Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Aylesford, England (1251)
Mary's continuing influence on the development of Christianity in England becomes apparent again with her appearance to Simon Stock, who became a member of the religous order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In her appearance to Friar Stock, Mary entrusted him with the brown scapular (two pieces of brown woolen cloth, usually embroidered with an outline of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and tied together by string and worn over the shoulders)
"My beloved son receive this scapular for your Order.
It is the special sign of a privilege which I have obtained for you and for all God's children who honor me as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Those who die devotedly clothed with this scapular shall be preserved from eternal fire.
The brown scapular is a badge of salvation. The brown scapular is a shield in time of danger. The brown scapular ia a pledge of peace and special protection, until the end of time."
After this apparition, Friar Stock went on to establish Carmelite communities near university towns in England, France and Italy. He became the Superior-General of his order several years after the apparition. Until very recently, the brown scapular was one of the most widely used religious symbols of personal dedication to the mission of Maryfound in her last recorded words in the Bible (John 2:5)
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Sabbatine Privilege
The Brown scapular wearer is entitled to a unique privilege that other Catholics are not:
Those wearing the scapular become eligible for what is known as the sabbatine privilege. This is understood to mean that those wearing the scapular, reciting daily the Little Office of Our Lady (or the rosary), in the case of the Blue Army members), and observing chastity according to their state in life, will be released from Purgatory on the first Saturday after death (or whatever is the equivalent of the first Saturday in the next life). The privilege is believed to have been based on a bull said to have been issued by Pope John XXII on 3 March 1322 after receiving the favour in a vision of Our Lady .... From this it seems that the Church is willing to accept that such souls will be released from Purgatory soon after death, and especially on a Saturday. (Ibid., pp. 122,123)
Wearing the brown scapular is a sign of personal consecration to Mary:
We signify our consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by enrolment in and by wearing the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the 700-year-old sign of personal consecration to the Mother of God. (Ibid., p. 120)
In 1916, he [Pope Benedict XV] granted an indulgence of 500 days each time the scapular was devoutly kissed. (Ibid., p. 123)
Afterwards, the Catholic saint Alphonsus stated:
"Just as men take pride in having others wear their livery, so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her servants wear Her Scapular as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to Her service, and are members of the Family of the Mother of God."
Also we read: "Pope Benedict XV granted an indulgence of 500 days [from Purgatory] each time the Scapular is kissed." Furthermore, it is alleged that:
"This Devotion and Garment can be traced back to The Old Testament, to the great prophet Elias and the remaining faithful living in the caves of Mount Carmel, and is recommended to sincere people of all faiths."
A summarizing comment is then presented and followed by a prayer to Mary:
"Attach then, great importance to your brown Scapular, it is an assurance of your salvation, just as to reject Mary's grace is to invite perdition."
"'O Queen, who art the beauty of Carmel and the mediatrix of all graces, pray for us' (prayer from The Raccolta may be said on your Rosary Beads)."
