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A History of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception
This painting, the work of Marian Fr. John Niezabitowski (1744-1804), represents one of the main goals of the Marian Fathers: assisting suffering souls in Purgatory. It is displayed in the Marian monastery in Skorzec, Poland.
What is a scapular?
The scapular (the word comes from the Latin scapula — meaning an arm, shoulders, and back) is a garment consisting of two wide, rectangular pieces of material, without sleeves, slipped over the head onto the habit of a religious. It is a part of the religious dress of some orders like the Benedictines or the Dominicans. Sometimes a hood, in the East known as the analobo, is attached to the scapular. This type of dress was introduced in the 5th century by St. Benedict as a scapolare propter opera — that is, an apron worn to protect the habit during physical work.
Over time this scapolare underwent some changes. It gradually became longer, and the material from which it was made changed as well. It was no longer a protective garment but a symbol, a sign of dedication to God. Spiritual writers spoke of it as iugum Christi — the yoke of Christ. In the 12th century, the Rules of the Servites, Benedictines in certain abbeys, and Carmelites required that the monks wear their scapulars while they slept as a source of spiritual protection through the night.
In the Middle Ages, when many lay people wished to participate in some way in the spiritual life of the religious orders, various religious associations like "Third Orders," "Confraternities," and "Oblates" were established. The sign of acceptance into the spiritual community was the vesting of the scapular to identify its members as belonging to each distinctive, religious order.
Types of Scapulars
Various types of scapulars exist depending on what religious order they are associated with. The origin of most of them is connected with an apparition of the Blessed Mother ordering a particular monk to promote a particular type of scapular. A few can be mentioned here: the "blue" scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the oldest scapular, the "white" scapular of the Trinitarians of the Holy Trinity, dates back to the year 1200; the "brown" Carmelite scapular originated in 1251; and the "black" scapular of the Servites of the Blessed Mother of Sorrows in 1255.
St. Beatrice da Silva e Menezes
(1426–1492)
The majority of the scapulars have a particular affinity with the Mother of God, not only because they were connected with a particular Marian apparition, which then began the tradition of a particular scapular, but also because of the devotion associated with the practice of wearing a scapular and the indulgences attached to it. The most revered, known, and popular among the Marian scapulars is the Carmelite one. Its origin is shrouded in legend. According to spoken tradition and the Chronicles of the Carmelite Order, the Virgin Mary personally gave this scapular to the venerable and especially devout Superior General of the Carmelites, Saint Simon Stock, in 1251. The Blessed Mother is believed to have promised that whoever wore the Carmelite scapular would not suffer the fires of hell.
At first, people wore the scapular over their clothing or armor, and with particular pride on solemn occasions. But over time the visible, showy piety became more discreet, and people began to wear the scapular under their clothing. Consequently, it had to become somewhat smaller in size, but its basic design remained the same: two pieces of cloth joined by ribbons, which were vested over the head. Sometimes the material was decorated with an embroidered or painted picture. The scapular was now hidden from the eyes of others so when it became exposed or revealed — like in the famous painting by Matejko showing the prostrate figure of Reytan with the scapular visible on his bare chest — it became a powerful witness to people.
St. Beatrice da Silva e Menezes
The scapular was always vested by persons authorized to do so and always according to strictly defined ceremonies ending with a special blessing. The acceptance of the scapular meant, in each case, the assumption of specific responsibilities which, in their essence, referred to the rule of life of a particular religious community.
The Church has always looked favorably upon scapulars, endowing them with indulgences, defining their prerogatives, establishing conditions of investiture, and even designating their shape, size, and the method of wearing them. On December 6, 1910, by the decree of the Congregation of the Holy Office, Pope Pius X permitted the substitution of each scapular with a medal bearing the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The regulations regarding its investiture in this new form, and the indulgences and blessings connected with it, remained unchanged.
The idea of allowing lay people to participate in the spiritual life of religious orders has at all times been something positive and precious in the eyes of the Church. By receiving a scapular, lay people inherited a "miniature habit," expressed in the gesture of receiving a "new vestment" — even if this vestment was only symbolic (the scapular was also called "a miniature habit").
The Blue Scapular
The Blue Scapular originated in Spain and is connected with the person of St. Beatrice da Silva e Menezes (1426-1492). At first, a lady-in-waiting at the court of the Catholic Queen Isabella I of Castile, Spain, she subsequently became a Cistercian nun. In 1484, she founded the Order of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary (Conceptionists) in Toledo, Spain. The new order was approved by Pope Julius II in 1511.
Venerable Ursula Benincasa
(1547–1618)
One of the requirements of the Rule of Life for this order was to wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception beneath the Order's white habit. 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.
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 (1547-1618), founded the Congregation of the Oblates of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1583. The rule of this order was approved by Pope Gregory XV on April 7, 1623.
In 1617, in Naples, Italy, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, after receiving Holy Communion, Sister Ursula had a vision of the Blessed Mother clothed in a white garment over which she wore another garment of azure blue. In her arms, Mary held the Infant Jesus. She was surrounded by many people, all attired in a similar manner.
The Blessed Mother addressed Sister Ursula with these words: "Cease weeping, Ursula, and change your sighs into heartfelt joy. Listen attentively to what Jesus, whom I am holding in my lap, will say to you."
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.
A vision of Venerable Ursula Benincasa from 1617.
Sister Ursula besought the Lord to extend these favors also to those who, living in the world, would have a special devotion to the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, observe chastity according to their state of life, and wear a small blue scapular. As a sign that her prayer had been heard, Jesus showed Sister Ursula during this ecstatic vision a multitude of angels distributing the scapulars over the entire earth. This scene is captured artistically in a fresco at the Theatine Sisters' Convent in Naples.
Overwhelmed with joy, Sister Ursula personally made scapulars similar to those which she saw in her vision, asked to have them blessed, and distributed them among the faithful. It was still during the Servant of God's lifetime that the practice of wearing the Blue Scapular began to spread quickly. After Ursula's death, her spiritual daughters recognized the promotion of this scapular as the special mission of their order. On August 7, 1793, Pope Pius VI acknowledged the heroic virtues of Ursula, and proclaimed her a Venerable Servant of God.
In 1633, the Theatine Fathers, on the occasion of their general chapter, recognized the Oblates of the Immaculate Conception and the community of contemplative nuns founded according to the vision of Venerable Ursula as branches of their order. From that time both communities mentioned accepted the title Theatines of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM. Thereupon the Theatine Fathers also began to propagate the devotion of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, a task given to them officially by Pope Clement X on January 30, 1671. At the Theatine Fathers' request, he granted privileges and indulgences to the Blue Scapular in a special apostolic brief. These were similar in scope to those obtained by the Conceptionist Sisters in the 15th century. Another Pope, Clement XI, endowed this scapular with other indulgences which he mentioned in his apostolic letter dated May 12, 1710.
Indulgences attached to the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.
Those who wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception can receive a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions* on the following days:
— The day of investiture with the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception;
— The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8;
— The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15;
— Christmas Day, December 25;
— Easter Sunday;
— The feast of the Ascension;
— The feast of St. Cajetan (the founder of the Theatine Order), August 7.
*To gain a plenary indulgence:
• a soul must be in the state of grace and free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin;
• there must be a general intention to gain the indulgence;
• acts to perform to obtain the indulgence;
• reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist;
• prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Explanations
It is necessary to go to Communion on the day of receiving of the Blue Scapular and joining the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. The scapular should be made out of blue cloth; it must be blessed and conferred by an authorized priest or deacon. The Scapular should be worn so that its one part is over the chest and the other over the back. We recommend it be worn day and night.
In 1910, St. Pope Pius X gave his permission for substituting the cloth scapular with a medal. View the official decree in Latin. View the English translation of the decree. On the face of the medal, there should be an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; on the reverse side, an image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Both the cloth scapular and the medal should be worthily worn. When the Blue Scapular wears out or becomes misplaced or lost, another scapular should be put on; this one can be blessed by any priest or deacon.
People wearing the Blue Scapular and belonging to the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception share in all the spiritual benefits of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary (as well as those of the Order of the Clerics Regular—the Theatines), both during their lifetime and after death. Their names should be recorded in the registry of the Confraternity. Some of the Associaition of Marian Helpers Centers — in Warsaw, Poland, or Fawley Court in the United Kingdom — have such a registry as well as all the Marian churches at which the Confraternity exists. In the U.S. the Confraternity is established at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. Confraternity members receive a special certificate confirming their membership.
The death of a Brother or Sister of the Confraternity (the honorary title of a member) should be reported to the respective Marian Helpers Center or a Marian church, so that the Congregation can include them in their prayers for the departed.
The pious wearing of the scapular and devotional practices — as for example, kissing the scapular or medal — carry an additional partial indulgence granted by the Church.
The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception that exists with the Congregation of Marian Fathers
Blessed Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński (1631-1701), the Founder of the Marian Fathers, considered the spreading of devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. one of his Order's principal goals. Blessed Founder fervently encouraged his spiritual sons to establish Confraternities of the Immaculate Conception at the Marian churches. It has been reflected already in the first decrees of the Order from 1694-1698. These confraternities were supposed to be created to provide help for Poor Souls in Purgatory because Bl. Stanislaus associated devotion to the Immaculate Conception with assistance to the faithful departed. Excited by the idea of giving himself into Mary’s bondage, he wished not only to live free of evil and sin, but to provide assistance in purification from the stain of sin to all those who were suffering in Purgatory.
The last chapter of The Rule of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the B.V.M., upon which the Marian Order was approved by the Holy See in 1699, obliged the Marian religious to wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. They wore it beneath their white habit. Committed by virtue of their calling to spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother, they wished also to popularize its use among the faithful.
It is good when a special feature sets a religious community apart. The Venerable Servant of God Fr. Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszyński (1700-1755) understood the need for a special feature and viewed the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. as a means to fulfill this need. For this reason Fr. Wyszyński was the first among the Marian Fathers to approach the Theatine Fathers in Rome with the request for permission to bless and invest the faithful with the Blue Scapular. The permission was granted in 1733 with the obligation of renewing it every three years. The Servant of God resided then in Rome and held the office of Procurator General of the Marian Fathers. At that time the Theatine Fathers were the only ones with the authority of the Apostolic See to delegate other priests to invest the faithful with the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. Father Wyszyński wished to make the wearing of the Blue Scapular and prescribed associated practices one of the elements of piety of the above-mentioned Confraternity. From that time on, members of “the Scapular Confraternity or our Confraternity” (as the Marian Fathers began to call the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM later) are registered in the Confraternity Book, and receive the Blue Scapular as a sign of belonging.
The Marian monastery in Goźlin [Poland] still houses a leather-bound 18th-century book, which records the names of people admitted to the local Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM during 1777-1788. The Confraternity members, mostly Marian benefactors, among whom there were many well-known people, used to fulfill various services at the church there during "holy days." As a Confraternity Statute stated, their "first and principal duty, bound by a special promise, is to revere, promote, and defend the honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. As an external sign they are to wear a white-collar scapular of a white color embellished with a blue color. This scapular is a sign as well as a token of the Most Holy Virgin Mary’s protection."
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An entry from 1788 in the Register of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, located in the Marian monastery in Goźlin, Poland. |
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A Register of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception from the Marian monastery on Mount Balsamão in Portugal from the year 1774, similar to the one from Goźlin, is kept today in the General Archives of the Congregation of Marian Fathers in Rome. Its greatly yellowed pages preserve several hundred names and surnames of people whom the Marian Fathers invested with the Blue Scapular. In time, the Confraternities of the Immaculate Conception established at Marian churches also began to be called "scapular confraternities." The establishment of a Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception is mentioned in Marian historical documents for the first time on June 26, 1734. The entry speaks of an official introduction of this confraternity at the Marian church in Puszcza Mariańska [the Marian Forest, the first Marian monastery].
Painting by A. Padrão from the second half of the 18th century in the Marian monastery on Mount Balsamão, which symbolically depicts
Fr. Casimir Wyszynski as the Marian who established the Order in Portugal.
The Theatine Fathers repeatedly renewed the privilege granted to the Marian Fathers that was first obtained by Fr. Wyszyński. On August 30, 1751, through the good offices of the Venerable Fr. Casimir, the Theatines again granted the privilege of investiture with the Blue Scapular—this time to the Superior General and to six other Marian Fathers in Poland. On May 5, 1753, before leaving for Portugal, the Venerable Servant of God obtained once more from the Superior General of the Theatines the privilege of spreading the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, this time on the soil of the Kingdom of Portugal. More than 20 years later, the continuator of Fr. Wyszyński’s activity in Portugal, Fr. Alexis Fischer, approached the Theatine Fathers in Rome by means of a letter with the request for a renewal of the full powers of investiture granted in 1753. His letter is dated January 26, 1776.
Political upheavals of the first half of the 19th century were undoubtedly the reason for the difficulties in communication with the Theatines in Rome regarding the further spreading of the Scapular by the Marian Fathers in Poland. Thus, it becomes understandable why on February 20, 1841, Fr. Jan Dziewulski petitioned the Holy See directly and asked for permission for the Marian Fathers to continue spreading the Blue Scapular. In the 19th century three zealous Marian priests, noted for their intellectual and spiritual formation: Fathers Stanisław Pórzycki, Jerzy Naruszewicz and Alexander Wilczyński, distinguished themselves particularly in the promoting "our Confraternity" established at the churches served by the Order. Let the statistics on the deanery in Mariampole, Lithuania, for the year 1888 testify to the fruits brought about by the pastoral activity of these fathers and other Marians who followed their example. The Marian Fathers had then three monasteries in Lithuania: Mariampole, Mirosław, and Igłówka. They also conducted pastoral ministry in neighboring churches. There were 99 active confraternities at 15 churches of the deanery. Along with several other confraternities, each church also had the Confraternity of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
The confraternities existing in the Marian churches exerted a considerable influence over the religious life and Marian devotion both in their own parishes and in the vicinity. They contributed to the moral renewal and encouraged charitable works. They were also instrumental in the sanctification of their members by encouraging frequent confession and participation in Holy Mass on the feast days of Our Lady.
The Renovator and Reformer of the Marian Order, Blessed Archbishop George Matulaitis-Matulewicz, also asked the Theatines in Rome for authorization to invest the faithful with the Blue Scapular. The permission was granted him on December 1, 1911.
A detail from a painting by A. Padrão shows Mary as Our Lady of Balsamão holding the Blue Scapular in her hand.
On July 3, 1992, Fr. Donald Petraitis, MIC, then the Superior General of the Marians, obtained from the Superior General of the Theatine Order a perpetual permission for himself and his successors to bless and confer the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This permission was reaffirmed on March 19, 2005, and on July 1, 2008. This authorization has been confirmed by a special letter of the Theatine Fathers’ Superior General on March 19, 2005, addressed to the Superior General of the Marians and to the General Promoter of the Association of Marian Helpers. By another letter of July 16, 2008, the Superior General of the Theatines gave the Marian Fathers’ Superior General a perpetual permission to sub-delegate priests, both Marian and non-Marian, to bless and confer the Blue Scapular. View the official permission given by the Theatine Fathers to the Marian Fathers.
Thus, according to their centuries-long tradition, the Marian Fathers promote among the faithful the Blue Scapular, which is the external mark of the Confraternity members' piety and devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., fostered by the Congregation of Marian Fathers almost from the beginning of its history. Confraternities of the Immaculate Conception represent one of the important means by which the Congregation of Marian Fathers spreads devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God and assists the souls suffering in Purgatory, of whom the Immaculate Mother of Christ is a particular advocate.
The Marian Fathers in the United States started spreading the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception in the 1960s. This action met with a remarkable response, and it was later extended to the United Kingdom, Poland, Brazil, and Ukraine. Today the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM at the Congregation of Marian Fathers counts several thousand members.
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Superior General and His Council
General Commities and Institutions of MIC
English
Polish
