A Scapular Story

 I started wearing a scapular on the first day of the year 2020. I had always heard about it but never felt inclined to wear one. My brother's girlfriend, now sister-in-law, gifted me one for Christmas 2019 and that's when I decided to wear one for the new year. I preferred the longer ones than the shorter ones since you wear it underneath your clothes and it's easier to hide it. 

I didn't know about a blessing or being enrolled, and so I kept wearing it. By that point, it was the start of the pandemic. I heard about an enrollment blessing happening at a local parish that a priest was giving. I came right at the end and missed most of it but thought it could still be counted as valid. 

It became a regular habit to continue to wear the scapular and I hardly noticed it. I was wearing a longer one that my brother had, and it was a nice reminder of the Carmelite order and some of my favorite saints, St. Therese of Lisieux and her sisters. I also heard about a spiritual article/devotion like this to be a form of protection. 

The scapular that I was wearing was becoming more worn out and wasn't brand new when I started wearing it. It actually ripped and my mom sewed it back together. When I was in D.C. this summer visiting family, it ripped again, and I wanted to officially become enrolled on the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, but it wasn't able to happen.

While we were shopping at the Basilica Giftshop, I found many wonderful gifts for family and some for myself. One of them was a new scapular and I picked out one I liked, with one side depicting Mt. Carmel symbol.

 Once I returned back home, I went to confession and then was enrolled by the priest, and it was a long scapular. I hadn't realized since it was still in its package. It was a really healing confession and I could notice the effects of being enrolled finally and wearing this new scapular and all the graces and peacefulness from it, it was beautiful. I remember Our Lady's promised and protection from wearing the scapular, as well as a devotion with the Carmelite Order.