{"id":283,"date":"2018-02-27T12:51:24","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T11:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/admission-confraternity-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-14T16:51:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T15:51:49","slug":"let-our-lady","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/let-our-lady\/","title":{"rendered":"Let Our Lady’s Blue Scapular Protect You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let Our Lady’s Blue Scapular Protect You<\/h3><\/h1><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div>In our highly pictorial society, wearing the Blue Scapular communicates that we have chosen to assume a special devotion to Our Lady. It is a sign of trust that Mary Immaculate, whom we love and whom we want to serve, accepts our devotion and enfolds us in her mantle of protection.<\/p>\n

The Blue Scapular signifies our consecration to her service, our assuming certain obligations in her service, and the Church\u2019s blessing \u2014 along with our desire to receive certain graces. Thus, it becomes a shield against infernal temptations as well as a symbol that we have put on the \u201cnew person\u201d in Christ through Mary.<\/p>\n

The scapular\u2019s origins<\/strong>
\nAll of this rich imagery and the spiritual reality that it signifies had its origins many centuries ago in a garment called a scapula \u2014 meaning an arm, shoulder, and back. It consisted of two rectangular pieces of material, without sleeves, and was worn over the habit of a monk or nun.<\/p>\n

Then, in the Middle Ages, the scapular was modified for use by lay people as an outward sign of their participation in the spiritual life of a particular religious order. Many times, such an association with an order was called a confraternity, and the sign of acceptance into these sorts of spiritual communities was when a priest of the order invested a lay person with the scapular.<\/p>\n

At first, people wore the scapular over their clothing or armor. However, over time, the visible, showy piety became more discreet as people began to wear the scapular under their clothing.<\/p>\n

Today there are a number of scapulars which are recognized by the Church, and many of them are associated in some way with Our Lady and religious communities dedicated to her. The Blue Scapular \u2014 which the Marians of the Immaculate Conception have the privilege of promoting \u2014 became connected with the Marians through an order called the Theatine Fathers.<\/p>\n

The Marians and the Blue Scapular<\/strong>
\nThe Marians began to wear the scapular under their habit shortly after their founding in the late 1600s. They were then granted the privilege of propagating this devotion among the lay faithful and of establishing scapular confraternities. The Marians of old recognized that they were obliged by their very vocation to spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother.<\/p>\n

Finally, on July 3, 1992, Fr. Donald Petraitis, MIC \u2014 my predecessor as Superior General \u2014 obtained for himself and his successors a perpetual permission from the Superior General of the Theatine Fathers to bless and confer the scapular.<\/p>\n

Connected with this privilege is the right to grant a plenary indulgence at the hour of death to the faithful who wear the scapular. The permission authorizes the General Superiors of the Marians to delegate other priests (or deacons) to bless and confer the Blue Scapular.<\/p>\n

Thus \u2014 according to our tradition of more than three centuries \u2014 we Marians have been promoting the wearing of the scapular as one of the forms of devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<\/p>\n

The scapular\u2019s meaning<\/strong>
\nThe scapular has profound significance for all of the faithful. Its mystical meaning refers to the protective mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This meaning is indicated in many prayers to Our Lady. The oldest version of the Third Century prayer, \u201cUnder Your Protection,\u201d for example, contains the words: \u201cUnder the mantle of your mercy \u2026 .\u201d<\/p>\n

Mystically, it is possible to consider the scapular as a piece of Mary\u2019s mantle, received from her hands and ensuring her protection to those who wear it.<\/p>\n

Under her protection, special gifts and assistance in life are promised to those who piously wear her scapular and exhibit the proper disposition of heart. This disposition is an aid to salvation, since wearing the scapular endows one with many graces promised by the Blessed Mother and granted by the Church.<\/p>\n

Indeed, those who wear the scapular \u2014 embracing its obligations and seeking to receive the graces that are available \u2014 express their desire to become like Mary Immaculate, which means to avoid sin and to live in union with God. The people who want to wear the scapular with dignity desire to be holy!<\/p>\n

A sign God and Mary see<\/strong>
\nWe might erroneously conclude that the scapular has lost some of its significance since it is now worn under the devotee\u2019s clothing. We need to remember, though, that it is God and Mary \u2014 not the people \u2014 who see it and rejoice in it. Wearing the scapular under one\u2019s clothing is a practice in the spirit of Jesus\u2019 command: \u201cBut when you pray, go to your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you\u201d (Mt 6:6).<\/p>\n

The \u201chidden\u201d scapular is no longer a sign for the people, but a sign for God, for the Blessed Mother, and for those who wear it.<\/p>\n

As with the rosary, the scapular is intended as a sign of our conversion, unity with God, and daily striving for holiness.<\/p>\n

The Blue Scapular serves as an inspiring, perpetual reminder to each of us that under the mantle of our Blessed Mother, we will find the spiritual protection which we so earnestly seek.<\/p>\n

Fr. Adam Boniecki, MIC, was Superior General of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception from 1993 – 1999. An accomplished journalist, Fr. Adam has published many articles and served as the first editor of the Polish edition of “L’Osservatore Romano.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Fr. Adam Boniecki, MIC<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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