Devotion to the Madonna: do you know the devotion to the green scapular?
Ten years after the great gift of the Miraculous Medal by means of Sta Caterina Labouré, the SS. Virgo, on January 28, 1840, brought the scapular of her Immaculate Heart to another humble Daughter of Charity.
It is truly called "scapular" in an improper way, because it is not the dress of a brotherhood, but simply the union of two pious images, sewn on a single piece of green cloth, with a ribbon of the same color to pin it.
Here is its origin.
Sister Giustina Bisqueyburu (1817-1903)
He was born in Mauléon (Low Pyrenees) in France on 11 November 1817, in a wealthy family and was educated to piety and nobility of mind. At 22, however, resolutely he said farewell to the world and what a comfortable life promised her, to follow the Lord and serve the poorest of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
He arrived in Paris in the company of Fr. Giovanni Aladel, the prudent director of Sta Caterina Labouré and, having completed his novitiate at the mother house, was applied to the school in Blagny (lower Seine).
Then she moved to Versailles for the service of the sick and then, in 1855, we found her in Constantinople with a group of sisters, to treat the soldiers wounded in the Crimean war.
In 1858 obedience entrusted her with the direction of the large military hospital in Dey (Algiers), an office she held for nine years.
Called back from Africa, she served the sick and wounded soldiers of the Pontifical Army in Rome and was then transferred to the Carcassona hospital in Provence. After 35 years of self-sacrifice and charity towards the sick, he went to enjoy the right reward in heaven on September 23, 1903.
His last words were: "Love the SS. Virgo, love her very much. She is so beautiful! », Without making the slightest mention of her companions about the revelations with which Our Lady had favored her.
The apparitions of the SS. Virgin
Sister Giustina had arrived in Paris on November 27, 1839, too late to participate in the great retreat which had ended a few days earlier. He therefore had to wait for the retirement in January 1840 to "enter into vocation", as was said then.
It was in the retreat room, where a beautiful statue of the Madonna stood out, rich in history, that the nun had the first manifestation of the Celestial Mother, on January 28, 1840 (See Appendix: Our Lady of the Mission).
She wore a long white robe - said the nun later -, and a celestial mantle without a veil. Her hair was scattered over her shoulders and she held her Immaculate Heart in her right hand, topped with symbolic flames.
The apparition was repeated several times during the months of the novitiate, without Our Lady expressing herself in any way, so much so that the visionary interpreted these heavenly favors as a personal gift, for the simple purpose of increasing her devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary .
On September 8, however, the SS. Virgo completed his message of mercy and expressed his will. Sister Giustina had already been in Blagny's house for some time.
Maria's attitude was that of the other manifestations with the Immaculate Heart in her right hand. In his left hand, however, he held a scapular, or rather a "medallion" of green cloth, with a ribbon of the same color. On the front face of the medallion the Madonna was depicted, while on the rear face her Heart stood out, pierced by a sword, beaming with light as if it were crystal and surrounded by the significant words: «Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and in the hour of our death! ».
It was a single piece of green cloth of rectangular shape and of mediocre size.
A distinct voice made the visionary understand the desire of the Madonna: to package and spread the scapular and the ejaculatory system, to obtain the healing of the sick and the conversion of sinners, especially at the point of death. In subsequent demonstrations similar to this, the hands of the SS. Virgo filled with shining rays, which rained towards the earth, as in the apparitions of the Miraculous Medal, symbol of the graces that Mary obtains from God for us. When Sister Giustina decided to talk about these things and the desire of the Madonna on p. Aladel obviously found him very cautious or even skeptical.
Required conditions
Some time passed, but then finally, after an initial approval, perhaps only oral, made by the Archbishop of Paris, Mons. Affre, the scapular was made and used privately, obtaining unexpected conversions. In 1846, the p. Alabel exposed to the seer some difficulties that arose and asked her to ask the Madonna for a solution. In particular, it was desired to know if the scapular should be blessed with a special faculty and formula, if it should be "imposed" liturgically, and if the people who carried it piously, should make particular daily practices and prayers.
The SS. Virgo, on September 8, 1846, replied with a new apparition to Sister Giustina, suggesting the following:
1) Not being a real scapular, but only a pious image, any priest can bless him.
2) It must not be imposed liturgically.
3) No particular daily prayers are required. It is enough to repeat the prayer with faith: "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death!".
4) In the event that the sick person cannot or does not want to pray, those who assist him pray for him with the ejaculatory, while the scapular can be placed, even without his knowledge, under the pillow, between his clothes, in his bedroom. The essential is to accompany the use of the scapular with prayer and with great love and trust in the intercession of the SS. Virgin. Graces are commensurate with the degree of confidence.
Therefore it is not a "magical" thing, but a blessed material object, which must arouse in the heart and mind feelings of penance and love for God and the Holy Virgin and therefore of conversion.