The scapular–a necklace that nearly every MC student wears in some way, whether around their neck, in their pocket, even hung up on the rear view mirror of their car.

There are always stories of running into MC grads around the world and the similarity between them is usually recognizing the scapular. It is an identifier like none other that shows who one is to anyone who knows to look.

Not just that, but it signifies commitment to Our Lady Mount Carmel. MC is a Catholic school and religion plays a big part in the day to day operations.

Also, it draws people together. It is a tradition that has connected so many brothers in a way that is just unheard of.

Mount Carmel wouldn’t be Mount Carmel without the scapular.

There are always stories of running into Carmel grads in the strangest places, and the scapular is one of the most distinguishing things that makes them recognizable.

“When I was in Rome on my honeymoon twenty-five years ago, I was wearing a scapular, and I was in a shop and a lady asked me with a European accent if I was from Chicago,” said Mr. Bill Nolan ’87, Dean of Faculty at MC. “I said, ‘Yeah,’ and she goes, ‘I was at the University of Chicago in the early seventies and I remember the boys from Mount Carmel always had those brown things on so I always think of Mount Carmel when I see those.’ I’ve been to airports in California where somebody sees the scapular and goes ‘Go Caravan.’ People from Chicago, especially the South Side, the scapular is really identifiable to Mount Carmel men.”

This has happened to many Carmel grads and it continues to happen.

“It’s integral to Mount Carmel in that there are many stories about people running into somebody they didn’t know in an airport or a store or whatever, seeing the scapular and asking did you go to Mount Carmel,” said Father Jim Lewis, O. Carm. ’72. “Often the answer is yes. It’s just not Mount Carmel kids who wear the scapular but the particular way the kids do wear it is pretty much reserved to MC.”

The special thing about it is that it’s not something that grads get told to do. There isn’t an instruction to wear the scapular for the rest of your life, yet so many alumnus do.

“Yes, I do,” said Mr. Nolan fondly. “It’s an identifier. It identifies who you are. It’s just like Notre Dame guys wear rings and Carmel guys wear the scapular. It’s a symbol of our pride and our history. Other schools have tried to copy it so they would have some kind of ritual identifying the piece of dedication that they wear.”

The scapulars are given out at Freshman Late Night, as well as to transfer students during an all-school mass early in the year Some students, however, come into Carmel already having one.

“I had a scapular as a child,” said Mr. Nolan. “My dad went to Carmel and my brothers, so I had a scapular when I was about ten years old. So the one we got here was not my first scapular.”

The scapular also has a lot of religious significance.

“It’s meant to offer a holy observance,” said Fr. Lewis. “Which I think the scapular does well. We take it a step further here by saying we are attached to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, she is our patroness, and by wearing the scapular you are enrolled in this observance that has been passed down for decades.”

When freshmen get their first scapulars they are being indoctrinated into the Carmelite family in a way.

“We are now more intentional in saying we are enrolling you in the scapular as first year students,” said Fr. Lewis. “Even to the point where if we missed anyone we make sure that the next mass we call them all up. For one reason or another they didn’t receive the scapular so we make sure that they do.”

Alumni who wear the scapular after graduation are always reminded of their roots in Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

“They believe in what it represents,” said Fr. Lewis. “Not only an attachment to carmel but they like the symbol that it represents and bringing them closer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel as well as Jesus Christ. This is not only for Mary, not only for Carmel but a greater observance and discipleship in the work of Jesus.”

Many families that have been sending their men to MC for decades have adopted the scapular as significant as well. Having something to draw them together.

“For me it’s about family at the heart of it,” said Mr. Nolan. “You know my brothers and my dad always wore it. My dad gave me my first scapular and then when my dad died I was able to take my scapular off and put it on my dad as he died because they had to cut his off when he went to the hospital. For me It’s important to me. It’s about family, tradition. It’s about beginning and end. My dad helped me begin my life with the scapular and I helped end his with a scapular. There’s hundreds of stories like that.”

The brotherhood at MC is one big family, and the football team likes to make sure everybody knows that wherever they go.

“With the football team the tradition of tying one up on the goalposts at every home game and even every away game it has become a ritual to hang one up,” said senior Marty Mann. “Kind of letting the other team know that we are bringing everything that comes with us here to your stadium. We are bringing our brotherhood.”

The scapular is a huge part of going to MC, and many alumni when asked about it will reach into their shirt and pull one out. It is so significant that so many choose to wear it so many years after they have graduated.

“It’s a great tradition here at Mount Carmel,” said Mann. “Again it signifies the brotherhood, the faith, and the will to win at Mount Carmel.”