BROWN SCAPULAR
In the year 1251, in the town of Aylesford in England, Our
Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite. She handed him a
brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you
and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer
eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent
privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the
Brown Scapular of the Carmelites and who perpetually wear it.
DEVOTION
True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary consists in three things,
Veneration, Confidence and Love. By simply wearing the
Scapular, we can tell her every moment of the day that we
venerate her, love her and trust in her protection.
THE SABBATINE PRIVILEGE
The Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel has promised to save those
who wear the scapular from the fires of hell; She will also shorten
their stay in purgatory if they should pass from this world still
owing some debt of punishment. This promise is found in a Bull
of Pope John XXII. The Blessed Virgin appeared to him and,
speaking of those who wear the Brown Scapular, said, “I, the
Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death
and whomsoever I shall find in purgatory I shall free so that I may
lead them to the Holy mountain of life everlasting.”
The Blessed Virgin assigned certain conditions which must be
fulfilled: 1) Wear the Brown Scapular continuously. 2) Observe
chastity according to one’s state in life (Married/single). 3) Recite
daily the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin OR Observe the fasts
of the Church together with abstaining from meat on Wednesdays
and Saturdays OR With permission of a priest, say five decades of
Our Lady’s Most Holy Rosary OR With permission of a priest,
substitute some other good work.