Devotional Scapular
Devotional scapulars are sacramentals, primarily worn by Roman Catholics and some Lutherans, designed to show the wearer's pledge to a confraternity, a saint, or a way of life, as well as reminding the wearer of that promise. Some devotional scapulars bear images, or verses from scripture.
Devotional scapulars typically consist of two rectangular pieces of cloth, wool or other fabric that are connected by bands. One rectangle hangs over the chest of the wearer, while the other rests on the back, with the bands running over the shoulders. Some scapulars have extra bands running under the arms and connecting the rectangles to prevent them from getting dislodged underneath the wearer's top layer of clothes.
The roots of devotional scapulars can be traced to the gathering of laity into confraternities for spiritual direction, whereby the faithful would be assigned some badge or token of affiliation and devotion. The image or message on the scapular usually reflects the order's focus, tradition or favored devotion. Devotional scapulars and the indulgences attached to them grew along with the growth of Catholic confraternities during the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1611, the Servite order's confraternity and their Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary received indulgences from Pope Paul V.
By the early 20th century the devotional scapular had gained such a strong following among Catholics worldwide that the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914 stated: "Like the Rosary, the Brown Scapular has become the badge of the devout Catholic." In the 1917 reported apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared "with a Rosary in one hand and a scapular in the other". Lucia Santos (one of the three Fatima children) stated that the Virgin Mary told her: "The Rosary and the Scapular are inseparable". In the United States "Scapular Magazine" helped enroll one million Americans to pray the Rosary based on the Fatima messages. The Rosary and the devotional scapular continue to be linked in the 21st century.
While a number of scapulars (e.g. the Holy Face Scapular, also known as The Veronica) are entirely Christocentric, the most widespread scapulars such as the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception relate to Marian devotions and consecrations. The official teachings of the Catholic Church indicate that the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel is one of the most highly recommended Marian devotions. This has been the case through the centuries, and more recently with popes including Pius XII, Paul VI and John Paul II, who stated that he received his first Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel at age ten when his Marian devotion was taking shape and he continued to wear it into his papacy.
The Catholic Encyclopedia lists 18 small scapulars approved by the Church:
- The White Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity (1193)
- The White Scapular of Our Lady of Ransom (1218)
- The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1250)
- The Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary (1255)
- The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception
- The Red Scapular of the Most Precious Blood
- The Black Scapular of the Passion (1720)
- The Red Scapular of the Passion (1846)
- The Black Scapular of Help of the Sick (1860)
- The White Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1877)
- The Blue and Black Scapular of St. Michael the Archangel (1880)
- The Scapular of St. Benedict (1882)
- The Scapular of the Holy Face (1885)
- The White Scapular of the Our Lady of Good Counsel (1893)
- The White Scapular of St. Joseph (1898)
- The White Scapular of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (1900)
- The Scapular of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1901)
- The White Scapular of St. Dominic (1903)
Of all the types recognized by the Church the best-known, and perhaps the most popular, is the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sometimes referred to as the Brown Scapular from the color of its bands. The brown scapular is associated with the Sabbatine Privilege, which promises that the Virgin Mary will deliver those who wear the scapular piously from Purgatory on the first Saturday after their death.
The wearing of a devotional scapular has been viewed as a constant meditation by Bishop Leo De Goesbriand::
"Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, Mary never sees me without seeing upon my body an evidence of my devotion to her."
From a spiritual viewpoint, Father Etienne Richer argues that devotional scapular is one of key Roman Catholic sacramentals that harmonize with Catholic Liturgy in the meditative process.