The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Scapular is a sign of Mary

One of the signs in the tradition of the Church from many centuries ago is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is a sign approved and accepted by the Carmelite Order as an external sign of love for Mary, of the trust her children have in her, and of the commitment to live like her.

The word scapular indicates a form of clothing which monks wore when they were working. With the passage of time people began to give symbolic meaning to it: the cross to be borne everyday as disciples and followers of Christ. In some religious orders, such as the Carmelites, the scapular turned into a sign of their way of life. The Scapular came to symbolize the special devotion of Carmelites to Mary, the Mother of God, and to express trust in her motherly protection as well as to be like her in her commitment to Christ and to others. Thus it became a sign of Mary.

From Religious Orders to the People of God

In the middle ages many Christians wanted to be associated with the orders founded at that time: Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and Carmelites. Groups of lay people began to emerge in associations such confraternities and sodalities.

All the religious orders wanted to give their lay people a sign of affiliation and of participation in their spirit and apostolate. That sign was often a part of their habit: a cloak, a cord, as scapular.

Among the Carmelites, the stage came when a small version of the Scapular was accepted as the sign of belonging to the Order and an expression of its spirituality.

The value and meaning of the Scapular

The Scapular finds its roots in the tradition of the Order, which has seen in it a sign of Mary’s motherly protection. It has, therefore, a centuries’ old spiritual meaning approved by the Church:

• It stands for a commitment to follow Jesus, like Mary, the perfect model of all the disciples of Christ. This commitment finds its origin in baptism by which we become children of God.

The Blessed Virgin teaches us,
• To be open to God, and to His will, shown to us in the events of our lives;
• To listen to the Word of God in the Bible and in life, to believe in it and to put into practice its demands;
• To pray at all times, as a way of discovering the presence of God in all that is happening around us;
• To be involved with people, being attentive to their needs.


• It leads us into the community of Carmel, a community of religious men and women, which has existed in the Church for over eight centuries. It calls on us to live out the ideal of this religious family: intimate friendship with God is prayer.
• It reminds us of the example of the saints of Carmel, with whom we establish a close bond as brothers and sisters to one another.
• It is an expression of our belief that we will meet God in eternal life, aided by the intercession and prayer of Mary. Some practical rules
• People are enrolled in the Scapular only once, by a priest or authorized person.
• The Scapular holds us to live as authentic Christians in line with the teacher of the Gospel, to receive the sacraments, to profess our special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, which should be expressed each day, at least, by saying the Hail Mary three times.

Short Form for giving the Scapular

Receive this Scapular, a sign of your special relationship with Mary the Mother of Jesus, whom you pledge to imitate. May it be a reminder to you of your dignity as a Christian, in serving others and imitation Mary. Wear it as a sign of her protection and of belonging to the family of Carmel, voluntarily doing the will of God and devoting yourself to building a world true to His plan of community, justice and peace.

The Carmelite Scapular

Is not:

• A magical charm to protect you
• An automatic guarantee of salvation
• An excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life

It is a SIGN which:
• Has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries
• Stands for the decision to follow Jesus like Mary:
• Open to God and to His will
• Guided by faith, hope and love
• Close to the need of people
• Praying at all times
• Discovering God present in all that happens around us
• Introduces people into the family of Carmel
• Points to a renewed hope of encountering God in an eternal life with the help of Mary’s protection and intercession.