www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West The Scapular

Dear Friends,

I have always loved the Carmelite Scapular!

Can this devotion be related to the Eastern wearing of the "Paraman" and can it also be related to the symbolism of the Mantle of Protection of the Mother of God?

What say you?

Alex

Dear Alex,

Let me respond to your question with another question: Why?

I have nothing against the West or western devotions, prayers, etc. But why this desire to 'easternise' western things when there is plenty of spiritual wealth in the East? (І чужого научайтесь - свого не цурайтесь!)

Though there may be some distant historical connection between the scapular and paraman, remember that the paraman is something given not to monks, but schema-monks. Personally, I feel is it something way out of our league.

As for relating to the Mantle of Protection of the Theotokos, I think it's a bit of a stretch. Then again, I have never really looked into scapulars so not sure what meaning/symbolism they already have.

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

What you have said is of great significance. I, too, have nothing against western devotions, except when they replace or supplant eastern ones. I saw a cartoon some years ago in which a character wearing various crosses, medalions, and religious symbols from many faiths, was walking stoop-shouldered from the weight of them across a beach. One of the bystanders said, "there goes a real ecumenist." Certainly, there can be a point of excess in all this. Maybe I see it as a case of "less is more," but I suspect the quality of devotions surpasses the quantity of devotions. If we do our eastern devotions well, and give them the priority they deserve, then I don't see the harm in adding things that don't take away from them. But you are right to imply that our eastern devotions be given priority. As for the scapular, parts of Carmelite spirituality can, in my opinion, fit nicely with eastern spirituality if an individual is inclined toward that spirituality.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

The Russian Greek-Catholics, especially at Our Lady of Fatima in San Francisco, see in the scapular a symbol of the Mantle of the Mother of God.

Certainly, this is how RC spirituality relates a number of monastic scapulars (Carmelites, Trinitarians etc.) and have their own "House Devotion" that depicts the Mother of God extending her mantle over the founders etc.

I don't think the Eastern monastics ever connected the paraman to the Mantle of Protection.

I have read some Orthodox authors who seem to be doing that and Met. Basil Lypkivsky certainly did this in one of his sermons.

I'm just wondering if there is a distinction between the "polystavrion" and the "paraman" - is there?

A number of monastic items given to a monk were added on later, including the prayer rope and the paraman - but I don't know what "paraman" is being referred to here since it isn't the polystavrion that only the Great Schema candidates receive.

Is there a benefit to laity wearing something like the paraman that relates to "sacred clothing" or the "mantle of protection" or that relates to following, as laity, the spirituality of a religious order?

Certainly, St Benedict thought so - and he and his Rule are recognized by the Orthodox East.

Alex

Dear Alex, Friends,

The following is taken from "A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services" by Archpriest D. Sokolof:
Alex, you also mentioned 'polystavrion'. Are you by chance referring to the analavon? I've only seen polystavrion (many crosses) used to refer to a pattern of vestment material (see just about any recent picture of Patriarch Lubomyr). The above books says:
This item is much larger than the paramand, extending roughly to the knees. It can often be seen on icons of sainted monastics.

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

Andrij is correct. The monastic paramand is symbolic of the tools of the Passion and not directly referential to the Theotokos at all.

The analavos (Analav in Slavonic) mentioned by Andrij is put over the monk at the taking of the Great Schema, which is much longer as Andrij describes, from the neck down to the ankles.

It, like the Paramand is to be made from the skin of a dead animal (i.e. leather) to signify not only his own impending death but death to the passions and the world.

I have not heard this from any Russian Catholics I know. I had a student this semester from San Fran who attended Liturgy there regularly and he appears to have missed this as well.

I agree with Andrij. Each tradition has its own unique representative sacramentals, and should be kept within the realm of the respective received tradition.

Dear Andriju and Diak,

Well, I"ve received scapulars from the Russian Greek-Catholics and, over the years, they've told me this devotion meshes well with the devotion of the East to the Mantle of Protection or Pokrova.

The "Third Order" scapulars from Rome's Carmelite confraternity are also made of animal hide (I have one of these).

So the conclusion one should draw is that the scapular is purely a Western thing and should not be worn by EC's?

Alex

The brown scapular is associated with the Carmelite order, to be sure. For them, it's much larger than the lay scapulars and is part of their habit. I think the Carmelites do have links to desert monasteries - which I recall reading but can't find the book at the moment. Certainly they were historically ascetic and supposedly had links to the desert fathers. Unfortunately, my own links are greater to the dessert fathers, but that's another matter. There is a short investiture ceremony in which a priest blesses you and inducts you into the Confraternity of Carmel. Most RC priests have been given the faculties to do this by the Carmelites. Members originally said the office, but lay people may say 3 Hail Marys. Keep in mind that there may have been changes in this in the many years since I looked into it. So let me put it this way, if you derive benefit from wearing the brown scapular - which is a sacramental - then go ahead and wear it. It can't hurt you in any way. Although not "eastern" in terms of church affiliation, I think the Carmelites may qualify as "eastern" in origin.

I am in contact right now, as I am discerning a possible Vocation, with Desert Carmelite Hermits. Here is their website:
click here [carmelitehermits.org]

God bless!

I am in contact right now, as I am discerning a possible Vocation, with Desert Carmelite Hermits. Here is their website:
click here [carmelitehermits.org]

God bless!

Why do scapulars have to be viewed as Western, perhaps the Theotokos wanted it for the entire Church?
Stephanos I
PS Not given over to Latinizations.

I think that comes from the fact that the original scapulars are part of the habit of the Carmelites, now a Western order. Does anyone in the Eastern Churches wear them?

I also love the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel! I've worn one for 35 years! It is a blessed sacramental of the RC church. Wearing the Scapular is like wearing a uniform in Our Lady's spiritual Army. It also calls for a daily consecration or Morning Offering prayer, dedicating your whole day, all your prayers and actions for the glory of God, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
St. Simon Stock, on July 16, 1251, received the Scapular from the Blessed Virgin Mary in an apparition, where she said: "Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."
Our Lady promises that those who wear her scapular will be taken under her mantle of protection and be saved! Of course one has to lead a holy life and there have been stories where those who wore the scapular in mockery and sin had died, the scapular was mysteriously gone. On the other hand, when St. Alphonsus de Ligouri's body was exhumed after many years, for his cause for Sainthood, his Brown Scapular was found uncorrupt.
St. Alphonsus once said: " Just as men take pride in having others wear 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 in three things: Veneration, Confidence, and Love. Without saying to Mary that we venerate her, love her, and trust in her protection, we tell her these things every moment of the day by simply wearing the Scapular.
There have been many miracle attributed to the Brown Scapular. There is a great book titled "The Brown Scapular" by John Haffert where these are recorded. It may be out of print, but there should be some on the Internet for sale. In my own life, I firmly believe that the Scapular has been an instrument for my conversion and spiritual growth and a calling to Holy Orders! Thank you dear Mother Mary for obtaining these graces from thy divine Son for me!

John

When I saw this topic, I tought of jumping in. Does the scapular has an eastern background? I believe so since the very first Carmelites where hermits on Mt. Carmel and it is already part of the hermit's habit. The word "scapular" indicates a form of clothing which monks wore when they were working. With the passage of time, people began to give symbolic meaning to it: the cross to be borne every day as disciples and followers of Christ.

In some religious Orders, such as the Carmelites, the Scapular turned into a sign of their way of life. The Scapular came to symbolize the special dedication of Carmelites to Mary, the Mother of God, and to express trust in her motherly protection as well as the desire to be like her in her commitment to Christ and to others. Thus it became a sign of Mary.

In the middle ages many Christians wanted to be associated with the Orders founded at that time: Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians and Carmelites. Groups of lay people began to emerge in associations, such as confraternities and sodalities.

All the religious Orders wanted to give these lay people a sign of affiliation and of participation in their spirit and apostolate. The sign was often a part of their habit: a cloak, a cord, a scapular.

Among the Carmelites, the stage came when a smaller version of the Scapular was accepted as the sign of belonging to the Order and an expression of its spirituality.

Here is the message of the Holy Father during the Carmelite Marian Year of 2001 (the 750th Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock).

http://www.ocarm.org/eng/gp2eng.htm

I don't know if the Pope John Paul II is a member of the Confraternity or a Secular Discalced Carmelite (OCDS). But according to the OCDS that I know, JPII is a Carmelite tertiary (OCDS).

Ruel

ps.
Alex,
Glad to hear that you have receive the package that I've sent.

Father Stephanos, perhaps you missed my meaning. By keeping the sacramentals within the "realm of the respective received tradition" I meant that the blessings, symbolism, ritual, history, etc. associated with something like the Brown Scapular should be kept intact and doesn't have to be hybridized.

That is another blessing of Catholic unity. We are in full communion, and can learn from these beautiful sacramentals of the other Churches.

Anyone can wear a Brown Scapular, Eastern or Western. But get to know a little about it from its church of origin rather than trying to invent some meaning to "easternize". It is a Brown Scapular, with its own unique history and tradition, and not a "mini-Paraman" for various reasons.

Likewise with the Chotki looking at it from the other direction. I have explained it to many Latins, some of whom wear it and use it daily. I didn't try to equate it or somehow make it a "furry Rosary" in the Latin sense, but explained to them what it was and how it was used.