Catholic tradition holds that on July 16, 1251, our Blessed Mother handed over a brown scapular to Simon Stock, a pious member who eventually became a leader of the Carmelite congregation for more than two decades, saying, “Take, beloved son, this scapular of your order as a badge of my confraternity and for you and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant.’’

The Carmelite Order, at that time, was experiencing great trials and difficulties. They regarded the bestowal of the scapular by Our Lady as a response to their fervent prayers to God to keep them from all danger, harm, and suffering. They saw it as a blessing from the Lord, a symbol of God’s ever abiding presence.

Pope John XXII in 1322 decreed a special indulgence for those who die wearing the brown scapular. The pontiff said that Our Lady appeared to him and asked him to specially look after the Carmelites. In addition to this, the Holy Father said, Our Lady promised that all faithful Christians who die wearing a scapular would enjoy early liberation from purgatory with her special intercession before God. The Blessed Mother herself would fetch the pious soul in purgatory the Saturday after their death in order to bring them to heaven. Marian devotees thus call this special intercession the “Sabbatine Privilege’’ (from Sabbath, meaning Saturday).

Today, the devotion of wearing of the scapular of the Blessed Mother of Carmel is almost as popular as the recitation of the Holy Rosary. The Catholic Church recognizes the importance of these outward expressions of faith in God and seeking the intercession of the Blessed Mother and the saints. These signs and symbols will not by themselves bring us to heaven but will certainly help us live a holy life. May the scapular remind us always that God is near and we have a caring mother who is always there ready to lead us to Jesus, her Son and our Lord. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.