The Carmelite Family has promoted one of the most popular devotions within the Church: the wearing of the brown scapular. The scapular consists of two small pieces of brown cloth, joined together with cord, that is won over the shoulders (the word scapular derives from the Latin for “shoulder blade”). The scapular developed in the Renaissance as a miniature version of the religious habit. It became particularly popular amongst lay people who wanted to have a discreet but visible sign of identifying with the Carmelite way of life. 

The scapular, like all devotions to Mary, should lead us closer to her son Jesus. The scapular is still an important “sacramental” leading us to Christ and can be worn by any Christian. Part of the ministry of the friars at Aylesford is to “enrol” people in the brown scapular, thus incorporating them into the great Carmelite Family. The scapular is seen as a sign of Mary’s care and protection of the whole Carmelite Family. The scapular was first mentioned in the Carmelite Constitutions of 1281, but it did not become popular among lay people until centuries later when it became seen as Mary’s own special habit. In the late Middle Ages accounts emerged of Our Lady having appeared in a vision to Saint Simon Stock while at prayer, promising special protection to the Carmelites, and that the scapular of their religious habit would be a sign of that protection. In the Middle Ages people could show their allegiance to a lord or lady by the clothes they wore; the scapular showed to the world the Carmelites’ allegiance to Mary and her Son. 

Simon Stock was an early Prior General of the Order and was possibly elected at the General Chapter held in London in 1254. He was thus Prior General during the period when the Carmelites were changing from being hermits to friars. There are difference traditions about where the vision of Our Lady to Simon Stock supposedly took place, with Aylesford or Cambridge proposed as possible sites. Tradition says that St Simon Stock wrote a hymn to Our Lady called the Flos Carmeli (the Flower of Carmel). It is still sung by Carmelites around the world today. Simon may have come from Kent, either from Stoke near the Isle of Grain, or Stockbury near Sittingbourne. His family seems to have had links with France, and he died in Bordeaux in 1261, where he was buried in the Cathedral. In 1951 some of the relics of St Simon Stock were brought to England by the Archbishop of Bordeaux and are now at Aylesford in the appropriately named Relic Chapel.

There is very little hard evidence about the origin of the scapular vision story. Whatever the historical facts, the scapular vision story tells us important truths about the close relationship between Mary and the Carmelite Family. The Carmelites look upon Mary as their patron and protector; a mother who clothes her children, wrapping them in a mantle of love. The scapular reminds us that Mary is a sure guide to those who seek God. It is no magic charm bur rather a sign of our confidence in Mary’s care in life and in death. Those of us who wear the scapular must “put on” Mary’s attitudes and clothe ourselves with her virtues. The scapular was originally an apron worn by friars to protect their habits, so when we put it on it can be a reminder of how we are called to work for God’s kingdom and seek – like Mary – to be of humble service to God through our neighbour. After being enrolled in the scapular by a Carmelite there are no particular prayers attached to the scapular, though many say “Mary, use me in the service of your Son today” when putting it on. Rather than being associated with particular prayers, the scapular invites us to make all life a prayer and is a sign that we have “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Pope John Paul II and Oscar Romero (the martyred Archbishop of El Salvador) both wore the brown scapular. In Aylesford the scapular vision story is commemorated by a shrine altar on the Rosary Way, which contains earth brought from near the Spring of Elijah on Mount Carmel. 

(Extract taken from The Message of Carmel at Aylesford by Francis Kemsley O Carm)