The devotion to Carmel's scapular and the promises of Our Lady

Devotion to the Scapular is devotion to Our Lady according to the spirit and ascetic tradition of Carmel. An ancient devotion, which retains all its validity, if understood and lived in its authentic values.

For over seven centuries, the faithful have been carrying the Scapular of Carmine (also called little dress) to ensure the protection of Mary in all the necessities of life and, in particular, to obtain, through her intercession, eternal salvation and a prompt release from Purgatory. . The promise of these two graces also called "Scapular Privileges" would have been made by the Madonna to S. Simone Stock and to Pope Giovanni XXII.

PROMISE of the MADONNA in SAN SIMONE STOCK:

The Queen of Heaven, appearing all radiant with light, on 16 July 1251, to the old general of the Carmelite Order, San Simone Stock (who had asked her to give a privilege to the Carmelites), offering him a scapular - commonly called «Abitino "- thus spoke to him:" Take very beloved son, take this scapular of your Order, a distinctive sign of my Brotherhood, privilege to you and to all the Carmelites. Whoever dies dressed in this habit will not suffer the eternal fire; this is a sign of health, of salvation in danger, of a covenant of peace and an everlasting pact ».

Having said this, the Virgin disappeared in a perfume of Heaven, leaving the pledge of her First "Great Promise" in the hands of Simon.

We must not believe in the least, however, that the Madonna, with her Great Promise, wants to generate in man the intention of securing Heaven, continuing more quietly to sin, or perhaps the hope of being saved even without merit, but rather than by virtue of Her Promise, She works effectively for the conversion of the sinner, who brings the Habitant to the point of death with faith and devotion.

Terms

** The first scapular must be blessed and imposed by a priest with a sacred formula of consecration to the Madonna (it is excellent to go to request its imposition at a Carmelite convent)

The Abbitino must be kept, day and night, on the neck and precisely, so that one part falls on the chest and the other on the shoulders. Whoever carries it in his pocket, purse or pinned on his chest does not participate in the Great Promise

It is necessary to die dressed in the sacred dress. Those who have worn it for life and on the point of dying take it off do not participate in the Great Promise of Our Lady

When it should be replaced, a new blessing is not necessary. The fabric scapular can also be replaced by the Medal (Madonna on one side, S. Heart on the other)