The scapular of conversion. Hand crafted by Traditional Nuns. Measures 1.75" x 2.25". The cord length measures 17". Made entirely from pure woven and shrunken English Melton Wool, with added pictures.
The Green
Scapular, called by Our Lady, “The Badge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”, was
given to the world by the Blessed Virgin Mary through a series of apparitions
to Sister Justine Bisqueyburo, a Daughter of Charity, in the early 1840’s in Paris.
On the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Sept. 8th, 1840, the Mother of God
appeared holding in her right hand her Immaculate Heart, mounted by flames and
holding in her other hand a scapular.
The scapular consisted of a simple piece of green cloth, rectangular in shape,
hanging from a green string. On one side was an image of Our Lady dressed in a
long white gown which reached to her bare feet. Over this she wore a light blue
mantle. However, she wore no veil. Instead, her hair hung loosely about her; and
in her hands she held her Heart from the top of which gushed abundant flames.
Her bearing was enhanced by a majestic beauty all heavenly. On the other side
of the scapular was pictured her Immaculate Heart, all ablaze and transparent
as crystal, with rays pouring out that appeared more dazzling than the sun.
This Heart, pierced with a sword, was encircled by an inscription in the form
of an oval and topped by a golden Cross. The inscription read:
“Immaculate
Heart of Mary, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death”.
At the same
time an interior voice revealed to Sister Justine that God desired to establish
among mankind a more tender and confident appreciation and love of His Most
Beloved Mother by means of devotion to her through the title of her Immaculate
Heart. When invoked under this title and through this holy image Our Lady would
obtain great favors from her Divine Son, especially in the areas of physical
health, peace of mind and spiritual conversion. She who is the Refuge of
Sinners would particularly obtain the conversion of those who had fallen away
from the True Faith, and those poor sinners who had no faith. Mary wanted
copies of the scapular made as soon as possible and distributed with great
confidence.
Unfortunately there were many delays. Many were caused by the normal and even
healthy skepticism of Sister’s superiors and the Church authorities. It takes
the discernment of the Church to determine if these apparitions are from
Heaven, hell or personal delusion.
Sister suffered much during this time. Finally, after a thorough investigation
and careful discernment, the local Bishop approved the apparitions and was
ready to permit the spread of this new sacramental. Our Lady, however, had
never been clear about certain aspects of this new devotion. Questions needed
to be answered. What circumstances were necessary to make the scapular
effective? Was there a special blessing for it? Was there a ceremony for
enrolling persons in its use? Were there any obligations for those who used it?
Was the scapular for use only by certain groups of people or in certain
situations?
To resolve these difficulties it was decided that Sister Justine would ask Our
Lady herself what God’s Holy Will was in these matters. Our Blessed Mother
replied during an apparition on September 8, 1846 - exactly six years after her
initial request for this “Badge of the Immaculate Heart”.
Our Lady replied that this scapular is not like others (it is not the
clothing-habit of a confraternity) but merely two holy pictures on a single
piece of material. Therefore no special formula is required to bless it or
enroll someone in its use. It suffices that it be blessed by a priest and worn
by the one whom we desire to benefit by Our Lady’s intercession. If, on the
other hand, the person is unable or even unwilling to wear it or carry it, it
may even be slipped, unknown to him, into his clothes, bed, room, or
possessions etc.
There is only one prayer that needs to be said, at least once a day:
“Immaculate heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death”. If
the person who is the intended beneficiary of the scapular’s use does not say
it, then someone else can say it in his place. The Green Scapular may be used
anywhere, for anyone. The greatest graces are attached to its use, but these
graces are more or less great in proportion to the degree of confidence of the
person praying.