From the book The Five Scapulars by R. J. Miller, C.SS.R. with 1960 imprimatur We copy what is to be known about the Brown Scapular and the Sabbatine privilege.
Page 24 & ff. “We now come finally to the prayers that have to be said or good works done in order to gain the benefits of the scapulars.
“For four of them, namely all but the brown, there is nothing imposed as of obligation. It is the brown scapular that has the special obligations. Not as regards our Lady’s promise to St. Simon Stock, about saving the wearers from hell; that requires only the faithful wearing of the scapular. But to gain the Sabbatine privilege: to make sure of being freed from Purgatory on the Saturday after our death (if not sooner); there we do have something special to do.An observation about “wearing the scapular” should be noted. A soldier wears his rank in a badge or chevrons. If his wife in a rain storm wears her husband’s military jacket she has the sign of her husband’s rank, but we would not say that she is wearing a military badge. If she enters the services she could wear it just as her husband does.“The decree of Pope Paul V of January 20, 1613, which was partially quoted above, goes on to list these obligations of the Sabbatine privilege. It declares that we may believe that the Blessed Virgin will bring special help: especially on the Saturday after their death to the souls of those brethren and those members of the confraternity who depart this life in charity (the Virtue of Charity means the love of God above all life itself. It is the Supreme Law) and who, whilst living, have worn the habit, observed chastity according to their state, and who shall have recited the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or, if they cannot read, shall have observed the fast of the Church and shall have abstain from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays (unless the Feast of the Nativity or Our Lord fall on that day.)
“Note that, besides wearing the brown scapular, this decree imposes two obligations, with a substitute offered for the second.
“The first obligation is that of ‘chastity according to one’s state.’ That does not mean that the wearer of the brown scapular may not get married, but that married or single he must strive to avoid sins against chastity, and if he should fall into sin, must be prompt to repent.
“The second is ‘reciting the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.’ This is a very ancient Catholic devotion, consisting of a collection of hymns and psalms and prayers in honor of our Lady, modeled on the divine office which priests say every day; a kind of abbreviated breviary in honor of Mary. It must be said every day to gain the scapular (Sabbatine) promise. Those bound to say the regular divine office fulfill the obligation by that very exercise. Sisters who recite the new short breviary in English (as many are doing nowadays) would also seem to be fulfilling this obligation; at least, any priest who has faculties to enroll in the brown scapular can commute the obligation of the Little Office into this English office for them.
“The substitute for the second obligation in Paul V's decree is to ‘observe the fasts of the Church and abstain on Wednesdays and Saturdays.’ But very often in modern life even this substitute is practically impossible. So the Church, like a solicitous mother, has gone on to offer a substitute for the substitute. She has granted to every priest who has faculties to enroll in the brown scapular, the power to change or commute this fasting and abstaining into the performance of certain good works or the recitation of certain prayers. Good works would be; periodic almsgiving; regular contribution to the mission; hearing Mass on weekdays; kissing the brown scapular daily with the prayer; “Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!” As to the prayers to be recited, various suggestions are made by writers on the subject. Some say it should be seven Our Fathers and Hail Marys every day; some would bring it down low as one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be, every day. The exact prayers will depend on the judgment of the priest who does the commuting.”
Do not forget this. Just having the scapular on, is not the same as wearing the scapular with the purpose and desire of belonging to Our Lady’s sodality and being a participant in her Sabbatine privilege. Hence, the brown scapular can be worn devoutly without enrollment, and one would have Our Lady’s promise of that special help. Of course, when it is possible, one should be enrolled not only in the brown scapular but also in the five- fold scapular.
How to Make a Brown Scapular
There may be persons who read this treatise who do not know where to purchase a brown scapular. In order to make a brown scapular cut two pieces of brown woolen cloth any size you like, generally about an inch and a half by an inch and a quarter. No picture on a cover is needed. Then attach those two pieces of cloth to string, narrow tape, chain, fish line or the like. The scapular is a garment, so it must be worn over the shoulders, that is, one piece of cloth is in the back of the body and the other piece on the chest.If there is no priest to enroll one in the brown scapular that is all right also. One can just make his scapular and wear it. That fulfills the requirements of Our Lady who gave it to all through Simon Stock.
The Scapular Preferred to the Medal
If it is very difficult to wear the scapular as for example a soldier on the front lines he could get a priest (if one is available) to bless the medal for him. Remember, the scapular itself works without any blessing. However, each medal must be blessed in order for it to carry Our Lady’s promise of special help.The Church does not want persons who can wear the scapular to exchange it for the medal. Our Lady gave the scapular as such and not the medal. Wear the scapular day and night. When one wears out or is lost be sure to make or buy another one. Once again, enrollment is wonderful, but it is not required when it is difficult to obtain. Mary looks down from heaven, and she sees her children dressed in the garment that makes them members of her family. As a consequence, her children always get her special protection. The brown scapular really tells Jesus and His Blessed Mother that we want to go to heaven when we must depart from this world.
Oh Mary conceived without sin; pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Jesus, Mary I love Thee. Save souls.
Pius, pp XIII
January 28, 1999
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