the fivefold scapular. But then I think I am happy with my brown scapular. I also own a green scapular or two, but they are different. They have both sides on one piece, you don't have to be invested, and you don't have to wear it.

 

[geocajun]

Saloman…I think it is possible to interprete the quoted directive in such a way that the first medal should be blessed, but the following don't have to. I also read that if you want to substitute other scapulars with your medal (for example the other four scapulars in the fivefold one) than the medal has to be blessed once for each and every one of the scapulars it is supposed to replace.
My scapular medals are blessed. The one I usually wear together with the MM, on a chain, was blessed repeatedly during my life, and the smaller aluminum one I keep to pin on my clothes in emergency situations is blessed, too. I'm not invested in other scapulars. I once considered travelling to Wigratzbad, a Bavarian town where you can get invested into the fivefold scapular. But then I think I am happy with my brown scapular. I also own a green scapular or two, but they are different. They have both sides on one piece, you don't have to be invested, and you don't have to wear it.

Annie,
With the brown scapular, when one is enrolled, the scapular is blessed, and never again needs to be blessed, nor its replacement, wool or medal.

 

[SumTinWong]

Hey great a scapular thread.

Here is the situation. I am a rehab assistant and part of my job is to be a lifeguard at a pool (no I do not look like David Hasselhoff either ) and every day that we have therapy a man named Joe comes in and lays his scapular next to my laptop and i am in charge of keeping it safe and dry.

A week or so ago i was in a terrible bike accident that jarred me pretty bad and Joe said he would pray with the scapular and give me some ood luck.

Well I wanted to say as a non-Catholic that this was not the purpose of the scapular as far as I had read but I thought it would be odd coming from an ex-Baptist who is not part of his faith. It did cause me concern however as to how many people just wear this stuff for "luck" and do not know the real reasons behind it.

What can i do to help, or should I not bother?

 

[QuantaCura]

Here'sa good site with the stories behind most of thescapulars:
http://www.fisheaters.com/scapulars.html

I wear three

The brown, blue (Scapular of the Immaculate Conception) and the red (Scapular of the Passion)

 

[geocajun]

Hey great a scapular thread.

Here is the situation. I am a rehab assistant and part of my job is to be a lifeguard at a pool (no I do not look like David Hasselhoff either ) and every day that we have therapy a man named Joe comes in and lays his scapular next to my laptop and i am in charge of keeping it safe and dry.

A week or so ago i was in a terrible bike accident that jarred me pretty bad and Joe said he would pray with the scapular and give me some ood luck.

Well I wanted to say as a non-Catholic that this was not the purpose of the scapular as far as I had read but I thought it would be odd coming from an ex-Baptist who is not part of his faith. It did cause me concern however as to how many people just wear this stuff for "luck" and do not know the real reasons behind it.

What can i do to help, or should I not bother?

I suggest simply asking him questions about the purpose of his scapular. You know the answers, but sometimes asking questions is the best non-confrontational way to get someone to really examine what they think about something.

 

[Psalms91]

since we are on the topic of scapulars, sorry if I hijack this thread, I have a question about the uses of them. My friend, who plays guitar bought a guitar strap and says he plans on buying a few scapulars and sewing them on the strap to make it unique. He is a very devout Catholic, so he wouldn't be doing this as a mockery or anything. He actually is enrolled in the brown scapular as well. Is this kind of thing ok since he is doing it to show the pride and devotion to his faith?

 

[Catholic Wife]

Does anyone over here wear a scapular? How come? Do you wear the cloth or the medal?

I am enrolled in the brown scapular to remind me of my devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I wear the medal instead of the cloth because of my job, but I sometimes switch to the cloth when I am at home.

 

[AnnieG]

Psalms91, what your friend is planning to do does not sound wrong to me. If he is a devout Catholic, good for him. If he is enrolled in the brown scapular, even better for him. His first priority should be wearing the scapular (cloth or medal). Displaying scapulars on your guitar strap seems comparable to nailing them to your wall. I think you can put your scapulars on whatever place, provided that it is not without dignity.

 

[SumTinWong]

I suggest simply asking him questions about the purpose of his scapular. You know the answers, but sometimes asking questions is the best non-confrontational way to get someone to really examine what they think about something.

Cool, works for me, that seems easy enough as the guy is really nice anyway. Have a great day!

 

[pax]

I wear the brown scapular because I love Mary and the Carmelite order. I find a lot of comfort in wearing "Our Lady's habit" and having that constant reminder of her prayers. The example of Mary meditating on the word of God and treasuring it in her heart reminds me to slow down when I pray and wearing the scapular gives me a much more "Carmelite" outlook on the spiritual life.

The scapular is also a great aid in the battle against temptation. Feeling the wool on my skin or seeing the brown chords in a mirror remind me that I am supposed to live a holy life. It's my constant reminder that "God is always watching." The scapular is one of my favorite sacramentals since it reminds me to "pray always." Wearing it is prayer.

It's also a great witness. When people see the scapular, a lot of the time they'll ask what it is and it is an opportunity to witness to them.

 

[JewelInHisCrown]

I wear the brown scapular because I love Mary and the Carmelite order. I find a lot of comfort in wearing "Our Lady's habit" and having that constant reminder of her prayers. The example of Mary meditating on the word of God and treasuring it in her heart reminds me to slow down when I pray and wearing the scapular gives me a much more "Carmelite" outlook on the spiritual life.

The scapular is also a great aid in the battle against temptation. Feeling the wool on my skin or seeing the brown chords in a mirror remind me that I am supposed to live a holy life. It's my constant reminder that "God is always watching." The scapular is one of my favorite sacramentals since it reminds me to "pray always." Wearing it is prayer.

It's also a great witness. When people see the scapular, a lot of the time they'll ask what it is and it is an opportunity to witness to them.

That is a beautiful post!!!

 

[AnnieG]

I agree!

 

[Febe]

Very interesting this; I'll see if I can read about this in Swedish - or if someone I know can tell me more...

 

[Mysterium_Fidei]

I had most of my Anglican parish wearing them before I went Rome. They'll be coming soon.

 

[AnnieG]

Here is a link in Swedish:
http://www.sspx.co.uk/scandinavia/newsletter.php?date=2004-11-01&lang=sv
It is Soc. Pius X. but I think it's good.

 

[Febe]

I had most of my Anglican parish wearing them before I went Rome. They'll be coming soon.

LOL..... Well done, brother! Well done!

 

[D'Ann]

D'Ann…you can wear the scapular medal, because you are invested. The medal must have on one side a representation of the Mother of God (not necessesarily of the Mt. Carmel type) and on the other side a representation of Jesus showing his Sacred Heart. The medal must be blessed before use, unlike the cloth scapular. You can always put on a fresh cloth scapular without prior blessing, because it is a habit. But every new medal must be blessed. It is not specified how it must be worn, but it is recommended that you wear it on a chain around your neck. If you are in a situation were you aren't allowed to wear a chain, pin it somewhere to your undergarment with a safety pin.

Thank you AnnieG.