Question #4: What is the brown tabard you wear?

Question: What is the brown tabard you wear?

Answer:

What you call a tabard is a scapular, from the Latin word “scapula” which means “shoulder.” It was originally worn as an apron, but very quickly became a symbol of the protection of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and of the Carmelites’ devotion to her. Down through the centuries, Mary has shown that she protects and guides those who entrust themselves to her under the sign of the Brown Scapular.

Carmelite friars and nuns wear the full-length scapular, but there is also the small version, and anyone can wear that. You can learn more about it here: http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/scapular and https://ocdfriarsvocation.org/the-habit-of-the-discalced-carmels/

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Do you ever wonder what it is like to be a Carmelite Nun? To live in a cloister? To spend your days seeking the Face of God?

If you have any questions about Carmelite life, you are welcome to post them here. We will do our best to give an answer and we look forward to hearing from you!