Under her Powerful cloak - The devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and her Brown Scapular in the Philippines

Sts. Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross
wearing the Carmelite Scapular as part of the habit

Whenever we see an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we always see that she is holding the famed Brown Scapular - arguably the most indulgence and highly recommended sacramental Our Church would recommend - even by heaven itself through messages from different approved apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But one cannot help but wonder, how does the Brown Scapular came to be and why it enjoyed much importance and popularity. Most importantly, in our local setting, how it arrived in our shores and how this simple sacramental and its devotion attached to it played a role in our history?

The Brown Scapular

Before we present what a scapular is, we must know what a scapular really is and its original purpose. A scapular is a garment worn by religious over the shoulders (scapula), and hanging down in front and back, usually to about the bottom of the habit. It developed as a practical garment, protecting the habit during work, and was in time invested with spiritual significance, consecration or dedication to God. Prior to the the Carmelites were known for the Scapular, it was the Benedictine Order who were the first to adapt the scapular as part of their habit.

The ceremonial Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
from the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian in Quiapo, Manila
bearing one of the original block prints that dates back the
Spanish are that are still produced by the Augustinian
Recollect Sisters.

In the Middle Ages, a habit was a very essential part of the identity of members of religious orders. To remove one's habit was tantamount to leaving the Order. The Carmelite Constitution of 1369 stipulates automatic excommunication for Carmelites who say Mass without a scapular, while the Constitutions of 1324 and 1294 consider it a serious fault to sleep without the scapular.

At present, the scapular must consist of two pieces of brown cloth with one segment hanging on the wearer's chest, and the other hanging on his/her back. These pieces are joined by two straps or strings which overlap each shoulder—hence the word "scapular" (shoulder blade). Religious pictures or symbols, though unnecessary, may be sewn on; this custom began in the eighteenth century. The catechesis of the Brown Scapular acknowledged that it should be made from 100% wool or some cloth with traces of wool; it further stated the habits of the Carmelite religious are also now typically made of other, less expensive yet more practical materials. It is normally worn under the clothes but not pinned to undergarments.

Unlike typical sacramentals, scapulars are not merely blessed, but need to be invested by a priest to enroll the faithful. Any Catholic priest, though it is prudently preferred a Carmelite friar, may invest a baptized Catholic with the Brown Scapular. Lay people are unable to bless a Scapular and its rite of blessing, imposition and enrollment is included in the Book of Blessings approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel ro
St. Simon Stock in England

The apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Contrary to popular belief, the apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel did not happened in Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, rather it actually happened in Ayelsford (now part of Cambrisge) in England. on july 16, 1251, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite. She handed him a brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites and who perpetually wear it.

From part of a religious habit to a sacramental of the faithful

According to Hugh Clarke, O.Carm, "The origins of the Scapular devotion are to be found in the desires of lay people during the Middle ages to be closely associated with the Carmelite Order and its spirituality." It was customary for laypeople who belonged to confraternities, sodalities, or third orders affiliated with the religious orders to wear some sign of membership, frequently some part derived from the religious habit such as a cord, cloak or scapular. During part of their history, the lay affiliates of the Carmelites wore the white mantle which the friars wore, or even the full habit. The small brown scapular and Mary's promise of salvation for the wearer, began to be promoted to the laity in the form we are familiar with today by Giovanni Battista Rossi, prior general of the Carmelites from 1564-1578.

The Carmelite scapular is said to have been very widespread in European countries at the end of the 16th century. In 1600, the Carmelite Egidio Leoindelicato da Sciacca published a book called "Giardino Carmelitano" which includes the formulas of blessing for the Fratelli and Sorelle della Compagnia della Madonna del Carmine (laypeople who received the complete habit of the order) and the formula for the blessing of the scapular for the Devoti della Compagnia Carmelitana. This is the earliest apparent form of blessing for the small scapular. It is also noteworthy that the formula for the sisters contains no reference to the scapular, while in that for the brothers there is a special blessing for the scapular.

The meeting of Sts. Dominic, Francis
and Angelus

Throughout the centuries, the Brown Scapular was proven to be one of the most popular and important Marian Sacramental next to the Holy Rosary of the Order of Preachers. (More popularly known as the Dominicans). It is said that in 1208, St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order prophesied the role of the Brown Scapular in the future when he, St. Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Order of the Friars Minor (More popularly known as the "Franciscans") and St. Angelus of Sicily, the Proto-martyr of the Carmeltie Order. In their meeting, St. Dominic told St. Angelus: "One day, Brother Angelus, to your Order of Carmel the Most Blessed Virgin Mary will give a devotion to be known as the Brown Scapular, and to my Order of Preachers she will give a devotion to be known as the Rosary. One day, through the Rosaey and the Scapular, she will save the world."

There were reports of some saints, whose bodies are incorrupt have their brown scapular share the same incorruptibility like those of St. John Bosco of the Salesians.

The image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel based from the October 13, 1917
vision of Servant of God Sister Lucia of Fatima that was carved by
Jose Thedim that is venerated in the United States of America

In the twentieth century, the Brown Scapular was once again became prominent due to the famed apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. On the last day of the series of six apparitions to the three shepherd children on October 13, 1917 where prior to the "Miracle of the Sun", they saw a series of tableaux images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Joseph. On one of the tableaux images, Our Lady presented herself as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and holding the Brown Scapular. Lucia later commented that "Our Lady never looked so beautiful as when She appeared in Her Carmelite Habit."Years later, Servant of God Sister Lucia of Fatima, who later became a Discalced Carmelite Nun, commented in one of her interviews for a Catholic magazine that "The Rosary and the Scapular are inseparable." she added that "Our Lady wants everyone to wear it (The Brown Scapular); it is the sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart."

The Confraternity of the Brown Scapular

St. Simon Stock, soon after he was promoted to the dignity of general, instituted the confraternity of the Brown Scapular, to unite the devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary in certain exercise of religion and piety. The Confraternity has been approved and favored with many privileges by several popes. St. Simon Stock cured several sick persons by giving them the Scapular and it's reputation for miracles moved King Edward I of England, St. Louie, King of France, and other Kings and nobles to be enrolled to the Confraternity and be imposed with the Scapular.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Seabstian
de Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan

The rules of the Confraternity without any obligation or precept, that the members wear the Scapular, at least secretly, as the symbol of the order, and that they recite the every day the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or in some cases, the Holy Rosary, for the illiterate, pray seven times the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Glory Be, in lieu of the seven Canonical hours, and lastly that they abstain from meat on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The Sabbatine Privilege

The Sabbatine Privielge was given by the Blessed Virgin is said to have asked that Pope John XII to ratify the indulgences which Jesus Christ had already granted in heaven for the members of the Carmelite Order and for the members of the confraternity. She herself would graciously descend on the Saturday (the Sabbath, hence 'Sabbatine') after their death to liberate and conduct to heaven all who were in Purgatory. The papal bull about this lists the conditions which the confratres and consorores must fulfill. These conditions include: to observe chastity according to their state of life, recite daily the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or accomplish faithfully some other similar sacrifice.

Given this pledge and its faithful execution, the person so committed will be helped "by Mary's unceasing intercession, devout pleadings, merits, and special protection--especially on Saturday, 'the day dedicated to the Holy Virgin' as recorded in the bull, Sacratissimo ubi culmine, March 3, 1322.

Venerable Pius XII mentioned this privilege in 1950 and thus lent it credence and authority. In his words: "This most kind mother will not be tardy in using her intercession with God to open the gates of heaven as soon as possible for those of her children who are expiating their faults in purgatory, a truth that is based on the promise known as the Sabbatine privilege." (Letter Commemorating the seven-hundredth anniversary of the Mount Carmel Scapular, February 11, 1950, AAS XLII, 390) Already in 1910, Pius X had reconfirmed the indulgences attached to the Sabbatine Privilege.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Sison, Pangasinan

Some key points regarding the Brown Scapular

With regard to the scapular as a conventional and sacred sign, the Church has intervened at various times in history to clarify its meaning, defend it, and confirm the privileges. From these Church documents there emerges with sufficient clarity the nature and meaning of the Carmelite scapular.

The scapular is a Marian habit or garment. It is both a sign and pledge. A sign of belonging to Mary; a pledge of her motherly protection, not only in this life but after death.
As a sign, it is a conventional sign signifying three elements strictly joined:

First, belonging to a religious family particularly devoted to Mary, especially dear to Mary, as Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Second, consecration to Mary, devotion to and trust in her Immaculate Heart;
Third an incitement to become like Mary by imitating her virtues, above all her humility, chastity, and spirit of prayer

Here are the conditions requisite for gaining the Our Lady’s promise of the Brown Scapular.

To observe exactly what has been prescribed regarding material, color, and shape of the Scapular, that is it must be 100% brown wool in a rectangular shape. At present, it can be a cloth that has a portion of wool can be used. If one has a serious allergy to wool or has irritation of the skin, one can wear the wool scapular over one's clothing, or encase the wool scapular in plastic.
To be enrolled in the Scapular by a priest of the Carmelite Order or any Catholic priests only.
To wear it continually. The Scapular is a silent prayer that shows one’s complete consecration and dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Scapular must be worn over the shoulder so that one part hangs over your chest and the other side hangs over the back. Both parts cannot be carried in the front or the back, otherwise, the wearer runs the risk of not receiving the promises.
If the Scapular has worn out or broken, you only need to get another one and put it on. The blessing and investiture is still valid for the new Scapular, since the blessing is predominately given to the person who is invested in the Scapular. The broken scapular must be burned or buried to the ground.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian,
Plaza del Carmen, Manila

The devotion in the Philippines

The devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and her Brown Scapular in began in the Philippines in 1618 when Padre Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel of the Augustinian Recollect Order brought with him the image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen which he received as a gift from the Discalced Carmelite nuns in the monastery of San Jose, Mexico.

On May, 5, 1621, The Augustinian Recollect Community was inaugurated in San Sebastian de Calumpang, Quiapo, Manila and the image of the Virgen del Carmen was permanently enshrined in San Sebastian Church. The San Sebastian Church was elevated as a Minor Basilica attached to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by Pope Leo XII on June 30, 1890 then days later it was attached to the St. John Lateran Basilica on July 4, 1890. The image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen of San Sebastian was canonically crowned on August 18, 1991.The Recollect Friars would also bring the devotion to its mission in Cebu years later.

Years later, on February 9, 1665, the first known replica of the Virgen del Carmen of San Sebastian was brought to Barrio Pulong Buhangin in Santa Maria, Bulacan for the veneration of the faithful of the barrio as per the request of the Virgin to one the locals of the area. This image will receive Episcopal Coronation on September 8, 2019. In 1859, the Augustinian Friars established a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that would later be known as the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan. In 1896, the Dominicans also introduced the image and devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sison, Pangasinan and it gained a cult following in that area that in 1996, the parish was declared as a Dicoesan Shrine.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel of New Manila,
Quezon City

Even with the absence of the Carmelite Order in the Philippines during the Spanish period, the Recollect Fathers and the lay people propagated the devotion to the Virgin of Carmel and her Brown Scapular in the islands and numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession.

The Mount Carmel Parish in New Manila, Quezon City was established by the pioneering Discalced Carmelites missions to the Philippines, which started in 1923, with the arrival of four French nuns from Hue, Vietnam, to the shores of Jaro, Iloilo. In 1954, the cornerstone was laid for the new church and the consturctio began immediately.

On December 14, 2015 the church was elevated as a National Shrine by the CBCP and on March 25 2019 the shrine was declared a Minor Basilica.

The Cofradia

The Cofradia del Carmen was founded years later by Msgr. Juan Velez, Dean of the Manila Cathedral as an act of thanksgiving to the Virgen del Carmen of San Sebastian Church where the image was brought to his residence to ask for his cure from a grave illness and the Virgin and he was immediately cured. Almost all residents of Manila, innumerable natives and other nationalities of the surrounding Pueblo's and provinces adjacent to Manila and the most distant ones of the islands became members of the Cofradia.

Brown Scapulars from the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian

As the Cofradia del Carmen in San Sebastian Church had yet to received canonical sanction from Rome, it did obtain canonical recognition from the diocesan authorities through the effort of Msgr. Velez himself as the dean of the Manila Cathedral. Consequently, the brown scapular associated with Carmelite devotion could not be blest nor imposed on the cofrades. But the people of San Sebastian de Calumpang, Manila and provinces such as Batangas, Laguna and Pampanga, did not deem it an insurmountable hindrance for their personal devotion to the Virgen del Carmen. Neither did it dampen their enthusiasm for active membership in the Cofradia.

The long-awaited consent for the scapular devotion finally reached Manila. It was issued on November 26, 1650 by Fr. Diego del Castillo, O.Carm., vicar provincial of Andalusia province of the Order of Carmelites. Thereafter, the scapulars were blest and imposed on the cofrades. It was now recognized as a regular archicofradia but since no canonical sanction came with Father Diego del Castillo’s permission, they did not enjoy the privileges and indulgences granted by the Roman Pontiff’s in the past. The first canonical authorization reached Manila in 1682. The document was decreed by the Superior general of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites on June 10, 1682. The Recollect Father Juan dela Madre de Dios obtained from Father Pablo de San Ignacio, OCarm, prior general of the Carmelites the second authorization in a decree released on August 19, 1691.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen of the Recoltos Church in Cebu

After receiving the twin canonical approbation from the Order of Carmelites of Ancient Observance (OCarm) and the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCD), the Cathedral Chapter of Manila declared that there are no other Archconfraternities will be founded in the country, except that of San Sebastian thus making it the lone center of the Scapular Confraternity in the Philippines until 2018 when the centers in Bulakcan and Batanes were establoshed. The Discalced Carmelites of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Manila, Quezon City on the other hand founded established their own Confraternity in 2018.

With the arrival of the Carmelite Order in the late 1940's the Order established first monasteries in Jaro, Quezon City and Lipa for the nuns and the New Manila Carmelite Church was inaugurated in 1954 and was eatablished in 1973 with the enthronement of the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of New Manila Church carved by Maximo Vicente. The New Manila Church was later declared a National Shrine in 2016 along with the grant of the Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Basilica of Sancta Maria Maggiore and the Episcopal Coronation of the Shrine image. On March 25, 2019, the shrine was declared as Minor Basilica.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian in procession

The role of the Virgen del Carmen in Philippine History

If we looked in our Philippines history , one would realized that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, clandestinely played a role in this important event in our nation's history.

On the Traditional Fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen de San Sebastián in Manila of January 20, 1872, the fireworks that was meant to be for the opening of her fiesta was mistaken by the workers of Fort San Felipe in Cavite Puerto as a general uprising which triggered the now significant Cavite Mutiny whose blame fell to the three Filipino priest known as the Gomburza. The three innocent priests were executed on Feb. 17, 1872 which sparked the long awaited national consciousness of the Filipinos as a nation.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Barasoain,
Malolos, Bulacan

Years later, in 1899, the First Philippine Republic was established in Malolos, Bulacan with the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution that same year at Barasoain Church, which was in fact dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen de Barasoain. The Virgin became a silent witness to this momentous event in our history - the first Republic in Asia. Barasoain Church was proclaimed as a National Shrine by President Ferdinand Marcos on August 1, 1973.

The devotion at present

The devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and her Brown Scapular became one of the most popular and important along with the rosary, the MiraculouS Medal and the Perpetual Help Novena. Filipino Marian devotees would not leave or will not be complete if the tiny patch of the Brown Scapular is not being worn. Extensive efforts are done by the Carmelite Order of both branches and its confraternities to further catechise and promote the brown scapular in light of its proper teachings in the mind of the Church. Shrines and parishes dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel became one of the most frequented by pilgrims, especially the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian in Manila, Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sison, Pangasinan, Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Quezon City, among others.

Our Blessed Mother, always attentive and keen to the needs of her children here on earth that she gave out a simple yet powerful sacramental, next to the rosary, as a sign of our consecration to her. Interestingly, looking in our own Marian history, she made sure that us Filipinos would also have the same privilege and protection of her powerful Scapular that antedates the arrival of the Carmelites in the country. Just like the Virgin of the Rosary, she, as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also played a silent yet critical role in our history as the nation struggled for its independence from Spain.

The Brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is not a lucky charm; Rather it becomes a sign of our salvation if we draw close to the Mother of God, open our hearts to the special heavenly graces that she offers and give ourselves to her protection from earthly sin and temptation. “From the moment we receive it, Mary has never ceased to follow us with her maternal gaze, to safeguard within us the life of grace. Each time we are converted and return to God or rise again after falling into sin — be it great or small — each time we increase in grace, all, everything, is effected through Mary’s mediation. The scapular, the little habit, that Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers us, is only the external symbol of her unceasing, maternal care: the symbol but also the sign, the pledge of salvation.… The Blessed Virgin gives the assurance of the supreme grace of final perseverance to all who wear worthily her little habit.”

Devoutly wearing the brown scapular, wearing it next to our heart, prompts us to follow the commandments of God, to live a life of heroic virtue in the manner of the saints, and it is a constant reminder of our commitment to the virtues of the Blessed Mother.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Reference:

Aviado, Lutgarda, "Madonnas of the Philippines", Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.
Barcelona, Mary Anne."Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines". Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
Lagmay, Dioniso, "History of Sison: Pueblo de Alava and the Men at the Helm". Agoo: Agoo Printing Press, 1999.
Rubia, Rommel, "Del Carmen de San Sebastian", Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila, 2013.
"The Brown Scapular", Retrieved from https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/faqs-the-brown-scapular/#conditions on October 5, 2019.
"The Brown Scapular Prophecy", Retrieved from http://www.freebrownscapular.com/brown_scapular_prophecy.html on October 5, 2019.
"The Sabbatine Privilege", Retrieved from https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/s/sabbatine-privilege.php on July 5, 2019.