The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-08-13
Some Facts Hbonf
fbe SeapuLar
Catholic Union and Times.)


/ Can YOU tell me something about the origin of the
scapular?
The scapular derived from the Latin word soap
ulare, shoulder cloth, was originally light gown
thrown over the habit of the Benedctine monks
for the purpose of protecting the habit during work
in the fields. (Rule of ST Benedict. 5j). Later it
became itself habit religious garment consist
ing in two strips of cloth hanging from the shout
dcrs to the ground in front and rear. Confraterni-
ties founded by religious orders received the scapu-
lar as sign of ailiation and participation in the
good works and pious exercises of the respective
orders. Thus originated the small scapuars worn
by laymen, viz:
1. The white scapular, adorned with a cross
whose horizontal beam is of blue color. while the
perpendicular beam is of red color. It belongs to
the confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity and
was introduced by the founders of the order of the
same name.
2. The brown scapuar of the confraternity of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel or the Carnelite soap
ular.
g. The black scapular of the confraternity of
Our Lady of the Seven Dolors erected by the
founders of the Servitc Order 70 these three older
scapulars two Others have been added in more re-
cent times
4. The blue seapular of the Immaculate Con
ception
5. The red or Passion scapular, full title: The
red scapular of the suffering of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus, and of the most loving and sympa
thizing heart of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin
Mary 1t has on one side the images of Christ
CITED and of the instruments of His passion; on
the other the images of the most holy hearts of Je
sus and Mary. The blue and the red scapulars are
not connected with confraternities. All these scapu
lars consist of two square pieces of wooden stuff
connected with two narrow ribbons.
The scapular which is most widely known and
used among the Catholic people is the brown scapu
lar of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, popularity called the Confraternity of the
Scapuar 1t has feast of its own, "the Feast of
the Scapular." celebrated in the whole Church. Leo
XIII granted for this feast a special plenary in
diligence to be gained by all who celebrate the feast
by receiving the sacraments. Probably the origin
certainly the spread of this confraternity is due
to promise which the blessed Simon Stock the
sixth general of the Carmeto Order, is said to
have received from the Blessed Virgin III Il vision
which took place July 49, 1851. She handed to him
the scapular as sign of her protection and pledge
of salvation for those who would wear the scapular
IN the hour of their DEATH provided they would
make themselves worthy of her protection through
good works during their lifetime. Hence those have
no right to expect the promised salvation who rely
merely on the wearing of the scapular. whilst other
wise they lead n sinful life, as Pope Benedict XIV
has wisely remarked. The blessed Simon Stock him
self, whilst announcing the promise to his Carmel
lite brethren, admonished them to render themselves
worthy of this grace by a virtuolis life. Whilst
uC Hlally papal lcttcfS mentioning the privileges
OF the Carmeltes cannot be taken as positive proof
of the heavenly origin Of these promises they make
1t lawful to announce this and other privileges
promised by the Blessed Virgin and to encourage
the faithful to the scapuar with confidence
IN the ntercession and the merits of the Heavenly
Mother, IN order to obtain the promised graces A
French work, in It's fourth edition (''Recuel
Construction la devotion au St Scapulaire de
N Dame du Mont Carmel, par lie F. Brocard) gives
many instances of remarkable deliveries from spri
tual and bodily dangers, conversions and even mir
acles wrought in favor of persons who made devout
use OF the scapuar There is no superstition to
be feared for those who use the scapuar in the
spirit of its founders, according to the prescription
OF the Church and for the aims for which it is of
flclally blessed by the Chucch blessing which i'm
parts to 1t the character of a sacramentaI.
What are the conditions to obtain the indulgences
with the scapulaIs?
In view of the good works practiced in the diff
erent confraternites mentioned above and in view
of the solidly Catholic and popular devotions con-
lected with the scapuars, especially the devotion
10 the Blessed Virgin Mary and the sacred hearts
II Jesus and His Blessed Mother the Church has
granted rich indugences to the. members of the
.enfraternites and to the wearers of the scapular
tie enunerate them would be out OF place here An /
excellent prayer book called 'The New Raccoltao I
contains all the desired information ] call this