I have a brown scapular which my grandmother gave me. On it, it says: “Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire”. What does this mean? – Phil

Dear Phil,

It’s very touching to hear about this gift from your grandmother. Grandmothers always seem to be looking out for their grandchildren, ready to offer any help they can. To appreciate the place of the scapular in Christian devotion, it would be important to understand a little of its history. The scapular was a length of cloth worn over the shoulders and the habits of some religious. Eventually, a smaller version was given to third order lay members (those not in religious vows but associated with the order). These people often said extra prayers, did penance, and generally assisted the members of the religious order. It’s quite possible that the brown scapular had its origins with the Franciscans. So you can see that it was associated with a particular spirituality from its beginnings.

It was generally believed that if one wore the scapular faithfully and lived according to the principles of the order, one would be saved. Unfortunately, this belief slipped into a kind of superstition about wearing the scapular as a guarantee against going to hell. Unfortunately for some, living a good life somehow got separated from the devotion and that wearing the scapular was all that mattered.

It is suggested that the scapular be viewed more as a sign of one’s dedication to a particular religious discipline rather than as a magic talisman. You might want to read up on the particular scapular that you have. Are there any special prayers associated with the group? By committing to such a discipline, you’ll be true to the original intent of the scapular and you will grow in holiness, as well.

aka Fr. Ed C.Ss.R. and Fr. Mark C.Ss.R.