Karol Wojtyla's scapular
The scapular that Karol Wojtyla received in his teenage years at the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites in Wadowice.
In historical sources, it is vain to look for a specific date for the imposition of this scapular on Karol Wojtyla. John Paul II himself, in his book Gift and Mystery, wrote that he received it when he was probably 10 years old, and when visiting his hometown on June 16, 1999, he said: And I still wear the scapular to this day, just as I received it at the Carmelites on the Hill, when I was a dozen years old.
It seems most likely that Karol Wojtyla received the scapular in 1930 on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which falls on July 16. The feast was close to his heart throughout his life.*
In historical sources, it is vain to look for a specific date for the imposition of this scapular on Karol Wojtyla. John Paul II himself, in his book Gift and Mystery, wrote that he received it when he was probably 10 years old, and when visiting his hometown on June 16, 1999, he said: And I still wear the scapular to this day, just as I received it at the Carmelites on the Hill, when I was a dozen years old.
It seems most likely that Karol Wojtyla received the scapular in 1930 on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which falls on July 16. The feast was close to his heart throughout his life.*
Where did the scapular come from?
On the night of July 15-16, 1251, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stok and gave him a promise to take to heaven on the first Saturday after death those persons who would wear the scapular and fulfill the conditions given by Her: praying daily to Our Lady, spreading Her honor, living in sanctifying grace, keeping fasts and doing good to neighbors.
What the scapular looks like?
For clergy, the scapular is a piece of a religious vestment - a strip of cloth at the front and back, worn over the head. For lay people, it is two pieces of cloth with images of the Mother of God and Christ, for example, joined by a ribbon, worn on the chest and back. A scapular can also be a medal. The scapular may be consecrated and worn by a priest authorized to do so.
The Carmelite scapular is still received by many people today. This is evidenced by the great interest in it in our museum store.
*Cf. Czeslaw Gil OCD, When did Karol Wojtyla receive the Carmelite scapular?; in: Wadoviana. Magazine of the Wadowice Cultural Center, No. 16, 2013, pp. 167 - 169.
The Carmelite scapular is still received by many people today. This is evidenced by the great interest in it in our museum store.
*Cf. Czeslaw Gil OCD, When did Karol Wojtyla receive the Carmelite scapular?; in: Wadoviana. Magazine of the Wadowice Cultural Center, No. 16, 2013, pp. 167 - 169.
