Topic: What is a scapular?

Date originally posted: July 28, 2004

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:  Hi there! My question is in regards to the scapular since I did not see this topic anywhere in the FAQ libray. My understanding is that if a person dies while wearing this cloth scapular, this person will not suffer eternal fire (which to me signify hell). Does this mean that no matter what mortal sins I may have had will be absolved therefore letting me bypass hell?? If this is true, how can a piece of cloth be so powerful?? AND does the scapular have to be blessed by the church before wearing??? Thank you once again!

Answer:

Rather than duplicating material about scapulars that you can find at a really excellent online source, the http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13508b.htm, I will just suggest that you click on this link and read what's available there.

My only additional comment would be the following: Only God knows who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.

The Church has long used "aids" to help us on our way to salvation. The scapular is another of those helps. There are more than one kind of scapular. But each of them is a way that the Church has of trying to remind us of our absolute dependence on God. A scapular is, you might say, a visible, tangible reminder that in every moment we need to be open to and reliant upon God. While a scapular is not a Sacrament, it is a "sacramental" which, as it were, points us to God.

The theory, I suppose, is something like this: If we are willing to wear the scapular and be mindful of the grace which is signifies and the One (God) Who gives us that grace, then at the moment of our death, we will turn in prayer, supplication and confidence to God...Who Alone determines who enters the glory of heaven.

Blessings!