By Jacqueline Kelly –
In continuation with yesterday’s reflection on ‘The Scapular: Cloak of Armour,’ today we look different kinds of scapulars:
WHITE SCAPULAR
Order of the Most Holy Trinity [Trinitarians] A.D. 1198
“The Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity” is the badge of the members of the Confraternity of the Most Blessed Trinity and the Secular Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity. Its front depicts a red and blue Cross, and it first came about in 1198 when a Spanish Priest, John of Matha, had a vision of an angel wearing a white robe adorned with a Cross whose vertical line was red and whose cross-beam was blue [this Cross design came to be on the habit of the Trinitarian Order]. The General of the Trinitarians may grant the faculty of investment with this scapular to other priests.
Also read the first part:
The Scapular: Cloak of Armour
BLACK SCAPULAR
Order of Friar Servants of Mary [Servites] A.D. 1240
“The Black Scapular of the Seven Dolors of Mary” or “Our Lady of Sorrows Scapular”, has on its front a depiction of Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lady appeared to seven rich and prominent citizens of Florence who decided to give up their worldly possessions and follow Christ, promising to honour His Mother in her sorrows.
Thus, began the Servite Order. Mary gave them the Servite habit and said that “these garments shall be to you a perpetual memory of the sufferings of my heart. “This is the more common Black Scapular”. The General of the Servite Order may grant the faculty of investment with this scapular to other priests.
BLACK SCAPULAR
Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ [Passionists] C.a. A.D. 1720
Saint Paul of the Cross, before founding of the Congregation of the Passionists, received in apparitions the black habit of the Order with the badge on the breast. Later, after the foundation of the congregation, the Passionist Fathers gave the faithful who wished to associate themselves more closely with their Order a black scapular in honour of the Passion of Christ. “The Black Scapular of the Passion” has a replica of the emblem worn on the habits of the Passionists. It includes the words “Jesu XPI Passio” and below “sit simper in cordibus nostris.”
The Superior General of the Passionists may grant to other priests the faculty to bless and invest someone with this scapular.
BLUE SCAPULAR
Clerics Regular [Theatines] A.D. 1605
“The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception” 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].The practise of wearing this scapular spread to Italy and the Venerable Ursula Benicasa
[1547-1618] founded the Congregation of Oblates of the Immaculate
Conception of Divine Virgin Mary in 1583. 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 of Azuke Blue. Since then the scapular has been traditionally made of blue cloth and called the Blue Scapular.
To her, Christ promised favour to the Theatine Order and she asked Him to extend those promises to those who associated themselves with the Order through the faithful wearing of the scapular. The Blue Scapular is worn for the conversion of sinners.
Enrolment in the Theatine Confraternity is necessary for investment with this scapular.
GREEN SCAPULAR
Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul [Paulists] A.D. 1840
In 1840, Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu [a Seminary Sister of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul] in Paris, France and commended the Green Scapular to her. It is also called the “Badge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”, approved by Pope Pius IX in 1870. The Green Scapular is not descended from the scapulars that form part of the habit worn by religious orders. It is described as a “cloth medal”.
It is also known as “the Scapular of Conversion” and its promises are the strengthening of faith, protection against Satan, a happy death and most of all, for conversion for those outside the Church. It should be blessed by a Priest and 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: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death”.
Enrolment in a Confraternity is not necessary for this scapular.
RED SCAPULAR
Priests of the Mission [Lazarists] A.D. 1846
“The Red Scapular of the Passion” came about when a Sister of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul had a vision of Christ in 1846 in which He promised an increase in the theological virtues [Faith, Hope and Charity] of those who wore the scapular faithfully and contemplated His Passion.
One side of the scapular shows Christ on the Cross, with the words, “Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ Save us”; the other side shows the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of His mother with the words,
“Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, protect us”.
Pope Pius IX granted the Priests of the Mission [“Lazarists”] the faculty of investing the faithful with this scapular, and the Superior General of the Lazarists may allow other priests this faculty.
SCAPULAR OF SAINT JOSEPH [Capuchin] A.D. 1880
A gold and violet-coloured scapular with a white cord, the front shows St. Joseph holding the child Jesus in one arm and a staff of lilies on the other. Underneath are the words, “St. Joseph, patron of the Church, pray for us.” On the back of the scapular is the papal crown under a dove as the symbol of the Holy Ghost. Beneath are the Cross, the keys of St. Peter, and the inscription:
“Spiritus Domini ductor eius” [The Spirit of the Lord is His Guide].
The Scapular is to remind us of St. Joseph’s virtues [humility, modesty, purity]; to remind us to pray to St. Joseph, asking him to pray for the Church; and to assist the dying since St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death.
In addition to the above benefits, there is a plenary indulgence for those who confess, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father on the following feast days: 25 December, the day of investment of the scapular, January 1, 6 January, 2 February, 19 March, 25 March, Easter, Feast of the Ascension, 15 August, 8 September, 8 December, 3rd Sunday after Easter and at the time of death.
It is recommended also to say 5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Marys and 5 Glorias before the Blessed Sacrament at these times.
FIVE-FOLD SCAPULAR
The Five-Fold Scapular is made of 5 of the following above mentioned scapulars:
- First, “The Red Scapular of the Passion”
- Second, “The White Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity”
- Third, “The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”
- Fourth, “The Black Scapular of the Seven Dolors of Mary” and
- “The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception”.
Any Priest can invest you with this scapular.
When we wear a scapular, Our Blessed Mother covers us with her pure mantle, just as she covered her Son with swaddling clothes.