Editing Scapular (section)

===Non-monastic reduced scapular===
Some authors suggest that the tradition of wearing a reduced form of a non-monastic scapular started in the 11th century with [[Saint Peter Damian]] and the monastic scapular was gradually transformed from an item of clothing that was part of the habit of monks and nuns to a smaller item that expressed devotion by individuals, called [[oblate]]s, who lived in the world, but wished to be affiliated with a monastery.<ref>Greg Dues, 1992, ''Catholic Customs and Traditions'', Twenty-Third Publications {{ISBN|0-89622-515-1}} pages 127 and 185</ref>

In the [[Middle Ages]], it became common for Christian faithful to share in the [[spirituality]] of the new [[mendicant orders]] in an auxiliary sense, sometimes called [[Third Orders]] because they were founded after the initial orders of the friars and nuns. Although these people (called [[Third order|Tertiaries]]) were permitted to wear the "tertiary habit", because they had not taken [[religious vows]] they were not usually permitted to wear the full habit of the order. With time, it was considered a high honor and great privilege to be granted a small cloth attached by bands which would be worn over the torso in the same manner as the full monastic scapular. [[Confraternity|Confraternities]] came to be formed in which people would be granted the wearing of this item as a mark of their sharing in the good works of a particular order.<ref>Ann Ball, 2003 ''Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices'' {{ISBN|0-87973-910-X}} page 512</ref> Among [[Franciscans]], they were known as ''Cordbearers'', due to their also wearing a small cord around the waist in imitation of the one worn by the [[friar]].{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

After the disruptions of religious life during the period of the [[French Revolution]] and the [[Napoleon]]ic invasions of France and Italy, wearing of the tertiary habit became prohibited. Thus it eventually became common that a smaller form of an order's scapular would be bestowed upon the non-monastic. Rather than a full length of cloth, it consisted of two rectangles (several inches wide, and much larger than a modern devotional scapular) of wool joined by bands in some fashion. These are still worn today by the "Third Order" members of the [[Franciscans]], [[Carmelites]], and [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]]. In order to gain the benefits of the order, the members must wear these scapulae constantly. However, in 1883 in his "''Constitution On the Law of the Franciscan Third Order''" called ''[[Misericors Dei Filius]]'', [[Pope Leo XIII]] declared that wearing either these medium-sized scapulae of the "Third Order" or the miniature forms of the smaller devotional scapular entitled the wearer equally to gain the indulgences associated with the order.<ref>''[[Misericors Dei Filius]]'' at the Franciscan Archive [http://www.franciscan-archive.org/bullarium/mdf-e.html]</ref>
Some religious orders still give a short version (sometimes called the "reduced scapular", but this usage is archaic) of their large scapular to non-monastics that are spiritually affiliated with them. Such short scapulars are designed to be unobtrusive and can be worn under regular clothing at home and at work.