Answer: According to Carmelite tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, the Prior General of the Carmelite Order, on July 16, 1251, during a time of great difficulty for the Order. She presented him with the Brown Scapular, promising her special protection to those who wore it faithfully. Though the event is considered a pious legend rather than a verified historical occurrence, the Vatican has long recognized the devotion, and the Brown Scapular remains a cherished symbol of Marian intercession and Carmelite spirituality.