Green

In addition to the , the Virgin Mary chose to use St. Vincent de Paul’s Daughters of Charity to reveal a second great : the .

Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu in Paris, France, on January 28, 1840 (a Seminary Sister of the Daughters of Charity) and commended the Green Scapular to her. Sr. Justine was hesitant at first, but eventually revealed the devotion to her Spiritual Director Fr. Aladel (who was also the director of St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal). After much delay, the were produced and distributed with many conversions and cures following.

It’s known as “the Scapular of Conversion”, and its promises are the strengthening of faith, protection against Satan, a happy death for Catholics, and, most of all, for conversion for those outside the Church. It’s to be worn or carried by the faithful, or given to an unbeliever for their conversion. The following prayer is to be said daily by the wearer: “, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” Or in Latin: “Cor immaculatum Mariae, ora pro nobis nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.”

If the scapular is given to an unbeliever for their conversion, the person giving the scapular prays the prayer for them if the unbeliever does not want to pray the prayer himself. If the unbeliever does not want the scapular, it may be hidden in their vicinity and the prayers said for him. Enrollment in a is not necessary for this scapular, but the scapular should be blessed by a before use. The Green Scapular emphasized the theme of Mary’s . Blessed Pope Pius IX twice strongly recommended its promotion and use.

Practices 1. Wear or carry the scapular 2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room) 3. Pray, at least daily: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” 4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray themselves) 5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest (general blessing of ) 6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:

“The greatest graces come from using the scapular but these graces come in direct proportion to the degree of confidence in me which the user has.”

Promises/Benefits 1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith 2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith 3. Assurance of a happy death 4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church 5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular

Pope Pius IX (13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest reigning Pope in Church history, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed Papal infallibility. The Pope defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, meaning that Mary was conceived without original sin and that she lived a life completely free of sin.

Picture of Pius IX (1846-1878) in 1877 Eternal Prayer

Oh most Merciful Father, today I beg Thee to accept my sincere act of love in consecrating my entire life to Thy Son’s most . I do this not alone my dearest Father, but through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Green Scapular. With her heart so pierced with the seven sorrows, at the beginning of Thy Son’s life until His tortuous death, she cries daily for those who choose not to love Thy Divine Son, Jesus. Even today with so many souls choosing to spend their eternity in Hell, she longs for our intercession to bring others to know and love our God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We ask then Almighty Father that Thou wouldst permit us to place all these souls in Mother's hands, those whom have touched our life in some way. We wish to consecrate today our family members, friends, yes even our enemies; to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We know that Thou, our Divine Majesty, wilt refuse Thy Son nothing, and that Thy beloved Son can refuse His Mother nothing when it comes to the salvation of souls. I make this act of Eternal Consecration only once, my Merciful Father, and beg Thee to apply its merits to those whom have their names placed on a Green Scapular. We offer for those souls Thy Son's most beloved Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, along with the , prayers, joys, sacrifices and sufferings of each day, past and present until the end of our lives.

We know with great confidence that the Queen of the Green Scapular will not rest until she secures the gift of Final Perseverance for all those living souls clothed in her Green Scapular. She will beckon her Divine Son for, not only the spiritual conversion back to Thee, Eternal Father, but also physical cures of those whose mission on this earth requires Thy Son's gift of a physical healing.

Most holy Lord, Father Almighty, if it be Thy Divine Will, allow me to serve Thy Son and His Mother daily in this struggle against the infernal enemy, where together in Communion of Thy Son’s , we may bring forth the reign of the Immaculate Heart by placing the entire world on Her Green Scapular. Amen.

For the Chair of Peter, the Pope’s intentions: (Please recite one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.)