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.
This devotional scapular traces its roots to Venerable
Ursula Benincasa, who founded the Order of Theatine Nuns. This scapular must
have a blue woollen cloth and on one side bears a symbol of the Immaculate Conception and on the other the name or picture of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Consecrated by her parents to Mary's Immaculate Conception,
Ursula Benincasa (1547-1618), spent part of her youth and adult life as a hermit
in the region of St. Elmo, Naples.
In 1583, she founded the Congregation of the Oblates of the Immaculate
Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. She also founded the Hermitage of
the Contemplative Nuns of the Immaculate Conception. The rule of both
communities was approved by Pope Gregory XV on 7th April, 1623. On 7th
August, 1793, Pope Pius VI recognized the heroic virtues of Ursula, and
proclaimed her "Venerable".
According to legend, in 1617, in Naples, Benincasa experienced a vision in
which Jesus promised great favours for her Congregation. She then begged Jesus for the
same graces to such people who, living in the world, would have a special
devotion to the Immaculate Conception, observe chastity according to their
station in life, and wear a small blue scapular. She stated that Jesus granted
her petition and she began to make small blue scapulars. One part bears the
image of the Immaculate Conception, the other has the name of Mary. She had
them blessed, and started to distribute them. In January 1671, Pope Clement
X approved the blessing and investing of this scapular.
The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin and Mother of God Mary was
erected in 1894 in the Theatine Church of S. Andrea della Valle at Rome. It later became an Archconfraternity.
According to the statutes of the Archconfraternity, admission is effected by
the blessing and investing with the Blue Scapular, the presentation of the
small chaplet of the Immaculate Conception, and the enrolling of the name in
the register of the Confraternity.
In 1992, the Marians of the Immaculate Conception obtained
a perpetual permission from the Superior General of the Theatine
Fathers to bless and confer the blue scapular of Immaculate Conception.
The Blue Scapular is also included in the Fivefold Scapular.
The Fivefold Scapular is made of five of the most popular scapulars sewn together
on the top and connected to a single shared string