From the hand of the Madonna hangs the brown or Carmelite scapular. It owes its origin to Saint Simon Stock, an English Carmelite, who had a vision of Our Lady on July 16, 1251.  She gave him the brown scapular and promised that whoever died wearing it would not suffer the punishment of hell, and quickly be released from purgatory.  This is called the “Sabbatine Privilege.” The scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the oldest and best known of the Marian scapulars. Its artistic rendering in connection with the souls in purgatory appears in Sicily at the end of the fifteenth century before spreading to other regions.

Another characteristic of Sicilian art of that period is the dark complexion of Mother and Child. It is believed that the dark skin color points to the Eastern origins of some of the old and venerated images (i.e., the so-called black Madonna of Tindari), and that they may reflect the well-known expression found in the Song of Songs:  “Nigra sum, sed formosa.” (I am black but beautiful) (1:5) But there are other explanations.

Originally the scapular was a strip of fabric with a hole inserted in the middle, and it was used as protection of the monk’s habit when he worked in the fields. The word scapular derives its origin from the Latin word for shoulder, since the garment hung from the shoulder. The scapular was reduced in size when religious orders asked their lay members (Third Orders) to wear the scapular. Eventually, the scapular was made up of two small double squares of clothe (two or three square inches), suspended from the shoulders by two cords. By the sixteenth century, the wearing of a scapular was very popular. It symbolized fellowship with others in dedication to a spiritual cause and God ’s protection through the intercession of the church or a saint. The most popular scapulars are: