The Scapular of the Seven Sorrows of Mary (also called Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary) is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular that dates back to the thirteenth century. It is worn by members of the Confraternity of the Seven Dolours of Mary, associated with the Servite Order.
In 1255 Pope Alexander IV sanctioned the Servite Order and that order gained a significant number of followers devoted to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. They became the Confraternity of the Seven Dolours of Mary, affiliated with the Servites. Members of this Confraternity later wore a scapular habit which had to be of black cloth, like the habit of the order. [1]
In 1611, the Servite order's confraternity and the Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary received indulgences from Pope Paul V. [2]
Nothing is prescribed concerning this scapular, but usually the front has an image of Our Lady of Sorrows. This scapular must be worn constantly, if one wishes to gain the indulgences of the confraternity approved by the Congregation for Indulgences in 1888. Priests may obtain from the General of the Servites the faculty to receive the faithful into the confraternity and to bless and invest with the scapular. [3]
This scapular is the symbol of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows, a body of the Catholic faithful associated with the Servite Order. The purpose of this association is to foster devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ and the Sorrows of Mary his mother. [4] In the case of most devotional scapulars there are some prescriptions regarding ornamentation or design. In the case of the Black Scapular, there are no such prescriptions, aside that it be of black woollen cloth. [5]
The confraternity began to develop around in the 13th Century, soon after the founding of the Servite order in 1223. Groups of laypeople wishing to share in the life and spirit of the monks moved into areas surrounding the Servite monasteries. In 1374, the prior general of the order declared the members of these groups to be members of "their association" and permitted them to take part in the spiritual merit of the order. Little changed in the association until the ascension of Pope Paul V who, in 1607, promulgated new regulations regarding the ordering of confraternities which were extant at the time. It was at this point that the familiar small cloth devotional scapulars began to become the symbol of confraternities associated with Religious orders. The Confraternity, as it stands today, was officially designated by Pope Innocent X in 1645. [6]
Any baptised person of any age or gender, who is willing to undertake the obligations stipulated by the order may be enrolled. These obligations are to wear the Black Scapular, to pray 15 minutes daily for the whole of the Servite order and the church (the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows is recommended) including at least one "Hail Mary", one "Hail Holy Queen", and if possible perform some work of mercy towards those suffering either bodily, spiritually, or mentally. The benefits of membership are in participation in the life of the Servite order as well as a share in all of their works and prayers and an opportunity to deepen one's understanding of the life of Christ and His mother. [7] There are other more, ethereal benefits, based on private revelations from various mystics. [ citation needed ]
The scapular is a Western Christian garment suspended from the shoulders. There are two types of scapulars, the monastic and devotional scapular, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular". As an object of popular piety, it serves to remind the wearers of their commitment to live a Christian life.
Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows, and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which Mary, mother of Jesus, is referred to in relation to sorrows in life. As Mater Dolorosa, it is also a key subject for Marian art in the Catholic Church.
The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel belongs to the habit of both the Carmelite Order and the Discalced Carmelite Order, both of which have Our Lady of Mount Carmel as their patroness. In its small form, it is widely popular within the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church as a religious article and has probably served as the prototype of all the other devotional scapulars. The liturgical feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, is popularly associated with the devotion of the Scapular.
The Servite Order, officially known as the Order of Servants of Mary, is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders. It includes several branches of friars, contemplative nuns, a congregation of active religious sisters, and lay groups. The Order's objectives are the sanctification of its members, the preaching of the Gospel, and the propagation of devotion to the Mother of God, with special reference to her sorrows. The Servites friars lead a community life in the tradition of the mendicant orders.
A Catholic order liturgical rite is a variant of a Catholic liturgical rite distinct from the typical ones, such as the Roman Rite, but instead specific to a certain Catholic religious order.
Confraternities of the Cord are pious associations of Christians, the members of which wear a cord, girdle or cincture in honour of a saint, to keep in mind some special grace or favour which they hope to obtain through his/her intercession.
The Fivefold Scapular, also known as Redemptorist Scapular, is a sacramental made up of five best-known of the early scapulars in the Catholic Church: the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites, the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, the Black Scapular of the Servites, the Red Scapular of the Passion, and the White Scapular.
The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic Archconfraternity or spiritual association, under the care and guidance of the Dominican Order. The members of the confraternity strive to pray the entire Holy Rosary weekly.
The Black Scapular of the Passion is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular associated with the Passionists. The tradition of the Passionists holds that before St. Paul of the Cross founded the Congregation of the Passionists he had a Marian apparition during which he received the black habit of the order with the badge on chest. Thereafter, the Passionist Fathers gave the faithful who wished to associate themselves more closely with their order a black scapular in honor of the Passion of Christ.
The exact origins of both the rosary and scapular are subject to debate among scholars. Pious tradition maintains that both the rosary and the brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel were given by the Virgin Mary to Dominic and Simon Stock respectively during the 13th century. Historical records document their growth during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. By the early 20th century, they had gained such a strong following among Catholics worldwide that Josef Hilgers, writing in the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914, stated: "Like the Rosary, the Brown scapular has become the badge of the devout Catholic."
The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception is a devotional scapular that traces its roots to Venerable Ursula Benincasa, who founded the Roman Catholic religious order of the Theatine Nuns. This scapular must have a blue woollen cloth and on one side bears a symbolization of the mystery of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady and on the other the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Scapular of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular bearing an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the front panel, and an image of the Virgin Mary as Mother of Mercy on the panel which hangs at the wearer's back. In its current form, the design and the formal church approval for its use are due to Estelle Faguette, a French domestic servant, who in 1876 claimed to have received a series of apparitions during which the Virgin Mary showed this scapular and spoke about its use.
The Scapular of Our Lady of Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular that traces its roots to the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy also known as Our Lady of Ransom which was founded by St. Peter Nolasco in the city of Barcelona, at that time in the Kingdom of Aragon, for the redemption of Christian captives.
The Scapular of Saint Michael is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular associated with Michael, the Archangel and originated prior to 1878. It was formerly controlled by the now defunct Archconfraternity of the Scapular of Saint Michael.
The Scapular of Help of the Sick is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular originating in 1860.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, also known as the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows or the Servite Rosary, is a Rosary based prayer that originated with the Servite Order. It is often said in connection with the Seven Dolours of Mary.
Worldwide The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the oldest lay apostolates still operating in the Roman Catholic Church, having been part of the Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception founded by Saint Stanislaw Papczynski. "The Blessed Marian Founder fervently encouraged his spiritual sons to establish confraternities of the Immaculate Conception at Marian churches. 'The first laws of the Order of 1694-1698 speak of this already."
Our Lady of Pellevoisin is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary which refers to a series of Marian apparitions in Pellevoisin, in the province of Berry, in the department of Indre, France. Pellevoisin is west of Châteauroux in the Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges.
Fr. Peter Mary Rookey, O.S.M. was a Servite Friar in the Catholic Church. Rookey was widely believed to have had the charism of healing, and spent a good part of his priesthood in that ministry.
Our Lady of Dolours, also known as the Servite Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church run by the Servite Order in Chelsea, central London. The building was designed in Gothic Revival style by J. A. Hansom in 1873. It is Grade II listed with Historic England. It stands next to St Mary's Priory, at 264 Fulham Road close to the South Lodge entrance to Brompton Cemetery in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. There is a mixed Roman Catholic primary school adjacent to the church and priory.
