As many of you know, a scapular is the name given to a specific part of the habit that members of religious orders wear. It is a long piece of cloth that is worn over the head and hangs down to the ankles in the front and in the back. Well, the Brown Scapular was given by Our Lady herself to St. Simon Stock for the Carmelite Order in the middle of the 13th century. In fact, the very day he received it, St. Simon was called to the bedside of the Lord of Linton’s brother, who was dying in despair. Placing the Brown Scapular on the man, he prayed to Our Lady and asked her to keep her promise. The man died, but after having truly repented and being restored to the friendship of God. He appeared to his brother that night and told him that: “I have been saved. It was through the most powerful Queen of Heaven and earth and the habit of that man was my shield.”

You can read more about the Brown Scapular in the Cathedral, in Mary’s stained glass window. Though the Brown Scapular has always had incredible spiritual and physical protection, some people do not believe in Our Lady’s power through the Brown Scapular. Some even persecute those who wish to honor Our Lady through her Scapular. Even in St. Alphonsus De Ligouri’s day (1696-1787) there were people of this sort. What he says of them is applicable to their type in our day, “Modern heretics make a mockery of wearing the Brown Scapular. They decry it as so much trifling nonsense.” Let us see how Our Lady feels about this “insignificant” devotion. What follows is only one of countless similar stories - all equally miraculous and true.

A French priest was on his way to say Holy Mass. He was at that time on a pilgrimage in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. As the priest walked he realized that he had left his Brown Scapular in his room. At this point though, if he went back for it, he would be late for Mass. However, the priest did not think it would be proper to say Mass at Our Lady’s side altar without wearing her scapular. Briefly reflecting over all of this and understanding his time constraint, the priest hurried back to his room.

As he was saying Mass, a young man drew near the altar and suddenly shot directly at the priest’s back. Yet the priest continued to say Mass, as if nothing had happened at all. All present were amazed and assumed that the bullet had miraculously missed him.

After Mass, in the sacristy, the abbot helping the priest noticed that there was something strange about his vestments. When the vestments had been removed, the abbot saw something which caused him to suddenly cry out, “I thought the man missed you!”. The man had not missed the priest, but had hit him square in the back. There was the bullet, embedded in the priest’s little Brown Scapular. Had the priest not returned for Our Lady's scapular, it would not have been there for her to use, shielding her devout son from harm.