The Red Scapular of the Passion of Christ

What is the Red Scapular, and why wear it?

Normally, the Brown Scapular is the main topic of our conversation. Maybe you didn't even know there is a red scapular, let alone why someone would wear it.

The history of the red scapular goes back to 1846 when Jesus appeared to a Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Sister Apolline. In the series of apparitions, He gave her this red scapular as a means of deeper devotion to His Passion. He promised that whoever wore it would receive an increase of faith, hope, and love on every Friday. Sister Apolline said that this devotion to the red scapular of the Passion of Christ

"will prove to us a strong armor against internal assaults, in impenetrable shield against the arrows of our spiritual enemies".

Many of the Saints spoke of the importance of meditating on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Maximilian called the cross the "school of love", or Saint Paul of the Cross wrote,

"the holy sufferings of Jesus is a sea of sorrows, but it is also a sea of love. Ask the Lord to teach you to fish in this sea. Immerse yourself in it, and, no matter how deeply you go, you will never reach the bottom. Allow yourself to be penetrated with love and sorrow. In this way you will make the sufferings of the gentle Jesus your own. Fish for the pearls of the virtues of Jesus."

And so, the red scapular is a means of carrying with us the Passion of Christ, of remembering to meditate on His great love expressed in this Passion and Death; and it is the reminder of the hope of eternal life that is ours through Christ's great Sacrifice and victory over death.

If it is not wearing or carrying near us the red scapular, perhaps there is one way we can meditate more intentionally on the Passion and Death of Christ this Lent, recognizing and giving ourselves over even just some small but more to this great love of our God.

If you are interested in wearing or gifitng the red scapular to someone, we have them here in the shop -- handsewn with prayer, love, and micro paracord.