The Long Rite and the Short Rite

The Long Rite

The fuller form gives more space to explaining the scapular, hearing Scripture, interceding for the faithful, and expressing the meaning of enrollment. It connects Mary’s care with baptismal fidelity, imitation of Christ, and service to the Church.

The Order of the Long Rite

1. Opening and welcome. The faithful gather before the main altar or a picture of Our Lady. An opening hymn or silence is followed by the sign of the cross and a greeting. The officiant explains the meaning of the celebration.
2. Scripture and exhortation. A person present reads a passage from Scripture. The officiant then explains the celebration, its graces, and its obligations in the light of God’s Word.
3. Intercessions. Suitable petitions are chosen, or other appropriate petitions may be added. The response is “Lord, grant that we may be clothed in Jesus Christ.”
4. Blessing and enrollment. The priest or deacon prays the blessing and sprinkles holy water. The officiant places the scapular on each recipient and speaks the enrollment formula.
5. Affiliation and conclusion. The officiant announces participation in the spiritual benefits of Carmel and explains the commitment. A solemn blessing follows, with a shorter closing option also given. An appropriate hymn to Our Lady may conclude the celebration.

When Several People are Enrolled

Section 13 permits the enrollment formula to be said once when there are many recipients and this is considered more appropriate. All respond “Amen” and approach to receive the scapular.

Understanding the Short Rite

The Alternative Rite retains the central actions of the fuller form while presenting them more briefly. Its brevity does not remove the need to explain the meaning of the scapular and the commitment it expresses.

The Order of the Short Rite

1. Opening and explanation. Before a picture of Our Lady, the officiant invites the recipients to participate worthily, makes the sign of the cross, gives the greeting, and briefly explains blessing and enrollment.
2. Scripture and intercessions. A short reading may be proclaimed. The intercessions ask that wearers be clothed in Christ, live their baptismal commitment, and grow in prayer and service. The response is “Lord, hear us.”
3. Blessing and enrollment. The priest or deacon prays the blessing and sprinkles holy water. The officiant places the scapular on the recipient, describing it as a sign of Mary’s protection and the recipient’s pledge to imitate and serve her.
4. Affiliation and closing. The officiant admits the recipient to participation in the spiritual benefits of the Order of Carmel. A short blessing concludes the rite.

The Main Differences

The Long Rite includes a developed introductory address, a reading followed by an exhortation, longer intercessions, a fuller blessing and enrollment formula, and a solemn closing blessing with an alternative.

The Short Rite has a brief explanation, a short reading that may be proclaimed, concise petitions, shorter blessing and enrollment texts, and a short closing blessing. The Long Rite’s option for a short closing blessing is distinct from using the entire Short Rite.

What Both Forms Preserve

Both express devotion to Mary, a commitment to be clothed in Christ, enrollment in the Carmelite family, and participation in the Order’s spiritual benefits. The preliminaries apply to both forms, including the use of the traditional scapular for blessing and enrollment.