There she was, Our Lady, all alone with at her feet one dead red rose held in place by a black rock. It occurred to me that I could buy Our Lady some flowers and make a prayer request recipient available. With the Pastor’s approval, I did both and within a very short time there were several prayer requests left.
The idea then came to me that maybe leaving a scapular in another recipient would encourage a deeper devotion to Our Blessed Mother. The Pastor liked the idea so I bought ten traditional brown scapulars. When they arrived the Pastor blessed them.
A single scapular was placed in a small baggie with this explanation of its significance. The packet was placed in a second labelled recipient. Within a few days the b lessed scapular had been taken and so I replaced it.
Both the vase, the simple clear plastic recipients along with a bouquet of lovely white artificial roses were purchased at a dollar store. Real flowers are of course an option if you so choose.
With the discovery of another ‘neglected’ statue of Our Lady at my home parish, it seemed that the fledgling Brown Scapular ministry could be of service there too, so I purchased more scapulars.
There may be opportunities in your parish or community to honor Our Lady by starting your own Brown Scapular Ministry, a ministry of love and an assurance of salvation to the one who wears it. Read More...
History
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 Scapular is a Silent Prayer
As Our Lord taught us to say the Our Father, Our Blessed Mother taught us the value of the scapular. When we use it as a prayer, Our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is good, therefore, to hold the scapular in the hand. A prayer offered while holding the Scapular is as perfect as a prayer can be. It is especially in time of temptation that we need the powerful intercession of God’s Mother. The evil spirit is utterly powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin in this silent devotion. “If you had recommended yourself to me, you would not have run into such danger,” was Our Lady’s gentle reproach to Blessed Alan de la Roche, one of her devoted servants.
Enrollment in the Confraternity
To be eligible for the scapular promise, one must be enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity. This is a simple ceremony which can be performed by any priest. The members of the Confraternity have the added benefit of sharing in all the spiritual benefits of the Carmelite Order.
According to a statement made by the Carmelite Fathers at the National Scapular Center, every priest now has the right to invest the faithful in the Brown Scapular and to substitute the rosary in lieu of the Little Office.
The scapular must be 100% wool without plastic casing and should not be pinned or affixed to clothing. It is worn over the head, under one’s clothes, with one square of wool hanging on the chest and the other on the back. Pictures are not necessary. Read More ...
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