St. Anthony's Catholic Church

Years ago, lots of us senior members of the Catholic Church received the brown scapular right after Mass at our First Holy Communion.  What happened?  Does the Catholic Church not believe in the brown scapular anymore?

            This week’s question – submitted from St. Margaret’s parish – asks about the beautiful devotional practice of being enrolled in the brown scapular.  Although I’m less of an authority than several others here on many such devotions, they have been and remain an integral part of the Church’s life, so (as always) thanks for asking!

            On a personal note, I also remember receiving a brown scapular at my first Holy Communion – although I don’t recall actually being enrolled in it.  In fact, it wasn’t until quite recently that I have been enrolled in the scapular – at the hands of our own Bishop David Ricken.  Enough of personal history, though.  Your query first begs the question of what, precisely, is the brown scapular.

            The brown scapular was and is part of the life of the Carmelite religious order.  It is – in a matter of speaking – an important part of the religious “habit” that Carmelites wear to (1) remind themselves of and (2) signal to others their love and consecration and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.  That devotion to God through His Blessed Mother also serves as a source of Divine protection – a sort of breastplate (armor), if you will – against the forces of darkness in the battle against sin and death.

            For several hundred years, there have also been Third Order (lay) members of the Carmelite order, and these too have been enrolled in the scapular.  From the Carmelite order, this beautiful devotion has since spread to the rest of the Church so that – as you remember – many children have received the scapular at their First Holy Communion and during other events in their lives.  As an aside, we are greatly blessed to have several Third Order Carmelites here in our parish(es).  These individuals – living ordinary Catholic lives in our midst – have devoted themselves to growing in holiness through prayer and study. (If you might be interested in joining them, simply inquire at the Carmelite monastery on the outskirts of Iron Mountain.)

            Finally, (in answer to your actual question!) nothing has happened – the Catholic Church still holds the brown scapular in great esteem, and it’s still a wonderful practice to enroll children in the scapular at their first Holy Communion.  When Blessed John Paul II was shot in 1981, he famously ordered his doctors not to remove his scapular while they were operating on him.

          Thanks for another great question.  I know, as is almost always the case, that this response has necessarily been too brief.  For more information, check out a website such as http://www.freebrownscapular.com/brown_scapular_history.html, or (better yet) speak with one of our resident Third Order Carmelites!  If you have another way of looking at this or other questions of our Faith, please sign on to our website (www.stanthonyniagara.org), and post your own question or response in the Forums section under “Ask Father”.  May God bless you and your loved ones!