The Brown Scapular

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

I just came into the church Easter 2003, and soon after I decided to start wearing the Brown Scapular. I was still young in my sacramental life and wanted to make sure that I was doing everything properly, so I took the scapular to my priest to have it blessed. He did so by saying a short little blessing on it and handing it back to me.

I was talking with a friend yesterday and she was telling me about having the scapular placed over her by the priest. After she said that, I remembered that the priest didn't say place the scapular over me, but I didn't say anything. I got home and checked out the various rites of enrollment in the scapular and realized that the priest's blessing didn't even closely correspond to the most simple enrollment rite. The real question here is am I validly enrolled in the scapular? I've been wearing it off and on for a year, and with devotion the past two months, but I want to make sure that I receive the proper indulgence.

First, is it proper for me to seek out a priest for a valid enrollment?

Second, since my scapular was blessed, even though it wasn't blessed according to proper rites, would it be okay if it were reblessed (though a different blessing this time) during my enrollment?

Third, should I keep wearing the scapular since I'm not properly enrolled? I believe that the devotion of wearing should bring me some graces, but not the graces of being enrolled.

I hope a priest or someone very familiar with the Carmelites answers me.

-Jay

[Tony]

I am no priest but I wil try to help

when i was enrolled, the priest placed the Scapular over me and prayed the simple form prayer I had found in a little pamphlet/booklet. I do believe the proper way is for the priest to place it over you

never can hurt having the Scapular reblessed

I dont see the harm in wearing the Scapular even when not enrolled.. like you said, its about devotion.. about whats in your heart

Hope this helps, God bless

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Thanks.

I'm thinking that since I am pretty sure that I wasn't enrolled, but might possibly have been through some unknown rite, I could be conditionally enrolled, much like people who have been baptized aren't sure if their Baptism is a valid Baptism.

I really want to get this done.

[IcePrincessKRS]

Enrollment and blessing are different. If you didn't ask to be enrolled then the priest only blessed your scapular, similar to blessing a rosary or any other sacramental. I believe you can use a blessed scapular when you enroll, it doesn't have to be brand-spankin'-new (mine wasn't... I actually got enrolled twice, the second time I had forgotten that I was already enrolled...). The cool thing about getting enrolled is that you carry the scapular's blessing with you so if you lose your old one and get a new one you don't *have* to get it blessed by a priest (its always a good idea, but not necessary). I am sure there are tons of people out there who wear scapulars and aren't enrolled.

Edited June 17, 2004 by IcePrincessKRS

[Philippe]

how do u wear a scapular?

[Tony]

[quote name='lifeteener' date='Jun 17 2004, 04:10 PM'] how do u wear a scapular? [/quote]
over the shoulders so one flap is in front and the other is in the back

under or over clothing is fine.. but most of us prefer underneath clothing for obvious reasons

[IcePrincessKRS]

Yeah, what Tony said. You basically wear it like a necklace, only a flap in front and one in back, and you generally wear it under your clothes (its made of wool and a sort of "penitential" kind of thing, so if you wear it on top of your clothes it kinda defeats the purpose.)

[Tony]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' date='Jun 17 2004, 04:28 PM'] \, and you generally wear it under your clothes (its made of wool and a sort of "penitential" kind of thing, so if you wear it on top of your clothes it kinda defeats the purpose.) [/quote]
yeah.. that and so you arent wearing it just for show


One of the neat things about the Scapular though is its considered a religious Habit... because when you are enrolled, you are in the Confraternaty of Mt. Carmel .... part of their "pham" so you share in the prayers and everything

Edited June 17, 2004 by Tony

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Thanks everyone who helped, but this is now case closed. I printed up the proper prayers at work today and had father enroll me tonight!

I'm now in

[Philippe]

i just bought one... wat do i do now ? o and its soo cool how small it is i thought it was huge

[littleflower+JMJ]

[quote name='1337 k4th0l1x0r' date='Jun 17 2004, 07:50 PM'] Thanks everyone who helped, but this is now case closed.  I printed up the proper prayers at work today and had father enroll me tonight!

I'm now in [/quote]
:cake: :balloons: [color=blue]YAY! CAKE FOR EVERYONE!!! WHOO HOO!! [/color] :balloons:

How good Our Lady is to us!! :wub: :hearts:

:cheer: God is Good....ALL THE TIME, and all the time....GOD IS GOOD!

im happy to hear that!! the Scapular is such a beautiful devotion and blessing! :hearts: :wub:

[Philippe]

GUESS WHO HAS AN OFFICIAL ENROLLED SCAPULAR!!

[Philippe]

Philippe Does Philippe Does wassssssssssup!

[voiciblanche]

That's maaad cool. I've been trying to find a scapular... I really need to get one.

[Tony]

[url="http://www.prayrosary.com/freerosary.php3"]http://www.prayrosary.com/freerosary.php3[/url] free scapular too

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

Everyone's doing it now. Excellent!!!

[Philippe]

which side goes in front and in back?

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

[quote name='lifeteener' date='Jun 22 2004, 02:52 PM'] which side goes in front and in back? [/quote]
It doesn't really matter. There are different designs for the pictures on the scapulars, so there is no rule on which side goes where. The most simple scapular is just 2 rectangles of wool with no pictures on them connected by two cords. Mine has a picture of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel that I wear on my front and the text of her promise to those who wear the scapular that I wear on my back.

Edited June 22, 2004 by 1337 k4th0l1x0r

[Philippe]

kk its kinda annoying but its a sacrifice im willing 2 make for Our Lady

[Maddalena]

I got a Scapular when I had my First Communion when I was 10 years old (I was in fourth grade when we became Catholic). I didn't know anything about it so when we moved a year and a half ago, I put it in storage. As I read the stuff y'all say about it, I realized I shouldn't have done this. I didn't sin horribly for doing that do I??? No one explained to us what a Scapular was when we got them....