Michael Brooks
A scapular is a sign of devotion to Mary and faithfulness to Christ, worn by many Catholics. The word scapular means shoulders in Latin and is worn over the shoulders or as a necklace. The brown scapular, the original and most common type, is a sign of devotion and personal consecration to the Virgin Mary. It is believed that those who die while wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire. The green scapular is known as the scapular of conversion, promising strengthening faith, protection against Satan, and a happy death. The blue scapular, also known as the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, is said to have been revealed to the foundress of the Order of Theatine Nuns, the Venerable Ursula Benicasa. To tie a Catholic scapular, one must start by placing the scapular face up on a table and rolling one of the felt-backed pictures tightly, ensuring the image is on the inside of the roll. The strings should hang down, and the wrapping process should continue without any twists in the string.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a scapular | A sign of devotion to Mary and faithfulness to Christ, worn by Catholics |
| How to tie it | Place the scapular face up on a table, roll one of the felt-backed pictures tightly with the image on the inside of the roll. Allow the two strings to hang down, wrap the string around your finger from right to left, ensuring no twists. Move the wrappings to the body of the rolled scapular and tighten. Repeat on the other side. |
| How to wear it | Like a necklace with one woolen picture on the front of your chest and the other on your back, hidden under your clothes |
| Types | Brown scapular, green scapular, blue scapular, scapular medal |
| Who can wear it | Catholics or those who want to convert |
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What You'll Learn
Place the scapular face up and roll it tightly
To tie a Catholic scapular, you must first place the scapular face up on a table. The scapular is a small necklace with two pictures or pieces of wool on opposite ends, attached by a thick string. It is a sign of devotion to Mary and faithfulness to Christ. With the scapular face up, roll one of the felt-backed pictures as tightly as you can, ensuring that the image is on the inside of the roll.
Once you have the scapular rolled tightly, you can begin to wrap the string. It is important that the string is not twisted as it wraps around your finger. The string should first pass under, then behind your finger, before coming over the top. Now, slide the wrappings off your finger and onto the rolled body of the scapular. Ensure that the loose end of the string runs under itself where it attaches to the rolled picture.
At this point, you can tighten the wrappings to ensure they will stay in place without slipping. It is important to note that you should not tie the scapular too tightly or too loosely; it should be comfortable and able to be worn as a necklace. You can adjust the length of the string by doing a double, triple, or quadruple wrap on each side. For a shorter or tighter fit, a triple or quadruple wrap is recommended, while a single wrap will provide a longer or looser fit.
After you have achieved the desired length and tightness, gently tighten the wrappings again to prevent them from coming undone. Lay the half-completed scapular on the table and repeat the wrapping process on the other end. Work out any slack and tighten the wrappings on each side and end of the scapular. You may notice that the strings become twisted during this process, but don't worry, as you wrap the second end, the twists will disappear.
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Wrap the string around your finger
Wrapping the string around your finger is a crucial step in tying a Catholic scapular. This process involves carefully manipulating the string to create a secure and aesthetically pleasing knot. Here is a detailed guide to help you master this technique:
To begin, ensure that the scapular is laid face up on a table, with the felt-backed picture facing upwards. Roll one of the pictures tightly, keeping the image inside the roll. Hold the rolled body of the scapular firmly, allowing the two strings to hang down gracefully. You can choose to start wrapping the string from either the right or the left side – simply maintain consistency throughout the process.
Now, for the part where you wrap the string around your finger, pay close attention to the direction of the wraps. The string should first pass under your finger, then behind it, and finally over the top. It is important to ensure that the string is not twisted as it wraps around your finger. The second wrap should be positioned to the left of the first wrap, creating a neat and orderly appearance.
Once you have achieved the desired number of wraps, carefully slide them off your finger and onto the rolled body of the scapular. The loose end of the string should pass under itself where it attaches to the rolled picture. Gently tighten the wrappings to ensure they stay in place without slipping or falling off. You can adjust the tension to suit your preference for a snug or looser fit.
For added clarity, it is worth noting that the wraps on each side of the scapular should mirror each other. This means that if the second wrap on one side is to the left of the first, the second wrap on the other side should be to the right of the first. This approach ensures symmetry and balance in the final knot.
By following these detailed instructions, you will be able to confidently wrap the string around your finger when tying a Catholic scapular. Remember to take your time, especially during the initial attempts, to create a neat and secure knot that reflects the devotion and craftsmanship associated with this symbolic garment.
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Slide the wrappings onto the rolled scapular
Now that you have the scapular rolled and the string wrapped around your finger, it's time to slide the wrappings onto the rolled scapular. This part can be a bit tricky, but take your time and be gentle to avoid any tangles or twists in the string.
First, make sure that the string is not twisted as it wraps around your finger. It's okay if there are twists further down the length of the string, but the portion you are working with should be twist-free. Ensure that the string is wrapped from right to left. The second wrap around your finger should be to the left of the first wrap.
Now, carefully slide the wrappings off your finger and onto the rolled body of the scapular. Pay attention to how the loose end of the string runs—it should pass under itself where it is attached to the rolled picture or woollen piece. Gently tighten the wrappings to prevent them from coming undone or falling off.
At this point, you can lay your half-completed scapular on a table. Don't worry if you notice that the strings are twisted. This is normal, and as you continue wrapping the other end, those twists will disappear. Repeat the wrapping process on the other side, mirroring the steps you just completed. Work out any slack and tighten the wrappings on each side and each end of the scapular.
You may choose to stack the wrappings on top of each other for a neater appearance. Once you've tightened everything, your scapular should be secure and ready for the final steps of tying it. Remember, if you're new to wearing a scapular, it's important to have it blessed by a priest before you put it on for the first time.
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Repeat on the other side
To tie a Catholic scapular, start by placing the scapular face-up on a table and rolling one of the felt-backed pictures tightly, ensuring the image is on the inside of the roll. Hold the rolled body of the scapular and let the two strings hang down. Now, you can start wrapping the string on either side—right or left. If you start on the right, allow the string to hang down and wrap it under and behind the felt roll. Then, wrap the string around your finger, ensuring it passes under, then behind, and finally over the top.
For the left side, the wrapping process will be mirrored. Start by wrapping the string around your finger, ensuring it passes under, behind, and then over. It is important to ensure that the string is not twisted as it wraps around your finger. The second wrap will be to the right of the first. Once you have completed the wrapping, gently slide the wrappings off your finger onto the rolled body of the scapular. Again, ensure that the loose end of the string passes under itself where it attaches to the roll.
Now, you will have completed the wrapping for both sides. To finish, simply tighten the wrappings on each side and end of the scapular to secure them in place. You can adjust the slack and tightness to achieve your desired fit. If you wish, you can create a neater finish by ensuring there are no twists in the strings. If there are any twists, you can remove them by rolling one end of the scapular through itself.
Finally, your scapular is ready to be worn! You can adjust the number of wraps on each side to customize the fit. For a shorter or tighter fit around the neck, you can do a triple or even quadruple wrap. Conversely, for a longer or looser fit, a single wrap will do. You can even do half-sizes by varying the number of wraps on each side. For example, you could do three wraps on one side and two wraps on the other.
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Wear the scapular under your clothes
Wearing a scapular is a sign of devotion to Mary and faithfulness to Christ. The brown scapular is the original and most common type, but there are also green and blue scapulars, as well as medals, which are acceptable substitutions for the traditional wool cloth scapular. The practice of wearing scapulars originated from the habit of monastic orders, where it started as a work apron.
When wearing a scapular, it should be placed under your clothes so it's not immediately visible. It is not necessary for the scapular to be touching your skin, but it should be underneath your shirt or other clothing. The scapular is worn like a necklace, with one end on your chest and the other on your back. The two pieces of wool or felt, with pictures or wording, are positioned across from one another and connected by a string.
To tie a scapular, start by placing the scapular face up on a table. Roll one of the pieces of wool or felt with the picture facing inward as tightly as you can. Hold the rolled body of the scapular and let the two strings hang down. Wrap the string under and behind the roll, then continue wrapping it around your finger, ensuring there are no twists in the string. The second wrap should be to the left of the first. Slide the wrappings off your finger onto the rolled body of the scapular. Tighten the wrappings just enough to keep them from slipping or falling off. Repeat the process on the other side, mirroring the steps.
You can adjust the length of the string by doing more or fewer wraps. For a shorter or tighter fit, do triple or quadruple wraps, and for a longer or looser fit, do a single wrap. You can also do half sizes by varying the number of wraps on each side.
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