Our Lady of Mt. Carmel holds in her right hand the Scapular, the sign of her maternal protection. In 1251, in the town of Aylesford in England, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite. She handed him a brown woolen scapular and said, “This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.” In time, the Church extended this magnificent privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Scapular of the Carmelites and who perpetually wear it.

The Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel has promised to save those who wear the Scapular from the fires of hell; she will also shorten their stay in purgatory if they should pass from this world still owing some debt of punishment.

 True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary consists of three things: veneration, confidence, and love. By simply wearing the Scapular, we can tell her every moment of the day that we venerate and love her, and trust in her protection. In order to receive the promise, the Scapular must always be worn. We must understand that by wearing the Scapular we show our consecration and devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Our Blessed Mother cannot be pleased by anyone who, out of vanity or fear, takes it off whenever it is not convenient to wear it. By wearing it, we make an open profession of our faith and confidence in her, and love for her.