Blue Scapular 1. The Blue Scapular originated in Spain and is connected with Saint Beatrice da Silva Menesses (1426-1492), a Gstercian nun. In 1484, she founded the Order of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary [Conceptionists]. One of the requirements of the Rule of Life for these nuns was to wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception beneath their white habits. The growing popularity of this form of devotion to Mary among the faithful encouraged the Conceptionist Sisters to approach the Holy See with the request for special indulgences and privileges for all those who piously wore their scapular. 2. A century later, the practice of wearing the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception began to spread in Italy. There, the Venerable Servant of God, Ursula Benincasa, born (1547) in Naples, Italy, founded the Congregation of Oblates of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1583. In Naples, Italy, after receiving Holy Communion on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in 1617, Sister Ursula received a vision of the Blessed Mother clothed in a white garment over which she wore another garment of azure blue. [The Scapular of the Immaculate Conception has since traditionally been made of blue cloth, thus, it is called the "Blue Scapular."] In her arms, Mary held the Infant Jesus. She was surrounded by many people, all attired in a similar manner.

3. The Blessed Mother addressed Sister Ursula with these words: “My daughter,” said she, “dry up your tears, your sorrow shall now be changed into pure and heavenly joy. Hearken to the words of my Divine Son, whom you have chosen for your Spouse.” Then Jesus revealed to Sister Ursula that she would found a convent where 33 nuns would live a life of solitude and seclusion and be dressed in the same attire as the Blessed Virgin Mary of her vision. The Savior promised many special graces and spiritual gifts to those who would zealously follow this way of life. From 1633, Sister Ursula's community accepted the title, Theatines of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. In her great charity, she wished that these gracious promises might be extended to all the faithful. She, therefore, besought fervently the Mother of Mercy to extend them to all those who would wear a Blue Scapular, honor the Immaculate Conception, and fulfill the duties of their state in life. Her prayer was granted, and she immediately beheld a great multitude of angels busily engaged in distributing the Blue Scapular among the faithful.

4. Rumors of her visions and ecstasies excited complaint, and she was called to Rome. She was questioned by Gregory XIII, who placed her under the direction of Saint Philip Neri. He was much impressed by her piety. In 1583 she established near Castel Saint Elmo the Oblate Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called Theatine Nuns.

Their rule included simple vows, active life, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1617 she founded the contemplative Hermitesses. The rules of both were approved by Gregory XV in 1623. She introduced the wearing of the blue scapular of the Immaculate Conception. This scapular must have a blue woolen cloth and on one side bears a symbolization of the Immaculate Conception and on the other the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Venerable Ursula Benincasa stated in her autobiography that Jesus granted her petition for the favorable graces to be given to the faithful that wore the blue scapular devoutly. She began to distribute these small blue scapulars, after they had been blessed by a priest. 5. In January 1671 Pope Clement X approved the blessing and investing of this scapular. Several years later, Clement XI granted specific indulgences for the wearing of this scapular and succeeding popes increased the number of such indulgences. The summary of the indulgences was approved by the Congregation of Indulgences first in 1845. 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, and was granted various indulgences. It later became an Archconfraterity so it could grant indulgences to other Confraternities. According to the statutes of the Confraternity admission is effected by:  The Blessing and Investing with the Blue Scapular  The Presentation of the Small Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception  The Enrolling of the name in the Register of the Confraternity. In 1910, Pope Pius X gave his permission for substituting the blue cloth scapular with a medal. On the face of the medal, there should be an image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; on the reverse side, there should be an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In either form, the scapular should be worthily worn both day and night. Note: 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.

Those who wear the Blue Scapular declare solemnly that they want to dedicate their lives to God alone, just as Mary did, by participating in the spirituality and privileges of the Theatine and Marian orders. Although lay people accepted into the Confraternity are not obliged to abide by the strict disciplines of these religious orders, they are obliged to avoid sin and to live in union with God with Mary Immaculate as their model.

6. Members of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception who wear the Blue Scapular are recommended to follow these practices:  Become worthy of the maternal love of the Immaculate Queen of the Scapular by living a life free from the stain of sin;  Imitate the virtues of the Blessed Mother and spread her honor;  Visit churches frequently and pray to the Most Holy Mother;  Spread the scapular devotion and encourage others to join the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception;  Practice voluntary self-denial, mortification, and active love of neighbor as often as possible;  Invoke Mary’s protection with short, ardent prayers;  Participate in and support the spirituality and work of the Congregation of Marians through prayer and alms and pray for good, holy Marian vocations. 7. The acceptance of the Blue Scapular means the assumption of specific responsibilities that refer to the rule of life of the Congregation of Marian priests and brothers. Those who wear the Blue Scapular promise to fulfill certain obligations as Members of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, namely to:  Show special devotion for the Most Holy Virgin Mary in the mystery of her Immaculate Conception;  Wear the Blue Scapular;  Live a life of chastity according to one's state in life [religious, married, single];  Pray for the sick and dying, for the souls suffering in Purgatory, for the conversion of sinners, for God's Mercy on the whole world, and for the Souls of the deceased Members of the Confraternity;  Receive the Sacraments frequently, especially on the Feasts and solemnities of the B.V.M.;  Recite [daily, if possible] The Chaplet of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the B.V.M., or The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. Indulgences: All indulgences are plenary* under the usual conditions. 1. Day of investiture with the Scapular 2. February 2: Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) 3. Easter Sunday & 40-days after Easter. 4. August 7: Feast of St. Cajetan, founder of the Theatines 5. August 15: Feast of the Assumption 6. December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception

7. December 25: Christmas Day 8. At the moment of one’s death. 9. Kissing the scapular gains a partial indulgence each time. 10. Confraternity members also benefit from Masses offered on their behalf by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

CHAPLET OF VIRTUES Ten Evangelical Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This prayer, contained in the Rule of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been passed on by tradition in the Marian Order. The Virtues Chaplet is a decima (one decade), for recitation of the Virtues of Mary. If you want to live a truly holy life today, one of the best ways is to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her Ten Evangelical Virtues shine through the Holy Scriptures as a glorious way to salvation for each of us. We can reflect on Mary’s virtues and invoke her powerful, maternal intercession by praying the “Chaplet of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary”, a great Marian devotional tradition. The White Marians carried their chaplet or decima with them all their lives, and were buried still holding it in their hands. This chaplet was given to each White Marian on the first day of his religious life, when he was vested in his habit. “The Chaplet of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary” was the Marians’ everyday prayer for almost two and a half centuries. In fact, in Marian iconography, paintings of our Marian Founder, Fr. Stanislaus Papczynski, and Fr. Casimir Wyszynski typically depict them holding their chaplet beads. Perhaps the Venerable Servant of God, Fr. Casimir understood and expressed best the spiritual significance of this powerful prayer when he wrote in the introduction to the book called “The Morning Star”: “Although our most beloved Lady was shining with innumerable virtues, all but ten were difficult not only to imitate, but even to understand, because, through them, Our Lady surpassed the angels themselves, let alone the holiest of men. The Holy Spirit desired that the Gospels recount for us only those ten virtues since they can be acquired not by Mary alone, but by all of us.”

With these stirring words of encouragement to each of you as our Marian Helpers, here are simple directions for praying the Chaplet. I encourage you to pray it with all your heart and reflect on Our Lady’s virtues. This prayer, contained in the Rule of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been passed on by tradition in the Marian Order. First of all we make the sign of the Cross, then we recite one Our Father, followed by ten Hail Mary’s, mentioning after the words “Holy Mary, Mother of God”, one virtue, in the following order:

Each followed by the normal, “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” V. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. R. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. V. In Your Conception, O Virgin Mary, You were Immaculate. R. Pray for us to the Father whose son, Jesus, you brought forth into the world. Let us pray. Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. V. The Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception R. Be our Health and our Protection.