On July 16th, 1251, while St. Simon Stock was in ecstasy, the Mother of God appeared to him, surrounded by angels. She held in her hand the full Scapular of the Carmelite habit and, with utmost compassion said to him:

“Receive this, beloved son, this Scapular of thy Order; it will be the mark of the privilege I have obtained for you and for all the Carmelites; whoever dies clothed with this Holy S capular shall not suffer eternal fire”.

From this, we can see that the scapular devotion was established in the year 1251, when Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, Prior General of the Carmelite Order and gave him the Scapular with the promise that “Whoever dies wearing this Scapular; shall not suffer eternal fire”. This was the first part of Her promise – preservation from hell. The necessary conditions for obtaining this benefit are:


1. To be properly invested in the Scapular.

2. To wear it devoutly day and night (all hours of the day) over the shoulders.

The Scapular is not a lucky charm, and authorities have noted that a habitual sinner will not persevere in wearing the Scapular. By a special privilege known as the Sabbatine Privilege, Our Lady has promised all devout Scapular wearers release from Purgatory on the first Saturday after their death, if in addition to devoutly wearing the Scapular, they:

1. Observe chastity according to their state in life, and

2. Say the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary each day.


One of the greatest privileges gained by joining the World Apostolate of Fatima is that once you have enrolled as a member of the society and signed the Apostolate’s pledge, you are automatically authorized to substitute the Rosary for the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which those who hope to gain the Sabbatine privilege are expected to say. Thus, if a member of the Apostolate lives a holy life, wears the Brown Scapular devoutly, observes chastity and say s the Rosary everyday, he is assured of Our Lady’s protection in life and eternal salvation after death, through the intercession of Our Lady.

The Sabbatine privilege is known as “the second part” of Our Lady’s promise. Concerning those so privileged, Our Lady said to Pope John XXII, “As a tender Mother, I will descend into purgatory on the Saturday after their death, and will deliver them into the happy sojo urn of life everlasting”.


Catholic theologians and authorities like Vermeersh, St. Robert Bellannine, Beringer, Benedict XIV, etc., explain the promise of the scapular to mean that anyone dying in Mary’s family will receive from Her, at the hour of death, either the grace of perseverance in the state of Grace or grace of final contrition as no one in a state of sin can go to heaven.


Your Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a gift to you from your Heavenly Mother. It is an assurance of Salvation. Love the scapular, wear it always; venerate it openly. St. Alphonsus says: “Just as men take pride in having others wearing 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”.


“True devotion to Mary consists of three things: Veneration, Confidence and Love. We tell her these things every moment of the day by simply wearing the Scapular”. It is the sign of your consecration to Her.

Pope Benedict XV granted an indulgence of 500 days each time the scapular is kissed. At Fatima in October 13 th, 1917, Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared, with Her Divine Son, to the children of Fatima holding the Scapular. She said nothi ng but Lucia later stated that she wants every person to wear the Scapular as a perfect Sign of Consecration to Her Immaculate heart. The new rule of the church on indulgence grants a partial indulgence on kissing the Scapular and no longer a 500 days indulgence.


Scapular wearers are expected to say the Morning Offering after rising from sleep (World Apostolate of Fatima members are also expected to renew their Pledge to Our Lady of Fatima immediately after saying their morning offering). Refer to other parts of this manual for both the Morning Offering and pledge.