§ IV. On the Indulgences of Scapulars

1791. - In order that one may participate in the spiritual graces of Scapulars, these four things in general are required:

I. It is necessary that the Scapulars be of the prescribed matter, color, and form.

II. They are to be blessed and imposed by one having faculty.

III. Reception into the confraternity is necessary.

IV. They are to be worn constantly, and indeed after the manner of a Scapular.

The individual requisites are explained.

I. a) Matter. - It is necessary that Scapulars be of wool, and indeed woven, not knitted, or embroidered by needle, although they can have knitted or embroidered ornaments, even not of wool, provided these are not of such a kind that the prescribed color no longer prevails.

b) Color, - namely white with a visible Cross, whose upright is of red wool and whose crossbeam (under it) is of blue wool for the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity; - black for the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows; - dark brown or black for the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel; - blue (azure) for the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception.

c) Form, - namely they ought to consist of two parts in such a way that one descends over the breast, the other over the shoulder; yet it does not hinder validity if the little cloths of various Scapulars, some placed over others, are sewn to only two cords, which cords however ought to be of red color (this at least is safer) if one joins the Scapular of the Passion of the Lazarists to the four aforesaid Scapulars. - S. C. Ind. also decreed, August 18, 1868,¹ that nothing was to be changed as regards the oblong or at least square form of the Scapular.

1792. - II. Blessing and imposition by one having faculty.

a) Blessing and imposition, - by the prescribed or indulted formula, pronouncing at least the words which are substantial. You have most blessings in Rit. Rom. Baltim. 1873. - When several together desire to receive the Scapular, it is lawful to use in the plural the formula: Accipite viri devote, etc.; yet, unless a special indult is had, the Scapular must be imposed on each one to be aggregated, and indeed by one having power, but not (outside the case of a special indult) by the one to be aggregated. - Nevertheless a priest having the faculty of blessing some Scapular can bless and impose it on himself, provided that he has that faculty indiscriminately, and not only taxatively, e.g., for some community of Nuns only.

Addendum and Corrigendum to a). - It was asked: "Whether one who obtained from the Superior of the respective Order the faculty of blessing and imposing 'the said four Scapulars' (which are blessed and imposed by the Fathers of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) can licitly and validly use the shorter formula approved by the Sacred Congregation of Rites" (for the aforesaid Fathers), "without having obtained for this a special faculty from the Holy See?" The response was given by the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, on 12 Sept. 1883: "Validly indeed, but not licitly." The Pastor, vol. II, p. 22 (123).

"Sometimes it happens, . . . that, when a priest legitimately deputed for this imposes the Scapular . . . on the faithful, Scapulars are lacking before satisfaction could be given to the desires of all the faithful." Hence it was asked: "Whether one and the same Scapular once blessed can validly be imposed on several in turn, only the formula of reception or imposition being repeated over each one?" - S. C. Ind., July 20, 1868,² responded: "Affirmatively; yet in such a way that the first Scapular which the enrolled person afterward must wear be blessed."

A Scapular can also be blessed and imposed on little children not yet having obtained the use of reason. S. C. Ind., August 29, 1864.³

If it happens that a Scapular is lost or worn out, each one can assume for himself a new one not blessed. Except, outside the case of a special indult, the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity, which must be blessed anew, even in the case in which the red and blue Cross is no longer found on it.

b) Blessing and imposition by one having faculty.

That faculty is obtained either from the Holy See, or from Superiors General (or Religious deputed by them) of the Orders which wear that larger Scapular to which the small one corresponds. - Our Bishops can and are accustomed to grant the faculty of blessing the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. See p. LXXIII. n. 9.

c) One having the faculty of blessing a certain Scapular, by that very fact has the faculty of granting to those aggregated in the article of death the general absolution, yet, under penalty of nullity, by the formula of Benedict XIV, c. Pia Mater, with the name of the proper holy Founder added to the Confiteor. S. R. C., May 7, 1882.

1793. - III. Reception into the confraternity in the case in which reception of the Scapular carries with it reception into the confraternity, as when the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity, or of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows, or of Mount Carmel is received.¹

But inscription of the names of those received, outside the case of a special indult, "is necessary for those receiving the Scapulars of the Most Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows; but not for those receiving the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. - Nevertheless the aforesaid priests are to be warned," i.e., those to whom belongs the faculty of receiving the faithful into the sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, "that they not omit to have the names of those received enrolled in the list of the nearest sodality itself, or respectively of the Monastery of Religious, lest in their death they be deprived of suffrages." Thus S. C. Ind., September 17, 1845.²

The material act of inscribing can be done by anyone. S. C. Ind., September 25, 1844.³

1794. - IV. Wearing of the habit, - a) so continuous that, by the very long time during which you put off the Scapular, or by the motive for which you put it off, you do not seem to renounce the sodality. Therefore he who has put off the Scapular from contempt or from impiety, or for a time so long that he had almost lost the memory of the sacred habit, will more safely take care that the Scapular be blessed and imposed on him anew. - b) After the manner of a Scapular, namely so that hanging from the neck, by one part it covers the breast, by the other the shoulders. - Yet it is not necessary that it be worn immediately upon the body, so that it physically touches it.

1795. - Quaer. What is required so that someone may enjoy the privilege called Sabbatine?

Resp. 1° This privilege, concerning which see Benedict XIV¹ and the Roman Breviary,² is annexed only to the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

2° Besides those four things concerning which we spoke in nn. 1791-1794, there is required:

a) That each one cultivate chastity according to the manner of his state.³

b) That he who knows how to read daily recite the little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, i.e., the nocturn of the day with Lauds, and the other hours of the same day, and this according to the Roman rite, unless someone has his own rite approved by the Holy See - excepting however those who are already held to recitation of the divine Office.

c) That those who do not know how to read observe the fasts of the Church, and abstinence on Wednesday and Saturday, except the day of the Nativity of the Lord.

But "a grave impediment supervening," e.g., grave illness, S. C. Ind.⁴ responded that confreres are not held to the things said under b) and c); "nevertheless the faithful are to be counseled that in this case they subject themselves to the judgment of a learned and prudent confessor for obtaining some commutation." - But if there is question of a non-grave impediment, commutation must be obtained from a confessor endowed expressly with faculty for this;⁵ but the commutation does not necessarily have to be made in Confession.⁶