The Brown Scapular is known for its promise that whoever wears it, won't go to hell. A wieghty promise indeed. Not only this, but Mary also promises her special protection and favor over those who wear her garment. When she gave the Brown Scapular to Saint Simon Stock, she said to him, "take this Scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire," and, "Wear it devoutly and perseveringly. It is my garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life." This is tangible, concrete way to wrap ourselves in her mantle, to bury ourselves in her tangible embrace.

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The question remains... is wearing a scapular and believing in these promises superstitious?

 

This is a fair question, especially when we experience some people's excessive reliance or dependence on devotions or "promises" as their primary security and level of peace in their relationship with the Lord or regarding their actual salvation. It is also a fair question when we experience rigidity surrounding such devotions, a kind of scrupulosity about the requirements or practice as if salvation does not exist outside of the perfect practice of these little devotions. Of course, this is not what the Church teaches, and is simply not true.

 

Let's clear some of these misconceptions. You do not need to wear the scapular to go to heaven. The Church does not require that you wear a scapular. The scapular is simply a sacramental, which is a way of deepening faith, hope, and love, and deepening our participation in a life of grace, ultimately through the sacraments. Part of this devotion is the actual practice of it, which is giving oneself to Christ through Mary, and if one is actively living out this devotion, the promise is a fruit (by the mercy of God). Salvation itself is not something we can ever earn, but is an eternal gift of mercy. But one step further than this, if you and I are actively giving ourselves to Jesus through Mary, and exercising our faith, hope, and love in this way, the Lord cannot be outdone in generosity and He blesses in abundance those who give themselves to Him. So, with a kind of childlike audacity, why would God not bless those who practice this devotion? He is better than anything we can ever conceive. We are not earning "more" salvation, we are stepping into the pool of God's mercy through His mother, and He lavishes it upon anyone who is seeking Him.

 

So is it superstitious? No. Is it required? No. But is there supernatural grace, blessing, and promise that God gives and fulfills in those who give themselves to Him through His mother in this way? Absolutely.