Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular

From the St. Andrew Daily Missal:-

The Order of Mount Carmel was founded in the 12th. century by a Calabrian Priest, and claims to carry on the centuries-old monastic traditions of Mount Carmel, which perhaps go back to the prophet Elias. On July 16, 1251, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, the English general of the order and promised special blessings to all its members and all who wore its habit. Pope Innocent IV approved the Carmelite rule and granted many privileges to members of the Confraternity of Mount Carmel who wear the scapular.

The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was instituted for the Carmelites in 1332, and extended to the whole Church by Benedict XIII in 1726.

The Carmelites are perhaps unique among Religious in that they claim to have taken over the traditions of a pre-Christian monastic order and used them to form the basis of their Rule.




The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Brown Scapular, the oldest, and probably the best known of the scapulars is the Habit of Carmel in miniature. It is worn as part of the full habit of Carmelite Friars and Sisters, over the basic tunic and under the white mantle. Secular Tertiaries, and by extension, anyone who has been invested into the Confraternity of Carmel, wear a small version under their clothing. It can also be replaced in circumstances where wearing the actual scapular is impractical by a Scapular Medal, worn or carried about the person. The Brown Scapular brings numerous privileges to those who wear it worthily, most notably the Sabbatine Privilege. This stems from the appearance of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock, in which she promised that she would descend from Heaven to Purgatory and bring home, on the Saturday following their death, all who have died wearing the Brown Scapular. The Brown Scapular also forms part of the Fivefold Scapular (I will post on this at some point).

I commend enrollment with the Scapular.