Here is some brief history about the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel:
On Sunday July 16th, 1251, as Simon Stock knelt in prayer, Our Lady appeared to him, holding the Child Jesus in one arm and the Brown Scapular in the other. She uttered the following words: “Hoc erit tibi et cunctis Carmelitis privilegium, in hoc habitu moriens salvabitur” (This shall be the privilege for you and for all the Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall be saved).
The Brown Scapular comes from the word scapula meaning “shoulder”. It is worn over the shoulders to signify the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary to those who are devoted to her. It is brown to represent the Carmelite order. This outward sacramental outwardly represents that which happens inwardly; when we wear the scapular, we are physically showing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to show that we have faith in Mary’s promises to bring us to her son.
