Devotion to the green scapular: what Our Lady said, short story
It is improperly called the Scapular. It is not in fact the dress of a confraternity, but simply the union of two pious images, sewn onto a small piece of green cloth. On January 28, 1840, a young novice of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Sister Giustine Bisqueyburu (who died on September 23, 1903) was favored for the first time by a heavenly vision. During a retreat, while she was praying, the Madonna appeared to her in a long white dress, which went down to her bare feet, with a light blue mantle, without a veil. His hair was loose on his shoulders and he held his Immaculate Heart in his right hand, pierced by a sword, from which abundant flames came out. The apparition is repeated several times during the months of the seminary, without Our Lady expressing herself in any way, so much so that Giustine feels it as a wonderful personal gift, to increase her devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On September 8, however, the Holy Virgin completes her message and expresses her will. Most Holy Mary appears with the Immaculate Heart in her right hand. In his left hand, he holds a "scapular", a small piece of green cloth of rectangular shape, with a ribbon of the same color. On the front is depicted the Madonna, while on the back stands the Heart pierced by a sword, shining with light and surrounded by the words:
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death!
An inner voice introduces Sister Giustine to Mary's desire: 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 manifestations, the hands of the Holy Virgin are filled with luminous rays, which descend towards the earth, as in the apparitions of the Miraculous Medal, a symbol of the graces that Mary obtains from God for us. When Sister Giustine decides to recount these events on p. Aladel, she is invited to prudence. Finally, after an initial approval by the Archbishop of Paris, Msgr. Affre, we begin to package the Scapular and use it privately, obtaining unexpected conversions. In 1846, p. Aladel begs Sister Giustine to ask Our Lady herself if the Scapular should be blessed with special faculty and formula, if it must be "imposed" liturgically, and if the people who wear it, must engage in particular practices and daily prayers. Mary, on September 8, 1846, responded with a new apparition to Sister Giustine, stating that any priest can bless him, not being a real scapular, but only a pious image. He adds that it should not be imposed liturgically and that it does not require a particular daily prayer. Simply repeat the ejaculatory faithfully:
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death!
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, among his clothes, in his room. The essential is to accompany the use of the Scapular with prayer and with great love and trust in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The greater the confidence, the more graces will take place.