This is for Catholics... What is a scapular, and what is it for?

Question

I"ve read something wierd about it, I won't tell you what, you tell me what you believe.

Thanks. You've confirmed what I had read. In my opinion, if wearing a piece of cloth can get you into Heaven, Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn't He just hand out scapulars?

Answer 1

"An outer garment consisting of two strips of cloth joined across the shoulders, worn by members of certain religious orders. Originating as the working frock of Benedictines, it was adopted by other religious communities and is now considered a distinctive part of the monastic habit. It symbolizes the yoke of Christ. A scapular is worn under one's secular clothes, in abbreviated form by tertiaries associated with the religious orders. Tertiary scapulars vary in size and shape; their color corresponds to that of the monastic family. As a further development, the Church has approved some eighteen blessed scapulars as two small pieces of cloth joined by strings and worn around the neck and under the clothes. Best known are the five scapulars of: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (brown), the Passion (red), Seven Dolors (black), Immaculate Conception (blue), and the Holy Trinity (white). (Etym. Latin scapulare, scapularium, "Shoulder cloak," from Latin scapula, shoulder.) "

I'm not familiar with it, but its more than just 'wearing it to get into heaven' I do know that you have to be free of mortal sin and I'm sure it has some devotionals that go along with it.

"A scapular is a "sacramental" of the Church, which is an object that leads to deeper spiritual life and points us towards the Sacraments of the Church. What the Church doesn't teach is that scapulars are somehow "magic charms", meaning they'll make you holy or stop you from sinning. The effort to be holy has to come from within us. But a scapular is an outward sign which the wearer should be properly invested to wear (meaning the scapular is more than jewelry)."

Answer 2

I'm not Catholic, but a priest once handed free scapulars out to a group of people at a meeting. I've wondered ever since about its significance. So I'll be watching the answers to this with interest. (That was years ago! And I *still* don't know. But I still have that scapular... )

Answer 3

A scapular is a sacramental devotional aid. It involves two squares tied together by a cord or band, and is mean to be worn upon one's person. There are different types. The "brown scapular" is very popular, and is often worn in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Scapulars can be worn for various devotional intents.

Answer 4

It's similar to a medal, but made of cloth instead of metal. It consists of two rectangular scapulars, connected by two cords, and is worn with one scapular in front, the other in back, and the two cords going over your two shoulders. It is worn by some Catholics for the same reason as a medal - as a reminder of a saint they particularly admire. There are several versions of this sacramental, and some of them have pious myths or stories connected with them that are not part of Church teaching.

Answer 5

A scapular (from Latin scapula, shoulder) is a devotional artefact in the form of a cloth pendant, used in various Christian traditions, the wearing of which is believed by the faithful to confer a benefit to the wearer.
The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sometimes referred to as the "brown scapular" from the color of its bands is believed to have been originally given by the Blessed Mother to Saint Simon Stock when she appeared in England in 1251. The saint was apparently told by Mary that those who died "clothed in this habit [would] never suffer eternal fire".

Answer 6

my mom has a scapular, she says that the nuns told her "if you die wearing it you'll go to Heaven" BUT, "you still have to live a Christian life, there was a lady who wore it then decided to do whatever she wanted and when she died it broke off"

so i'm not entirely sure what it's for. it's a necklace of some type?

hold on, i'm gonna get some more info

lost*eu/21618
replace * with .

Answer 7

Scapular is referring to the shoulder. (The shoulder blade actually.)
The piece of cloth was worn like a sort of poncho originally.
Only later did it become the traditional emblem of the monkish orders.

Answer 8

If I remember correctly, if you die wearing a brown scapular you won't go to hell even if you have unconfessed sins. I'm not too sure about the other color ones though.

Answer 9

You wear it around your neck and it is supposed to save you from the fires of hell. My dad died wearing a scapular.

Answer 10

I was raised Catholic and if I remember, if you wear it and you happen to die, you go straight to heaven. I think it's meant for sudden deaths - to take place if a priest can't bless you on your deathbed. But I think it needs to be spayed with the "holy" water