Reconnecting With Mary . . . The Brown Scapular: How It Began
By DONAL ANTHONY FOLEY Part 1 The brown scapular originated in England, in the 13th century, during the time of the Crusades. St. Simon Stock went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where he met a group of hermits on Mount Carmel. These claimed to be the successors of Elijah and his followers, and Simon returned with them to England when the situation became too dangerous in Palestine because of the Saracens. He was eventually elected superior general of the Carmelites, but he faced many problems and withdrew to his monastic room or “cell” — either at Cambridge or Aylesford by this time — in order to pray to Mary;