On September 8, 1840, the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Our Lady appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburo, a Daughter of Charity in France. In her right hand Mary held her Immaculate Heart surrounded by flames, and in her left hand she held a green scapular.

“The scapular consisted of a simple piece of green cloth, rectangular in shape, hanging from a green string. On one side was an image of Our Lady dressed in a long white gown which reached to her bare feet…On the other side of the scapular was pictured her Immaculate Heart, all ablaze and transparent as crystal, with rays pouring out that appeared more dazzling than the sun.

This Heart, pierced with a sword, was encircled by an inscription in the form of an oval and topped by a golden Cross. The inscription read:

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death.

At the same time an interior voice revealed to Sister Justine that God desired to establish among mankind a more tender and confident appreciation and love of His Most Beloved Mother by means of devotion to her through the title of her Immaculate Heart. When invoked under this title and through this holy image Our Lady would obtain great favours from her Divine Son—especially in the areas of physical health, peace of mind and spiritual conversion.

She, who is the Refuge of Sinners, would especially obtain the conversion of those who had fallen away from the True Faith, or who had never possessed it.”

Unanswered Questions

While Our Lady urged that the scapular be made and distributed as soon as possible, there were many delays. One was the fact that Our Lady had not answered many questions about the use of the scapular :

• What circumstances were necessary to make the scapular effective?
• Was there a special blessing or ceremony for enrolling persons in its use?
• Were there any obligations for those who used it?
• Was the scapular for use only by certain groups of people or in certain situations?

The Green Scapular Devotion and Uses

Exactly six years later, Mary appeared again, and Sr. Justine asked her these important questions. Our Lady’s reply was surprisingly simple and rather intriguing:

“This scapular is not like others [it is not based on a religious habit] but merely two holy images on a single piece of material. Therefore, no special formula is required to bless it or enrol someone in its use. It suffices that it be blessed by a Catholic priest and worn by the one whom we desire to benefit by Our Lady’s intercession. If, on the other hand, the person is unable, or even unwilling, to wear it or carry it, it may even be slipped, unknown to them, into their clothes, possessions, home or work environments, etc."

The Catholic Company