St. Simon Stock & the Brown Scapular: A Life of Carmelite Devotion (Joanne Wright) - 7/16/25

7/16/25 - St. Simon Stock was a 13th-century English Carmelite friar whose life helped shape the future of the Carmelite Order during a critical time of transition from the deserts of Mount Carmel to the cities of Europe. Born in Kent and said to have lived as a hermit in the hollow of a tree (earning him the name "Stock"), he was known for his deep asceticism and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1251, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared to him in Aylesford, England, and gave him the Brown Scapular, with the promise that "those who die wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire." This vision sparked widespread Marian devotion and established the scapular as one of the most beloved sacramentals in the Church. Through his leadership, mystical experiences, and enduring spiritual influence, St. Simon Stock remains a model of Carmelite spirituality rooted in humility, prayer, and total trust in Our Lady.