A short treatise on the antiquity, institution,excellency, indulgences, privileges, etc., of the most famous an[d] ancient confraternity of Our Blessed Lady of Mount Carmel, commonly called The Scapular ...

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SHORT TREATISE

Contents

A short treaties on the Scapular. - _ - 15

CHAP. 1.— A Narration of the Origin and progress of the Holy Order of Carmelites, in which the Confraternity of the Scapular is erected 21

CHAP. 2.— Why the successors of the Prophets are called Brothers of the B. V. M. of Mount Carmel, and of the propagation of their order under the Gospel. - - 27

Preface

The work of our eternal salvation is a business of great importance, and the one thing necessary, of which our Saviour speaks, Luke x. 42. We ought solicitously to lay hold on all those means and helps, which God of his infinite mercy hath been pleased to furnish us with for the promoting of so mighty an affair, conformable to what the apostle exhorts us to. 2 Pet. 1. 10, Qua propter fratres magis satagite, §*c. wherefore, brethren, labor the more, do whatever lies in your power by good works, to make sure of your vocation and election.

Amongst many spiritual inventions which the Holy Ghost hath suggested to the church, and which now are in practice amongst good Catholics, that of religious confraternities, or sodalities, ought to be noted ; in which many pious persons united themselves together for God's glory, in the practice of virtuous and devout actions ; they do, in a very particular manner, of many members become one mystical body : insomuch, that each member is by mutual communication made participant of the prayers, sacrifices, fastings, alms, mortifications, and generally of all the good works and meritorious actions of all the other members ; from which common affinity, and communication, without doubt many great benefits doth accrue. For as in a well ranged army, each soldier in particular may easily be vanquished by the enemy, and nevertheless, by the general conjunction of them all, one with another, the files are rendered impenetrable, the battalions strong, and the army invincible. So, likewise it happens in the spiritual warfare of our souls against the devil, the world, and the flesh, our sworn enemies ; in which those that fight alone, one by one, although it be under Christ's banner, and that perhaps with much valor and generosity; nevertheless, every one is put to try his strength by himself to combat his adversaries hand to hand, and wrestle against his enemies with his own single force : whereas, in those holy confraternities, the ability of the one is so knit w r ith the ability of the rest, and the good works of all are so common to everyone in particular, that they are all fortified and enabled not only by their own forces, but by each others strength and assistance : insomuch, that partly by the benefit which every one doth reap from their own private endeavors, and partly by the great commodities that do arise out of this strict bond and connection with others : Persons do ordinarily in those devout congregations, make so great a progress in virtue in a short time, that they become not only invincible, but also formidable to their infernal enemies, and are known to abound with many celestial graces and benedictions, as our Saviour promises. — " Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

Matt. vii. 20. For this cause, good christians have so great, an esteem for those religious sodalities, that they are every w T here in Catholic countries, most generally frequented ; some enrolling themselves in the confraternity of the most Blessed Trinity ; others in that of the Rosary ; some take the Cord of St. Francis ; others join themselves to the sodalities of the Jesuits, or that of the Blessed Sacrament ; every one according to his particular devotion. But above all other confraternities, that of the blessed Scapular, or of the habit of the most blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, hath for these many years obtained the devotions of all people throughout the whole christian world ; insomuch, that all states, both secular and ecclesiastical, though eminent, have continually procured, and with earnest affection desire to be invested with this sacred livery, and have worn it day and night, as a most precious and miraculous garment, as an earnest pledge from heaven, for those that devoutly receive it, both of temporal and spiritual graces : and also of eternal salvation, as the most holy Virgin promised to her beloved son, St. Simon Stock, general of the Order of the Carmelites, by a supernatural revelation, in which she presented him with the Holy Scapular of her Order, and a sign of her Confraternity, about the year 1251. See Carthegena, Horn. 4. Homil. de B. V. Maria de Monte Carmeli.

Wherefore the singular prerogatives of this holy Confraternity of the Scapular, above all others, are first, that it is no human invention, but as the divines say, de jure Divino ; having its institution immediately from heaven. Secondly, that it is favored w 7 ith the singular protection of the Queen of Heaven, who is the patroness and advocate of this Confraternity. Thirdly, that it hath the promise of eternal salvation. Fourthly, it avails much to abreviate the expiating flames of Purgatory. Finally, ever since its first institution it hath been favored by Almighty God with many graces and miracles, insomuch, that by means of the sacred Scapular, the sick hath frequently been resorted to their former health, persons bewitched, and possessed by the devil, have been delivered. Women in travail have been miraculously assisted. This sacred habit also hath appeased violent tempests, when it hath been cast into the sea by those that were in danger. Briefly, it is known by daily experience, that the Scapular is a sovereign preservative and remedy against all the evils of this life, both spiritual and temporal ; insomuch that the devils many times have been heard to howl and cry most miserably, saying, wo to us, by reason of the sacred Scapular of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

These are the motives that induced me to publish this little treatise on the effects of the holy Scapular, to the end that I might hereby communicate so great a treasure to the Catholics of England, to whom the devotion of the Scapular, or habit of the sacred Virgin seemed particularly to appertain, though at present they are totally ignorant of it. For of all the kingdoms of Europe, England was the first that admitted the religious men of the Order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, when the persecutions of the Saracens obliged them to fly from Palestine, their native soil. Secondly, it was to an Englishman that the sacred Virgin gave the Scapular with her own hand. Thirdly, the apparition of the blessed Virgin appeared in England in the Carmelites Convent at Cambridge. Fourthly, it was in England that the Scapular wrought its miraculous effect. Finally, it was in England that the devotion of the Scapular had its beginning, the Confraternity of the most blessed Virgin being erected there before any other place in the world, with such a general concourse of people of all sorts, that even the king himself, Edward I. procured himself to be enrolled in it, together with Henry, Duke of Lancaster, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, and many others of the chief nobility. The devotion and piety of our ancestors was continued by their successors : and the English did ever signalize themselves by their singular affection towards the immaculate and ever Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, and towards her holy Order, and Confraternity of Mount Carme], until the general revolution of things, which happened during the reign of Henry VIII. when the nation banished true religion, and obedience to the See Apostolic, did also banish all sentiments of piety and devotion towards the most glorious Queen of Angels.

To the end, therefore, that this holy Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin, so ancient and profitable a devotion may at least after so long an exile, be revoked and called to its native soil, I will first of all declare briefly the origin, progress, and succession of the Order of the Carmelites, to whom the Scapular was given by the Blessed Virgin. Secondly, I will relate the institution of the Confraternity erected in this order for all sorts of persons who will receive the Scapular. Thirdly, the privileges, favors, and indulgences of this Confraternity, shall be set down together, with the obligations of those that do enter into it.

God of his infinite mercy grant that this small labor may succeed for his glory, to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Patroness of Mount Carmel, and finally to the eternal salvation of our souls.

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TREATISE ON THE SCAPULAR.

CHAPTER L

A compendious narration of the origin and progress of the Holy Order of Carmelites, in which the Confraternity of the Scapular is erected.

The ancient and most famous order of the Blessed Virgin, was begun and founded on the Mountain of Carmel, about nine hundred and thirty years before the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ; for which cause the Professors of the Order are commonly called Carmelites, taking their denomination, (as it hath happened to other Orders,) from the place where their institutes were first founded. The institutor of it was the great Prophet Elias, who three times made fire to come down from heaven to punish the idolators ; who by his prayers, hindered rain for the space of three years — who was carried away in a fiery chariot, and is yet preserved alive, to come and preach before the day of judgment, the faith of Jesus Christ, against Anti- Christ, and his adherents.

This holy Prophet, praying on Mount Carmel, (as is related, Kings, iv. 18.) saw a little cloud rise from the sea, which he knew from a prophetical notion to signify the glorious Virgin Mary, who was to spring forth out of the infected bitter sea of our corrupt nature without any corruption ; and like an auspicious cloud, being resolved with the force of the Holy Ghost's descent on her, she was to water this barren world with the heavenly dew of the expected Messiah. Wherefore, by the express command of Almighty God, he presently began to institute a religious congregation, which was to be dedicated to the honor of this sacred Virgin, as it is at large related by John, the 44th Patriarch of Jerusalem, de ortu monachorum, chap. 32. And for as much as we affirm Eliag to have been the author of monastic discipline, as it is asserted by many holy fathers, St. Jlthanasius in vita. St. Jlntonii, St. Hierom, Epis. ad Paulinum, which is, De institutions Monachi Cassianus, lib. 1. De origin cap. 15, and others.

These disciples and successors of Elias, are named in the holy scriptures, sons of the Prophets. And they so much multiplied in a short time, that their glorious founder, before his translation, (it is thought,) into the terrestrial paradise, had the consolation to see convents erected in Bethel, Jerico, Gilgal, and Samaria ; as may be seen in the fourth book of Kings, chap. 2.

Elias being taken away in a whirlwind, Eliseus succeeded him ; not only in the double spirit of prophecy and miracles, but also in the government of the prophetical order, as it is sufficiently expressed in the second chapter of the 4th book of Kings, in which he much augmented by his authority. In 4 Kings, chap. 4. special mention is made of the miracles that he did in favor of those that lived in Galgala ; and in the 6th chapter of the same book, we read how he went to erect a new house near the river Jordan, the order been grown so numerous, that their former houses would not satisfy to lodge them conveniently.

After the death of Eliseus, Jonas the Prophet is affirmed by many to have had the general government of the order. This Jonas was the son of the widow Serepta, in Sidon, whom St. Elias restored to life, and afterwards he was his follower and individual companion, but according to others, Elias left the command to Jonadah, the son of Rechab ; and this is the cause that the sons of the Prophets are sometimes called in scripture Rechabites, of whom you may see honorable mention made. Jerem. chap. 35. But whoever governed, this is certain, that the successors of &&, Elias remained on Mount Garni el until the coming of Christ, and even this very day they preserve in God's church, in the person of the religious Carmelites, who, by hereditary and never interrupted succession, descended from them, as most grave authors that have written do affirm. I will content myself to produce two or three testimonies for the defence of this truth : several Popes, namely, Sixtus IV.

Julius II. Gregory XIII. and Clement VIII. in their Bulls, granted to the order of the Carmelites, have divined and canonized this assertion, by these following words : " The sacred Order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, which now flourisheth in God's church, and the professors of it are the lawful successors of the holy Prophets, Elias and Eliseus."

In the year 1282, certain prelates of the East being informed that the antiquity of the order of Carmelites were called in doubt, they wrote a letter to the Pope, dated the 23d September, in the city of Accon ; which is related by Waldensis de Sacramentalibus, tit. 9. Chap.. 89. In this letter the Archbishop of Nicosia, the Bishop of Hebron, the Bishop of Tiberiade, and other prelates do attest, that this order flourished on Mount Carmel, and other places of the East from time immemorial.

Many other testimonies may easily be produced for verifying of this assertion, but I refer the reader to great, volumes which have been published concerning the same matter. And I will conclude, by showing what was formerly the opinion of our famous university of Cambridge concerning this point. The year 1374, a great dispute was excited here in England about the antiquity of the Carmelites ; who, as we will show hereafter, are called brothers and sisters of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. For the deciding of this controversy, the University of Cambridge deputed several doctors, both of divinity and of the canonical and civil law, amongst whom was John Donwick, chancellor of the University, and many other eminent and learned persons.

After a long and serious examination of whatever could be alleged on both sides, this learned and honorable assembly published the following decree in our favor :

" We have heard the reasons and allegations, and moreover having seen, read, and examined the privileges, chronicles, and ancient writings of the said order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, we pronounce, determine, and declare, (as it is manifested to us by the said histories, and other ancient writings,) that the brothers of this order are really the imitators and successors of the holy prophets, Elias and Eliseus. Given at Cambridge, the 23d of February, 1374."

These sons of the Prophets, (for as much as concerns their life and conversation,) were so alienated from the world, so assiduous in prayer, so rigorous in their mortifications, and so exemplary and laudable in their actions, that from the sanctity of their lives, they were in process of time named Esseni as Philo writes in his book, quod omnis prebus sit liber, and St. John Chrysostom, 45, in Act. Apost. by these words : Esseniid est sancti dicuntur, hoc enim vult nomen, Essenorum, a vitse honestate. Others call them Jlssidui, and under this title mention is made of them, 1 Mechab. 2, which name took its rise from their assiduousness, and constancy to God's service, according to the opinion of Lyranus, who says, assidui dicti sunt ad assiduante cultus divini. Joseph, the famous historian of the Jews, lib. 6. Antiquit. cap. 13, says, that they all observed rigorous poverty, and had all things in common ; he makes mention of their chastity, obedience and silence. Plinus in the 5th book of his natural history, says the same ; and speaking of their chastity, relates, it is a wonder that they should persevere so many years without marriage or generation. And also the Prophet Jeremy, chap. 35, saith much in praise of the Rachabites, for their poverty, obedience, and abstinence. — Now that the Rachabites did appertain to the order and institute of Elias, 'tis learnedly proved by Lazena, torn. 1. annal. ad annum mundi, 1189. Finally, Joseph, (the Jew,) affirms that these Esseni, (as he calls them,) were in so great veneration among the people, for their admirable virtues, and piety and perfection of life, that they were commonly esteemed to have something above human nature. And Herod himself, who was grown to that height of impiety, that he seemed to condemn all other things how holy so ever, nevertheless he held these sacred persons in a great deal of honor and veneration : and this is the cause, (as I suppose,) that when the rest of the Jews were led captives to Babylon, in the time of Nebuchadnezar, these devout successors of Elias were permitted to retain their ~-<^nt habitation of Mount Carmel, where they happily and religiously lived and preserved till that time, whereon God chose to redeem the world, by the incarnation and death of his beloved Son, whose Virgin Mother lived at Nazareth, three miles only distant from Mount Carmel ; she did often visit these religious hermits, and honor them with her friendship and conversation as the following chapter will relate.

Chapter II

Why the successors of the Prophets are called Brothers of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, and of the propagation of their Order under the Gospel.

The plenitude of time approaching in which Almighty God, moved with compassion towards mankind, had decreed to blot out the sins of the world by the most precious blood of his only begotten Son, our divine Saviour. This joyful news of our approaching redemption was by divine Revelation made known to some of the religious followers of Elias and Eliseus, then living in the solitude of Mount Carmel, who, (above all others,) did most earnestly desire, and expect the nativity of that sacred Virgin, who was to be the mother of the desired Messiah, as they had been instructed by the holy Patriarch Elias : and it was kept as a certain tradition amongst them, that their order was founded in honor and imitation of the most pure and immaculate Virgin, who was to be the sovereign princess and protectress of it ; so that they had reason to aspire after the time of her birth. These happy tidings of Christ's approach, was, by the sons of the Prophets, communicated to Emerantiana, mother of St. Anne, and they gave her also assurance from heaven, that of her race should be born the Virgin, who was to be the mother of the Messiah. This motive induced her to embrace the state of marriage which before she rejected, and God Almighty was pleased in verification of what he had revealed to her by the religious of Mount Carmel, to bless her marriage with two daughters, Sobe and Anne ; which Sobe was the mother of St. Elizabeth, of whom was born St. John Baptist; and St. Anne was the mother of the most sacred Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St. Syril, Palianidorus, Carthegena, and others, torn. 1, Annals.

St. Anne had her house at Mazareth, which is distant only three miles from that part of Mount Carmel, where the sons of the Prophet, (named Esseni, or Assidui,) had their habitation. Wherefore the most blessed Virgin, together with her mother, were wont sometimes to return thither ; and by reason of their virtue and sanctity, she took a singular delight in conversing and discoursing familiarly with them. She instructed them in many things that concerned our Saviour ; she comforted them in their adversities ;

she exhorted them to perseverance, and assured them of her assistance, protection, and prayers. On the other side, those heremitical fathers, knowing assuredly, that this was the Virgin whom the holy patriarchs, and Prophet Elias had foreseen above nine hundred years before she was born, under the figure of a little cloud rising out of the sea, in the form of a man's footstep, and whom he had assigned for the advocate and protectress of their most holy order ; they dedicated themselves wholly to her, as her perpetual servants, children, and devotees, considering her as the only refuge, advocate, and mother of their congregation. Tritemius de laudibus Carm. cap. 7, Carthagena, and others.

A little after the birth of our Saviour, St. Elizabeth, fearing the tyranny of Herod, who had slain many thousand of infants, she fled with her son, St. John Baptist, into the Desert, where he joined himself to the successors of Elias, and embraced the institute, as St. Ambrose expressly says, Epist. ad Varcel. ap. 14. From whom they being more fully instructed of the dignity and excellency of the blessed Virgin Mother of God, they much augmented their love and devotion tow r ards her, and were the first of all mortals that built a chapel or temple to her honor, whilst she was yet alive, about the year of our Lord 38, and that on Mount Carmel, near the place where their father, St. Elias, had seen the little cloud mount up out of the sea, by which she was represented : and in this chapel they daily met, and there offered up their sacrifice, prayers, and petitions to the divine Majesty, in honor and under the invocation of the blessed Virgin, their mother ; singing continually their praises, and wholly addicting themselves to her devotion ; whereupon they were called brothers of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, which honorable title the sacred Queen of Angels has approved of by miraculous demonstrations, as shall be related in the chapter following. Also the sovereign bishops of Rome have confirmed it by their briefs, and adorned it with their Indulgences, Lastly, the quiet and peaceable possession of this title, during so many ages, hath made the Carmelites lawful possessors of it, so that, as during the time of the old law, they were named sons of the Prophets, from Elias, Eliseus, and Esseni, from their sanctity, Assidui, because of their assiduousness in the divine service.

In the same manner, during the time of the Gospel, they are now called Carmelites, from Mount Carmel, where their institutions first began ; and they are named brothers and sisters of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, not only because of the chapel, which they first dedicated to Almighty God, under the invocation of her sacred name, but also because of the great familiarity that they had with her when she lived upon earth, and for the singular affection and devotion they have ever since retained towards this incomparable Lady.

Whatever we have said is briefly contained in the Lessons of the office of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, which is wont to be celebrated by the order, on the 16th July. The same is affirmed by Joseph of Antioch. In speculo militae. cap. 12, John the 44th Patriarch of Jerusalem, de institutione Monach. cap. 57. Bap. Mantuan, lib. 3, Panthem Joan Bacon in compendio historiarum, and others.

By the familiar conversation of the most blessed Virgin, and the preaching of St. John Baptist, many of the disciples of the holy Prophet Elias, were induced to embrace the faith of Christ. Nevertheless, a general conversion happened not amongst them before the feast of Pentecost, when the Gospel was solemnly promulgated by a visible descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Disciples. Wastelius, torn. 1. Annal aparatu, proves this out of St. John Chrysostom, Theophilact, and others, which is to be understood of the successors of Elias, what St. Luke says, Acts 25. There were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, and religious men of every nation under heaven.

The occasion of their being in Jerusalem, was, that they had there two convents ; the one on the part of Mount Sion, which was called Milio, not far distant from the place where our blessed Saviour instituted the blessed Sacrament : The other was in the golden port, which is the place where Joachim and Anne, father and mother of the blessed Virgin first met, and consented to their future marriage. To these two houses the sons of the Prophets that lived at Mount Carmel, and other places of Palestine, were wont to resort at certain times of the year, that they might, (according to the law of Moses,) observe the solemn feast of the Jews : and there they were on the day of Pentecost, when that happened which is related. Acts 2, Wald. de sacrament, tit. 9. chap. 84, 1, 2. After their conversion, they were so zealous for the christian religion, that they joined themselves to the spotless, and were their assistants in the propogation of the faith and doctrine of Christ, as many authors attest : — Joannes Jeresol. cap. 88. Thomas Waldensis.

This holy order continued always upon Mount Carmel, from the time of their first institution by St. Elias, until the year 1237, though they had endured and suffered great persecution from Cosroes, king of Persia, Hamar, king of Arabia, and several other Saracens. So that the number of those who shed their blood for the faith of Jesus Christ is so great that a principal writer saith : count the stars of heaven, and you may count the saints of the order of Mount Carmel. Trithemius, cap. 12. de laudibus Carmelitarum.

About the year 1237, when the Saracens, by reason of the discord among the Christians did waste the Holy Land, which Godfrid had taken out of their hands, in the year 1099. The persecutions were so bloody and cruel, that there was no more hopes that they could dwell any longer in that country : whereupon they agreed, (by common consent,) that some religious should be sent into Europe, to make foundations, that so,

I by this means they might secure and multiply the order. Many came into England, others went into Cyprus, others into Marseilles in France, and others into other provinces. Shortly after, St. Lewis, King, returned from the Holy Land, and brought with him into France, six religious men of Mount Carmel, and caused a cloister to be built for them in Paris. From whence, some time after, several religious men went into the Low Countries ; and so this celestial vine, planted by the great Prophet Elias, and watered by Eliseus, and by the blood of many thousand martyrs, being plucked up out of Mount Carmel, began to spread its branches throughout all Christendom, under the favorable protection of the most glorious Virgin Mary, who ever has been careful to defend and preserve it, as the following chapter will demonstrate.

Chapter III

How the immaculate Virgin Mary hath ever showed herself the singular Patroness and Advocate of the Holy Order of Mount Carmel ; and how she gave the Holy Scapular to St. Simon Stock.

The devil not being willing to suffer the increase of this holy order, resolved to try all his strength and machinations, in order to procure its utter ruin, and to that end he stirred up many persons against it, who in various ways did molest the religious, and oppressed them with many intolerable grievances. For, the order being yet strange and unknown in Europe, they thought easily to excite their designs, which was totally to abolish and extinguish it. But these pious devouts of the blessed Virgin, had always recourse to Almighty God, through the intercession of their sacred advocate and patroness ; and the mother of mercy never failed to assist them in their most urgent necessities, as the following examples will sufficiently make manifest.

In the year 1216, Honorius III., being Pope, and St. Cyril of Constantinople, general of the order, a persecution was raised against it, under pretext that the rule of the order was not confirmed, and, consequently, the order was not to be tolerated, according to the decrees of the Lateran Council, celebrated the year before, (1225,) under Innocent II. On the other side, those envious of the order, did maliciously endeavor by all means to hinder the confirmation of it. But the aforesaid Pope Honorius, to prevent all dangers, and to put a stop to these malicious proceedings, committed the examen of the business to two of his court, who being of them that had little affection for the order, did expressly prolong and delay the determination of things. Then the glorious Queen of Angels to make known to the world the singular care she had of her Carmelite Order, appeared to Pope

Honorius in his sleep, environed with celestial splendor, and accompanied by many angels, having a severe and most majestic countenance, she strictly commanded him to take her devoted order into his protection, and to confirm the rules that was observed in it. Also, to insinuate how efficaciously and powerfully she had decreed to protect Mount Carmel, she added these words, 'tis not to be contradicted what I command ; nor are things to be dissembled, when I am resolved to promote them. She moreover told him, that those of his court, who so maliciously deferred to conclude the business, should for punishment for their wickedness, both die miserably that night. The pope awakening out of his sleep, found that his two courtiers were dead, as the sacred Virgin had foretold him. Wherefore, with all diligence he sent for the Carmelites, and assembled the consistory of Cardinals, and punctually related whatever had happened to him ; he highly commended the holy religion of the Carmelites. He extolled the devotion of their glorious Princess, the ever blessed Virgin ; and he did most amply by his bulls, confirm the rule of the order, which he also enriched with many privileges, as may be seen in Carthagena, torn. 4, lib. 4. Lazena in annal, in this book de patronatu Mariae ; where he cites many others.