Did you know there is a scapular that combines five of the best scapulars in the Church into one?
The Fivefold Scapular, also known as the Redemptorist Scapular, encompasses the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites, the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, the Black Scapular of the Servites, the Red Scapular of the Passion, and the White Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity.
Initially a fourfold scapular, it became fivefold in 1847 with the addition of the Red Scapular. The Redemptorist Fathers were first granted the special faculty to bless and invest these scapulars by the Holy See in 1803. Later, Pope Leo XIII extended this faculty to any priest, making the Fivefold Scapular widely accessible.
The Brown Scapular, given to St. Simon Stock by Our Lady of Mount Carmel, promises aid at the hour of death for those who wear it. The Blue Scapular, originating from Venerable Ursula Benincasa, offers special protection and graces from the Virgin Mary. The Black Scapular honors the Seven Sorrows of Mary, revealed to Pope Alexander IV. The Red Scapular, revealed to Sister Apolline Andriveau, promises faith, hope, and charity every Friday. The White Scapular, linked to the vision of St. John de Matha, symbolizes the charism of the Trinitarian Order.
Wearers of the Fivefold Scapular must be enrolled using the approved formula. This ritual, performed by any priest, allows the faithful to partake in the spiritual benefits of these five venerable devotions, uniting them in a single, powerful sacramental!
According to the 1853 Roman Ritual:
when the priest is to bless and invest five scapulars simultaneously, the following form is used:
“Receive this holy scapular; by the merits of the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Mount Carmel, Saint Benedict, Saint Dominic, Saint Francis, and all the saints, may it be blessed and sanctified. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
After the prayer, the priest sprinkles the scapulars with holy water and places them on the individuals, saying:
“May the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Saint Benedict, Saint Dominic, Saint Francis, and all the saints, bless and protect you from all harm, and lead you to everlasting life. Amen.”
Photo credit: Anupam via Wikimedia Commons
