Ruth's Book I

Medals and Scapulars

     I’d like to reflect on the wearing of medals and scapulars and about having sacred statues and pictures in our homes. The reason I want to address this issue with you is that it bothers me the way some people are so hung up on these things, giving them an unreal importance and a power that was never intended (this is not to say that they are not important as a determent aginst the deceptions of Satan).  

     We were promised by the Blessed Virgin that if we are wearing the brown scapular at the time of our death we will be taken to heaven by our Lady shortly after our death. Then, we have the promise to Blessed Margaret Mary concerning making the nine first Fridays; and the promise from Fatima of our Lady regarding first Saturdays; and the promise about keeping a picture of the Sacred Heart in our homes, and so many other things like that.

     Now, we could have 10 to 20 different medals, scapulars and such hanging around our necks at one time, and innumerable statues and pictures in our homes, and that is fine, I’m all for them, well at least one scapular or scapular medal which has Mary or the Sacred Heart. Our Franciscan medal or Tau Cross is top notch; it is our habit as Secular Franciscans. This is worn to express our promise to St. Francis and our affiliation with the Franciscan Order. What more do we need to wear?

      A picture of the Sacred Heart is very good to have in our homes as well as a crucifix, and statues of Mary and other saints who influence our lives. But the thing that bothers me is the danger that we may place too much reliance on these “things” and these “promises” to get us from here to heaven.

     One of the parables from St. Luke answers the question. (where else, but the Gospels do we get the answers to our questions). In this parable Jesus tells the story about the man who stored up great quantities of grain and then sat back with smug satisfaction and said, “... You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself” But, God shook a finger right in his face and said, “You fool, this very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself? (Luke 12:19-20). 

     So, there you are, in the Gospels we get it straight. None of these things, simply by the wearing or the using of them is going to get anyone to heaven.

     The thing that really counts is not what goes onto our bodies but what comes out of our hearts (Gospel talk again) — what is given freely and cheerfully from inside ourselves, out to you Jesus, first with love, then out to our fellow man with love. This ends my problem with scapulars and medals, etc.