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This Handbook is acomprehensive source ofinformation, instructions,and prayers necessary forthose faithful who want tojoin the Confraternity ofthe Immaculate Conceptionand to live out the spiritualityof the Marian Fathers.Confraternity members wearthe Blue Scapular as the

essential sign of belonging to the Confraternity.The Marian Fathers’ Con fra ternity of the Im ma culate Conception of

the Blessed Vir gin Mary exists since the 18th century. Bles sed StanislausPapczyƒ ski (1631—1701), Founder of the Marians, consideredspread ing devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Mo ther ofGod as one of his Or der’s prin cipal goals. He fervently encouraged hisspiritual sons to establish Confraternities of the ImmaculateConception at the churches under their care. His wish was reflected inthe Order’s first Rule from 1694-1698.The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception is a private

association of the faithful who, living in the world and participating inthe spirituality, apostolate, and mission of the Congregation of MarianFathers, spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Motherof God and pray for the deceased, while striving for Christianperfection. Confraternity members share in the spir itual benefits of theMarian Fathers. They also have the privilege of obtaining a plenaryindulgence on the day of admission into the Confraternity and conferralof the scapular, as well as on the other particular feasts and solemnitieslisted in this Handbook.

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THE BLUE SCAPULARHANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF

THE MARIAN FATHERS’ CONFRATERNITY OFTHE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OFTHE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Queen of the Holy Scapular, our Mother and Protectress,

who shows us with her own life the surest way of imitating her Son.

— With filial love.

THE BLUE SCAPULARHANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF

THE MARIAN FATHERS’ CONFRATERNITY OFTHE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OFTHE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Andrew R. Maczynski, MICEditing and Compiling

2014

Copyright © 2014 for both text and photos by the MarianFathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.

All world rights reserved.

For texts from the English Edition of the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska “Divine Mercy in My Soul,”

Copyright © 1987 Congregation of Marians

Written and edited with the collaboration of:Michael B. Callea, MICAnthony Gramlich, MIC

S. Seraphim Michalenko, MICKonstanty Osinski

Translated from Polish:Marina Batiuk, Ewa St. Jean

Proofreaders:David Came, Richard Drabik, MIC, Christine Kruszyna,

Page design: Marina Batiuk

Front cover: “Woman of the Apocalypse” – Most Blessed VirginMary, Immaculately Conceived. Painting by Janis Balabon,2010. General House of the Marian Fathers in Rome, Italy.

Imprimi potestVery Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC,

Superior of the B.V.M., Mother of Mercy ProvinceDecember 8, 2011

ISBN 978-1-59614-248-0

Published through the efforts of the General Promoter ofthe Marian Fathers’ Confraternity of

the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.

Third revised and expanded edition

Printed and bound in Poland by Tercja Press

..............................................................................was accepted into

THE CONFRATERNITYOF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

OF THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

which entitleshim/her to share spiritually in the life,

prayers, and good works ofthe Congregation of Marian Fathers ofthe Immaculate Conception ofthe Most Blessed Virgin Mary

and was vested in

THE BLUE SCAPULAR

which grants him/her participation in plenary indulgences and special graces

approved by the Holy See. The name of the new member was inscribed in

the Confraternity Register.The ceremony of admission and investiture took place at

......................................................................................

and was performed by

Rev. ....................................................

Date

PREFACE ...................................................... 111. BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE CONGREGATION OFMARIAN FATHERS AND OF THE CONFRATER NITYOF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ............ 15Brief History of the Congregation of Marian Fathers ...................................... 15Timeline of Marian Fathers .................. 17History of the Confraternity of the Immac ulate Conception ....................18

2. HISTORY OF THE SCAPULAR OFTHE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .............. 25What is a scapular?................................ 25 Types of scapulars ................................ 26 Blue Scapular........................................ 28

3. THEOLOGY OF THE BLUE SCAPULAR.......... 33The Church’s approval ........................ 33 Biblical foundations.............................. 36 Mystical meaning ................................ 38 Spirituality of the of Contemplative Nuns of the Immaculate Conception .............. 39 Special graces ...................................... 40 Symbolism............................................ 41 Role of the scapular.............................. 42

4.AVAILING ONESELF OF GRACES ASSOCIATEDWITH THE CONFRATERNITY OF THEIMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND WEARING THEBLUE SCAPULAR.......................................... 43Responsibilities of people acceptingthe Blue Scapular and becoming members

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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of the Confraternity of the ImmaculateConception .......................................... 43Nature of the Confraternity of theImmaculate Conception. Its goals and spiri-tual benefits .......................................... 44Indulgences attached to the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception and the Marian Fathers’ Confraternity ............48

5. ADMISSION TO THE CONFRATERNITY OF THEIMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND INVESTITUREWITH THE BLUE SCAPULAR.......................... 49Order of Admission and Investiture........ 50Introductory Rite .................................... 50Reading .................................................. 51Intercessions ............................................ 52Prayer of Blessing .................................... 54Admission to the Confraternity .............. 55Investiture with the Blue Scapular .......... 57Concluding Rite ...................................... 58Additional Explanations ........................ 59

6. PRAYERS TO OUR LADYIMMACULATELY CONCEIVED .................... 63Daily offering of oneself to the BlessedMother...................................................... 63Chaplet of Ten Evangelical Virtues ...... 64Angelus ................................................ 65Prayer of St. Bernard (Memorare) ........ 66Prayer to Mary according to St. Bernard of Clairvaux ...................... 67Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) ........ 67

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We Fly to Your Patronage .................... 68Prayer to Mary Immaculate for a life of holiness.................................... 68Prayer for the Solemnity of the ImmaculateConception (by St. John Paul II).............. 70Litany of Loreto ...................................... 71Litany of the Immaculate Conception .. 73Litany of the Mysteries of Mary’s life.... 76Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary(by Blessed John Newman) .................... 77Novena before the Solemnity of theImmaculate Conception ...................... 78

7. PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED .................... 83Prayers for the Departed for every day ofthe week .............................................. 83Prayer for all the Deceased .................. 86Prayer for the Deceased (by Blessed John Newman) .................................... 87Act of Heroic Love .............................. 88Act of Mercy for Souls in Purgatory .... 89Litany for the Souls in Purgatory.......... 89

8. PRAYERS FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS ANDFOR DIVINE MERCY UPON THE WORLD ...... 93Prayer for sinners.................................. 93Act of Oblation for Sinners .................. 94Prayer to The Divine Mercy ................ 95Prayer for Divine Mercy ...................... 96Prayer for a Merciful Heart .................. 97

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Act of Trust in The Divine Mercy ........ 97Litany of Praises of The Divine Mercy .. 98The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy ...... 100Act of Entrusting the World to The Divine Mercy (by St. John Paul II) .............................. 101

9. CONTACT INFORMATION.......................... 10210. APPENDIX ................................................ 103

PRIMARY BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

1. Uwiadomienie o sukience albo szkaplerzu Niepokalanego Po -cz´ cia Naj Êwi´tszej Maryi Panny, który si´ rozdaje wszelkiegostanu ludziom przez WW. OO. Maryanów, Berdyczów1773.

2. St. Papczyƒski, The Rule of Life, Stockbridge, Mass.,1980.

3. J. Kosmowski MIC, Marianie w latach 1787-1864,Warszawa-Lublin 2004.

4. T. Rogalewski, MIC, Lumen Marianorum, StanislausPapczyƒski (1631-1701), Founder of the Order of Mariansand Inspirer of the Marian School of Spirituality,Stockbridge, 2001.

5. Z. Proczek MIC, Stró˝ duchowego dziedzictwa maria nów;wybór pism o. Ka zimierza Wyszyƒskiego, Warszawa –Stock bridge, 2004.

6. L’Abitino Ceruleo dell’Immaculata, in: Regnum Dei,Collectanea Theatina, Anno X, Aprili-Junio, 1954,Num. 33, pp. 97-114.

7. A. Oliver, C.R., Ursula Benincasa, Una vida entre elCielo y la Tierra, Madrid, 1983.

8. Book of Blessings, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville,Minnesota 1989.

One might ask: Does it make sense to promotethe scapular today when even members of religiouscommunities willingly substitute secular clothingfor the habit and scapular? Does it make sense toencourage the faithful to wear the scapular whenthe tendency we observe is to break with the pastand negate those forms of piety which were anexpression of the religious attitudes of past genera-tions, and to look to the future and live by what isnew?

And yet there are things in the Church which areeternal, which always remain current, while thethings which are transitory, associated with a par-ticular epoch, soon become part of history to makeroom for new things. It is often the case that thingswith eternal value must be adapted to a certaindegree in this life, because our religious awarenessof them develops and deepens over time.

It is in this living, creative memory of the Churchthat her strength lies. It is expressed in Divine wor-ship, especially in liturgical prayer. Every gesture,every word, has its own history and, flowing fromit, its contemporary meaning. Every change is astep ahead—an expression of a growing awarenessof its meaning in the Church. There is a profoundtruth in the axiom: lex orandi—lex credendi (theformula of prayer constitutes the formula of faith).

PREFACE

Yes, prayer expresses the faith of the great, holycommunity of the Church in the Holy Spirit. Iswearing a scapular today, then, not an example ofthe old which becomes new? Does it not, in a newway, meet the needs of contemporary people who,having run full circle, have now returned to theworld of signs and symbols? After all, contempo-rary mentality is described as “pictorial”—built onsymbolic images.

The Blue Scapular provides such a pictorialcode, so rich in meaning: a sign of one’s consecra-tion to service, a sign of assumed obligations, anda sign of the Church’s blessing. As a result, thescapular becomes a shield and protection againstinfernal temptations, as well as a sign and image ofputting on the “new person.”

Of course, the mere object, the mere signdevoid of its essence, means absolutely nothing.The Church has always cautioned against treatingsigns as “magic.” We do not pray to a statue but tothe Blessed Mother whom this statue represents.We do not pray to a painting but to the holy per-son which it depicts. Similarly, the scapular is not atalisman but a sign — and this is an entirely differ-ent matter. The scapular testifies to a choice madeby a rational and free person. It is also a sign oftrust — that the Immaculate One, whom we loveand whom we want to serve, accepts our devotionand enfolds us under the mantle of her protection.

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Would that, through the ministry of my con-frères, in promoting the Blue Scapular of the Im -maculate Conception of the Most Blessed Vir ginMary, her motherly love might reach all torment-ed hearts, to comfort, strengthen, and fill themwith the joy whose source is her Son, Jesus Christ.

Very Rev. Adam Boniecki, MICSuperior General

of the Congregation of Marian Fathers

Rome, December 8, 1995,on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

This image of Mary Immaculate is from the title page of the Portuguese edition of “Information about the Garment or Scapular

of the Immaculate Conception,” published by the Marians in 1758.

Brief History of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of

the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.

The Congregation of Marian Fathers was found-ed in 1673. Thus, it has existed for over three cen-turies now and is the first men’s religious Orderestablished in Poland. It was founded by a Pole—Blessed Fr. Stani slaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski(1631-1701), born in Podegrodzie, near StarySacz, in southern Poland. The Order got its start inthe Marian Forest, near Skierniewice in the Mazo -via district. In 1699, the Holy See ap proved theOr der of Marians upon the Rule of the Ten Evan -gelical Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. BlessedFather Founder set three goals for the new order:

� spreading devotion to the Immaculate Con cep -tion of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

� praying for the faithful departed (souls in Pur -gatory), especially victims of wars and epide -mics, as well as those who were not preparedfor death,

� working apostolically, especially among thespiritually neglected.

BRIEF HISTORY OFTHE CONGREGATION OF MARIAN FATHERSAND HISTORY OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

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Blessed Fr. Papczynski was also a zealous apostleof sobriety, which he made one of the principalcharacteristics of his Order. In its early years, thenew Order met with many difficulties. There weretimes when its very existence was in question.How ever, the community founded by BlessedStani slaus proved stronger than the many obstaclesit encountered over the centuries.

Thanks to the Venerable Servant of God, Fr.Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszynski (1700-1755), oneof the most faithful followers of the Blessed Found -er, the Order was strengthened and developed dur-ing the 18th century. Un der his leadership, newmonasteries were set up in Lithuania, Belarus, andeven as far away as Portugal. His efforts broughtthe Marians new growth, and the Order became aninternational community.

Its members were Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs,Hungarians, Italians, the French, and the Portu -guese. By the second half of the 18th century, theMarians had also founded a mo nas tery in Rome.

This chain of dynamic growth was broken withthe political fall of Poland, and the partition of thatnation at the end of the 18th and during the 19thcenturies. In 1864, on the strength of a decreeissued by the Czarist authorities, the Marian Orderalong with others was outlawed and left to die outslowly. In 1909, just before the death of the onlyremaining member of the Marian Congre gation,Fr. George Matulaitis-Matulewicz (1871-1927), a

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priest of Li thuanian de scent, professor at the St. Pe -tersburg (Russia) Theological Academy, and laterthe Bishop of Vilnius, secretly joined the Mari ans.He re novated and reformed the Order, bring ing itto life once again. He was beatified by Pope JohnPaul II in 1987.

Currently, the Marians number about 500priests and brothers working in 19 countriesaround the world, including missions in SouthAmerica, Africa, and Asia.

Timeline of the Marian Fathers

October 24, 1673—Founding of the Marians byFather Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski.

November 24, 1699—Pope Innocent XIIapproves the Marians as an Order with solemnvows upon the Rule of the Ten Evangelical Virtuesof the Most Blessed Virgin Mary that obliged theMarians to wear the Blue Scapular.

1786—Holy See approves revised Marian Consti -tutions, which expand apostolic works to includeparish schools and preaching the missions.

18th-19th centuries—Marian monasteries inRome, Portugal, Poland, and Lithuania are sup-pressed by political upheaval.

November 29, 1909—Father George Matulai tis-Matulewicz makes his vows and is accepted intothe Marian Order in the presence of the last livingMarian, Fr. Vincent Sekowski.

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November 28, 1910—Pope Pius X approves newConstitutions and the revived form of Marian life.

June 28, 1987—Beatification of Abp GeorgeMatulaitis-Matulewicz, the Marians’ Renovator.

September 16, 2007—Beatification of Father Sta -ni slaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski, Founder ofthe Marians.

History of the Confraternity ofthe Immaculate Conception

The Confraternity of the Immaculate Concep -tion has existed with the Con gregation of MarianFa thers since the 18th century.

Blessed Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski(1631-1701), the Founder of the Marian Fathers,considered spreading devotion to the Im ma culateConception of the Most B.V.M. as one of his Or -der’s principal goals. Blessed Founder fervently en -couraged his spiritual sons to establish Confra ter -nities of the Immaculate Conception at the Marianchurches. This was already reflected in the first lawsof the Order, issued in 1694-1698. These confra-ternities were meant to provide assistance to PoorSouls suffering in Pur ga tory because Bles sed Stani -slaus associated devotion to the Immacu late Con -cep tion with helping the faithful de parted. Excitedby the idea of giving himself into Mary’s bondage,he wished not only to live free of evil and sin, butto provide assistance in purification from the stainof sin to all those who were suffering in Purgatory.

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The last chapter of The Rule of the Ten Evan ge -lical Virtues of the B.V.M., upon which the MarianOrder was approved by the Holy See in 1699,obliged the Marian religious to wear the Sca pular ofthe Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.They wore it beneath their white habit. Committedby virtue of their calling to spread de votion to theImmaculate Conception of the Bles sed Mother,they wished also to popularize the scapular amongthe faithful.

The Venerable Servant of God Fr. Casimir of St.Joseph Wyszynski (1700-1755) was the firstamong the Marians to approach the Thea tine Fa -thers in Rome with the request for permission tobless the Blue Scapular and confer it upon thefaithful. The permission was granted in 1733 withthe obligation of its renewal every three years. TheSer vant of God resided then in Rome and held theoffice of Pro cur ator General of the Marian Fathers.At that time, the Theatine Fathers were the onlyones with the authority from the Apostolic See todelegate other priests to invest the faithful with theScapular of the Immaculate Conception. FatherWy szynski probably wished to make the wearing ofthe Blue Scapular and prescribed associated prac-tices one of the elements of piety of the above-mentioned Con fra ternity. From that time on,members of “the Sca pular Confra ternity or ourConfraternity” (as the Marian Fa thers began to callthe Confraternity of the Imma culate Conception

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of the B.V.M. later) were registered in the Confra -t ernity Book, and re ceived the Blue Sca pul ar as asign of belonging.

The Marian monastery in Gozlin [Poland] stillhouses a leather-bound 18th-century book, whichcon tains the names of people admitted to the localCon fraternity of the Immaculate Conception of theMost B.V.M. in 1777-1788. The Confraternitymem bers, mostly the Marian Fathers’ benefactors,among whom there were well-known personalities,used to fulfill various services at the local churchduring “holy days.” As the Confraternity Statutestated, their “first and principal duty, bound by aspecial promise, is to revere, promote, and defendthe honor of the Im maculate Conception of theMost Blessed Virgin Mary. As an external sign [ofthat] they are to wear a white-color scapular embel-lished with blue. This scapular is a sign, as well as atoken, of the Most Holy Virgin Mary’s protection.”

Another Register of the Confraternity of the Im -ma cu late Conception, similar to the one from Goz -lin, belongs to the Marian monas tery on MountBalsamão in Portugal; it dates back to 1774. Todaythis book is kept in the Gener al Archives of theCongregation of Marian Fathers in Rome. Itsgreatly yellowed pages preserve several hundredfirst and last names of people upon whom theMarian Fathers conferred the Blue Scapular.

For the first time, the Mari an historical docu-ments mention the establishment of a Confra ter -

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nity of the Im maculate Con ception on June 26,1734. The entry speaks of an official formation ofthis confraternity at the Marian church in Pusz czaMari anska [the Mari an Forest – location of theCongregation’s first monas tery].

The Theatine Fathers repeatedly renewed thepri v i lege granted to the Marian Fathers that wasfirst obtained by Fr. Wyszynski. On August 30,1751, through the efforts of the Venerable Servantof God Fr. Ca simir, the Theatines again granted theright to invest with the Blue Scapular—this time tothe Superior General and to six other Mari an Fa -thers in Poland. On May 5, 1753, before leavingfor Portu gal, the Venerable Servant of God ob tain -ed once more from the Superior General of theTheatines the privilege of spreading the Scapu lar ofthe Immaculate Conception, this time in the King -dom of Portugal. More than 20 years later, the con-tinuator of Fr. Wyszynski’s activity in Portu gal, Fr.Alexis Fischer, approached by means of a letter theThea tine Fa thers in Rome with the request for arenewal of the same privilege of investiture grantedin 1753. His letter is dated Ja nu ary 26, 1776.

Political upheavals of the first half of the 19th cen-tury were undoubtedly the reason for the difficultiesin communication with the Theatines in Rome re -gard ing the further spreading of the Scap ular by theMarian Fathers in Poland. Thus, it be comes under-standable why on February 20, 1841, Fr. Jan Dzie -wulski petitioned the Holy See directly and asked for

permission for the Marian Fathers to continuespread ing the Blue Scapular. In the 19th century,three zealous Marian priests, noted for their intellec-tual and spiritual formation: Fathers Stani slaw Po -rzycki, Jerzy Naruszewicz, and Alexan der Wil czyn -ski, distinguished themselves particularly in promot-ing “our Confra ternity” estab lished at the chur chesserved by the Or der. Let the statistics on the dean -ery in Mari jampole, Lithu ania, for the year 1888 tes-tify to the fruits brought about by the pastoral activ-ity of these Fathers and other Marians who followedthe ir example. The Ma ri an Fathers had then threemo nas teries in Lith uania: Marijam pole, Miroslaw,and Iglowka. They also conducted pastoral ministryin neighboring chur ches. There were 99 active con-fraternities at the deanery’s 15 churches. Along withseveral other confraternities, each church also hadthe Con fraternity of the Sca pular of the Im ma cu lateConception of the Most Bles sed Virgin Mary.

The confraternities existing at the Marian chur -ches exerted a considerable influence over the reli-gious life and Marian devotion both in their parish-es and in the vicinity. They contributed to themoral re newal and encouraged charitable works.They were instrumental in the sanctification oftheir mem bers by promoting frequent confessionand par ti cipation in Holy Mass on the feast days ofOur Lady.

The Renovator and Reformer of the MarianOrder, Blessed Archbishop George Matulaitis-Ma -

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tu lewicz, also asked the Theatines in Rome forauthorization to invest the faithful with the BlueScapular. The permission was granted him on Dec -ember 1, 1911.

On June 3, 1992, Fr. Donald Petraitis, MIC,then the Superior General of the Marians, ob tainedfrom the Superior General of the Thea tine Order aperpetual permission for himself and his successorsto bless and confer the Scapular of the ImmaculateConception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Thispermission was reaffirmed on March 19, 2005, bya special letter of the Theatine Fathers’ GeneralSuperior addressed to the Superior General of theMarians and to the Ge n eral Promoter of theAssociation of Marian Help ers. By another letter ofJuly 16, 2008, the Superior General of the Thea -tines gave the Marian Fathers’ Superior Gen eral aperpetual permission to sub-delegate priests, bothMarian and non-Marian, to bless and confer theBlue Scapular, according to canon 1169 of theCode of Canon Law.*

Thus, according to their centuries-long tradi-tion, the Marian Fathers promote among the faith-ful the Blue Scapular, which is the external mark ofthe Confraternity members’ piety and devotion tothe Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., fos-tered by the Congregation of Marian Fathers al -

* View the official permission given by the Theatine Fathersto the Marian Fathers, Appendix, Statutes, p. 13.

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most from the beginning of its history. Confra ter -nities of the Immaculate Conception represent oneof the important means by which the Congre ga -tion of Marian Fathers spreads devotion to theImmaculate Conception of the Mother of Godand assists the souls suffering in Purgatory, ofwhom the Immaculate Mother of Christ is a par-ticular advocate.

The Marian Fathers in the United States startedspreading the Scapular of the Immaculate Concep -tion in the 1960s. This action met with a remark-able response, and it was later extended to theUnited Kingdom, Poland, Brazil, and Ukraine.Today the Confraternity of the Immaculate Con -ception of the B.V.M. at the Congregation ofMari an Fathers counts several thousand members.

What Is a Scapular?

The scapular (the word comes from the Latinscapula—meaning an arm, shoulders, and back) isa sleeveless garment consisting of two wide, rec-tangular pieces of material, slipped over a reli-gious’s head onto the habit. It is a part of the reli-gious garb of some Orders like the Be ne dictinesor the Dominicans. Sometimes a hood, known inthe East as the analobo, is attached to the scapu-lar. This type of garb was introduced in the 5thcentury by St. Benedict as a scapolare pro p teropera—that is, an apron worn to protect the habitduring physical labor.

Over time this scapolare underwent somechan ges. It gradually became longer, and the ma -terial from which it was made changed as well. Itwas no longer a protective garment but a symbol,a sign of dedication to God. Spiritual writersspoke of it as iugum Christi—the yoke of Christ.In the 12th century, the Rules of the Servites, Be -ne dictines in certain abbeys, and Carmelites re -quired that the monks wear their scapulars evenin their sleep as a source of spiritual protectionthrough the night.

In the Middle Ages, when many laypeoplewished to participate in some way in the spiritual

HISTORY OF THE BLUE SCAPULAR OFTHE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OFTHE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

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life of the religious orders, various religious asso-ciations like “Third Orders,” “Confraternities,”and “Oblates” were established. The sign of ac -cept ance into the spiritual community was thevesting of the scapular to identify its members asbelonging to each distinctive religious order.

Types of Scapulars

There are various types of scapulars dependingon the religious Order with which they are associ-ated. The origin of most of them is linked to an ap -parition of the Blessed Mother instructing a partic-ular religious order to promote a certain type ofscapular. The oldest among them is the “white”scapular of the Holy Trinity that dates back to1200. The “brown” Carmelite scapular originatedin 1251, while the “black” scapular of the Servitesof the Blessed Mother of Sorrows—in 1255.

The majority of the scapulars had a singular af -finity with the Mother of God, not only be causethey were connected with a particular Ma rian ap -parition, which then began the tradition of a partic-ular scapular, but also because of the de votion asso-ciated with the practice of wearing a scapular andthe indulgences attached to it. The most rever ed,known, and popular among the Marian scapulars isthe Carmelite one. Its origin is shrouded in legend.According to the tradition, the Virgin Mary person-ally gave this sca pular in 1251 to the venerable and

particularly devout Su pe rior General of the Car m -elites, Blessed Simon Stock. The Bles sed Moth er isbelieved to have promised that whoever wore theCarmelite scapular would not suffer the fires of hell.

At first, people used to place the scapular overtheir clothes or armor, and it was worn with partic-ular pride on solemn occasions. But over time thevisible, showy piety became more discreet, and thescapular “moved” under people’s clothing. Conse -quently, it had to become smaller in size, but it con-tinued to look the same: two pieces of cloth joinedby ribbons, which one would put on over one’shead. Sometimes the material was decorated withan em broidered or painted picture. Now the scapu-lar was hidden from the onlookers’ eyes and whenit happened to be exposed or revealed—like in thefamous Polish painting by Jan Matejko showing theprostrate figure of a nobleman with the scapular vis-ible on his bare chest—people perceived it as a pow-erful witness.

The scapular was always vested by au tho rizedpersons and always according to a strict ly definedceremony that concluded with a special blessing.The accept ance of the scapular meant, in each case,the assumption of specific responsibilities which, intheir essence, usually referred to the rule of life of aparticular religious community.

The Church has always looked favorably uponscapulars, endowing them with indulgences, de -

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fining their prerogatives, establishing conditions ofinvestiture, and even designating their shape, size,and the manner of wearing them. On Dec em ber 6,1910, by the decree of the Congre gation of theHoly Office, Pope Pius X permitted the substitu-tion of every scapular with a medal bearing on theobverse the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus andon the reverse—the image of Our Lady. The regu-lations regarding its conferral in this new form, andthe indulgences and blessings attached to it,remained unchang ed.

Undoubtedly, the idea of allowing the laity’s par-ticipation in the spiritual life of religious orders,expres sed in the act of receiving a “new vestment”—even if this vestment was only a symbolic one(the scapular was also dubbed “a miniature habit”)has at all times been something positive and pre-cious in the eyes of the Church.

Blue Scapular

The Blue Scapular originated in Italy, and it iscon nected with the person of the Vener ableServant of God Ursula Benincasa (1547-1618),who found ed the Con gre gation of the Oblates ofthe Im ma culate Con ception of the Most BlessedVirgin Mary in the year 1583. She also foundedthe Hermitage of the Con templative Nuns of theImmaculate Concep tion. The rule of both com-munities was ap proved by Pope Gregory XV onApril 7, 1623.

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In 1617, in Naples, Italy, on the Feast of the Pre -sentation of the Lord, Ursula, having received HolyCom munion, had a vision of the Bles sed Motherclothed in a white garment over which she woreanother garment of azure blue. In her arms, Maryheld the Infant Jesus. Our Lady was surrounded bymany persons, all similarly attired.

The Blessed Mother spoke to Ursula in thesewords: “Cease weeping, Ursula, and turn yoursighs into heartfelt joy. Listen closely to what Jesus,whom I am holding in my lap, will say to you.”

Then Jesus revealed to Ursula that she wouldfound a convent where 33 nuns, dressed in thesame attire as the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of hervision, would live a life of solitude and seclusion.The Savior promised special graces and many spiri-tual gifts to those who would zealously follow thisway of life.

The Venerable Servant of God besought theLord to extend these favors also to such peoplewho, living in the world, would have a special devo-tion to the mystery of the Immaculate Conception,observe chas tity according to their station in life,and wear a small blue scapular. As a sign that herprayer was heard, Jesus showed Ursula in a vi sion amultitude of angels distributing scapulars all overthe earth. This scene is artistically captured in a fres-co at the Theatine Sisters’ Con vent in Naples.

Overwhelmed with joy, Ursula personally madescapulars similar to the ones she saw in her vision,had them blessed, and distributed them among thefaithful. The practice of wearing the Blue Scapularbegan to spread quickly already during Ursula’slifetime. After her death, her spiritual daughtersundertook the promotion of this scapular as theirOrder’s special mission. On August 7, 1793, PopePius VI recognized Ursula’s heroic virtues and pro-claimed her a Venerable Servant of God.

In 1633, the Theatine Fathers in their GeneralChapter, recognized the Oblates of the Imma -culate Conception and the community of con tem -plative nuns whose inception was rooted in the vi -sion of Venerable Ursula as branches of their Or -der. From that time on, these two communitiestook on the title of Theatine Nuns of the Imma -culate Concep tion of the B.V.M. Thereupon, theThea tine Fa thers also began to promote devotionof the Sca pu lar of the Immaculate Conception, atask assigned to them officially by Pope Clement Xon January 30, 1671. At the Theatine Fathers’request, he grant ed privileges and indulgences tothe Blue Sca pular by a special apostolic breve. Thesewere similar in scope to the ones obtain ed by theCon cep tionists in the 15th century. Another Pope,Clement XI, en dow ed this scapular with more in -dulgences, which he mentioned in his apostolic let-ter of May 12, 1710. The indulgences were con-firmed and amplified by Pope Gregory XIV in

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1845 and by Bles sed Pius IX in 1850. These twoPopes also declared that the in dulgences of theBlue Scapular could be applied to the souls of thefaithful departed.

A copperplate that depicts the Most Blessed Virgin Mary as the daughter of Sts. Joachim and Anne. The hand-writteninscription in Portuguese placed on the copper plate suggeststhat this work was inspired by an image from the Marian

monastery in Puszcza Marianska. This copper plate is locatedin the cell of the Venerable Servant of God Fr. Casimir

Wyszynski at the Marian monastery on Mount Balsamão,Portugal. Second half of the 18th century.

THEOLOGY OF THE BLUE SCAPULAR

Along with the rosary, the scapular, is one of theoldest and most popular forms of devotion to theMost Holy Virgin. It is considered to be one of theso-called sacramentals or “sacramentalia.” In manyof her apparitions (to St. Dominic, to the Servantof God Ursula Benincasa, and to the Fatima chil-dren) the Blessed Mother has pointed to the sca -pular as a means of sanctification and salvation.The Church, too, often recommends its use.

Church’s Approval

The Marian sacramentals or sacramentalia aredeeply valued by the Church. The Second VaticanCouncil says:

The sacred synod teaches this Catholic doctrineadvisedly and at the same time admonishes all thesons of the Church that the cult, especially theliturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be generous-ly fostered, and that the practices and exercises ofdevotion towards her, recommended by theteach ing authority of the Church in the course ofcenturies, be highly esteemed, and that those de -crees, which were given in the early days re gard-ing the cult images of Christ, the Blessed Virginand the saints, be religiously observed. (DogmaticConstitu tion on the Church, No. 67)

Pope Paul VI, further elaborating on the teach -ing of the Second Vatican Council, talked about

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the great significance of the scapular. In March of1965, he said:

May the faithful have great reverence for the exer -cises and pious practices associated with the devo-tion to the Most Holy Virgin Mary, which in thecourse of centuries were approved by the Church.... The rosary to Mary and the scapular are amongthe recommended exercises. ... The scapular is apractice which, due to its simplicity, is suitable foreveryone and which has spread widely among thefaithful Christians to their spiritual benefit.

On March 25, 2001, Pope St. John Paul II wrote:“There are two truths drawn out from the sym-bol that the scapular constitutes. One—the con-tinuous protection of the Most Holy Virgin, notonly along life’s journey, but also at the momentof passing through to the fullness of eternalglory. The other—the knowledge that devotiontowards Her cannot be limited to prayers andacts of respect in her honor in particular circum-stances, but it must constitute a “HABIT,” thatis, a permanent guiding rule of one’s Christianbehavior, interwoven with prayer and an interiorlife, by means of frequent reception of the Sacr a -m ents and the actual performance of spiritual andcorporal works of mercy. In this way the scapularbecomes the sign of a “bond” and of a reciprocalintimate spiritual relationship between Mary andthe faithful. Indeed, it interprets in a concrete waythe entrustment that, on the cross, Jesus made toJohn, and in him, to all of us, of his Mother, andthe commitment of the beloved apostle and of us,to Her, appointed to be our spiritual Mother.”

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The scapular is directly linked to the contempo-rary Marian spirituality promoted by St. John PaulII. As such, it it focused on devotion, trust, anddedication to the Mother of God. It was Pope PiusXII who pointed to this element when on the700th anniversary of the exis tence of the scapularhe addressed a letter to the Carmelite Fathers inwhich he wrote: “Dedi cation is the contemporaryform of Marian devotion. ... Your scapu lar is a signof dedication to Mary.”

This statement clearly shows why the Blue Sca -pu lar is still significant in today’s culture: the peo-ple who wear it declare solemnly that they do notwant to dedicate their lives to the passing mattersof this world, but—like Mary—to God alone, andwant to live immaculately—without sin.

The act of oblation recited by the faithful re -ceiv ing the Blue Scapular speaks clearly about sur-rendering oneself to the “bondage of love.” It isno wonder that the Blue Scapular is a sign of theBlessed Mother’s special recognition of us as herchildren. The first and most important conclu-sion flowing from all of the above is that peoplewho wear the scapular are embraced by the Bles -sed Mother with a special love because of theirde votion to God and to her. Thus, the scapularmakes us uniquely her own.

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Biblical Foundations

As we look for the biblical foundations of theBlue Scapular, we might point to the theologybehind wearing a special garment, present both inthe Old and the New Testaments.

The Holy Scriptures—the primary source of ourfaith—allow us to see for ourselves how deeply theBlue Scapular theology is rooted in the Bible.

Speaking on the subject, we should recall thewords of the prophet Isaiah first: “I rejoice heartilyin the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for Hehas clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrap -ped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroomadorned with a diadem, like a bride bedeck ed withher jewels” (61:10).

This passage clearly shows that a true vestmentand adornment of the people of God is the divinelife taking place within them. On the other hand, allinstances of our unfaithfulness, defined in theologyas sin, strip those vestments off of us, leaving usnak ed. This state of nakedness, symbolically ex pres -sing the distance that we put between ourselves andGod, was noted by the prophet Ezekiel in re gardsto the Chosen People: “So I spread the corner ofmy cloak over you to cover your nakedness” (16:8).Sin has demeaned our human dignity and marredour image before God. Thus, we see the conse-quence of our disobedience to God. In this light,words from the Book of Baruch take on a special

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meaning: “Wrapped in the cloak of justice fromGod, bear on your head the mitre that displays theglory of the eternal name. For God will show all theearth your splendor” (5:2-3).

This excerpt shows God as the source of trueworth, as we glorify His name and He clothes us in“splendor.” This idea was further developed by St.Paul in his Letter to the Ephe sians: “...you shouldput away the old self of your former way of life, cor-rupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed inthe spirit of your minds, and put on the new self,created in God’s new way in righteousness andholiness of truth” (4:22-24). Finally, in the Gospelof Matthew, Jesus in the parable of the weddingbanquet speaks of a man who is cast out of the cel-ebration because he is not wearing a wedding gar-ment (see 22:1-14).

The above-mentioned quotes show us that termsdescribing human garments or adornments areused by the Scriptures to express certain spiritualrealities. This unity of purpose and meaning repre-sents a special “bi b lical symbolism.” According toit, and in accounting for the entirety of DivineRevel ation, we can venture to say that anyone whoac cepts Christ and lives by His teachings puts onthe vestment of salvation.

The Holy Scriptures teach that meeting Godrequired putting on a special garment. The gar-ment was to be clean, without stain, and washed

(Ex 19:10-14; Lv 14:9; Nm 19:7), holy (1 Chr16:29; Ps(s) 96:9), and solemn (Ezr 3:10). In theBook of Revelation, references are made to peoplewho “have not soiled their garments” (3:4), tothose “wearing white robes” (3:5; 6:11; 7:13), andthose wearing robes that have been “washed in theblood of the Lamb” (7:14).

The scapular is a reference to this “new” garm -ent. Those who wear it express their desire forho li ness, for remaining in union with God, andfor making their entire lives a liturgy to the gloryof the Lord.

Mystical Meaning

The scapular has a profound mystical meaning asa reference to the protective mantle of the Ma don -na, the external garment which Mary places overpeople turning to her in need. The oldest version ofthe 3rd century prayer, “Under Your Pro tection,”contains the words: “Under the mantle of yourmer cy. . .” This truth is depicted in many images ofthe Blessed Mother coming from the same periodin which the scapular originated. In a mystical in ter -pretation, it is possible to believe that the scapularis a piece of Mary’s garment, received from herhands and guaranteeing her constant protection tothose who wear it. Hence, the recommendationthat those who wear the scapular should oftenrecite the prayer “Under Your Pro tection.”

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Spirituality of the Contemplative Nuns of the Immaculate Conception

As mentioned above, wearing the scapular signi-fies participation in the spirituality and privileges ofthe religious Order with which the scapular is asso-ciated. It is, therefore, worth knowing what kind ofspirituality the Servant of God Ursula chose for thecontemplative nuns of the Immaculate Conceptionthat she founded. Their rule re quired, among otherthings, abstinence from meat in their lifetime (ex -ception was made in time of sickness), and fastingon all vigils of Marian feasts, which was particularlystrict before the solemnities of the Im ma culateConception and Corpus Christi. In addition to fastsmandated by the Church, the rule re quired fastingevery Saturday and on the last two days of carnival.Also, on every Friday, a five-hour adoration beforethe Bles sed Sacrament was to be held. The ruleallowed every nun admitted to the profession ofperpetual vows to spend one day beforehand inconversation with her nearest family. However, shecould never see them again afterwards. The ruleforbade communication with anyone from the out-side. (The food was delivered to the convent bymeans of a turnstile).

As we remember, the Infant Jesus in Ur su la’s vi -sion extended His blessing both to the nuns and tolaypeople who wear the Blue Scapular, have a speci -al devotion to the mystery of the Im ma culate Con -

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ception, and observe chastity ac cord ing to theirvocation. Although laypeople are not bonded bythe strictness of eremitic life, they should realize thatwearing the scapular without living in their state oflife (married, religious, single) the way that Marydesires would not be worthy. They ought to chooseleading such a life in which the Blessed Mother canbe truly present. They are called to be “holy andunblemished before God,” as St. Paul wrote in hisletter to the Ephe sians (1:4).

Special Graces

To those who piously wear the Scapular of theImmaculate Conception, the Lord Jesus promisedspecial gifts and assistance in life.

Naturally, it does not mean that the scapular is tobe used routinely. The scapular is a sign of a certainattitude and disposition of the heart. This disposi-tion gives us hope for obtaining the means neces-sary for our salvation, since wearing the sca pularendows one with many graces promised by theBlessed Mo ther and granted by the Church. Thefaithful who wear the Blue Sca pular express theirdesire to be come like the Immaculate Mary, whichmeans avoiding all sin and living in union withGod. Those who want to wear the sca pu lar worthi-ly de sire to be holy! Therefore, it is not surprisingthat St. Louis Grignion de Montfort believed thatwearing the scapular was one of the most impor-tant forms of Marian piety.

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Symbolism

One may wonder if the scapular has not lost itssignificance since the time it began to be wornunder the clothes rather than externally and caneven now take the form of a medal.

Let us recall here the theology of Gothic cathe-drals. Many of them are decorated with magnificentsculptures placed high under their vaulted ceilingsor even on their roofs where only God could seethem. The Gothic cathedral is considered to be amasterpiece of sacred art since this work was not forpeople but for God Himself. Such is the case, too,with today’s scapular: God, not the people, sees itand rejoices in it. Wearing the scapular under theclothing is a practice in the spirit of Jesus’ order:“But when you pray, go into your room and shutthe door and pray to your Father who is in secret;and your Father who sees in secret will reward you”(Mt 6:6). The scapular hidden under the clothes isno longer a sign for the people, but a sign for God,for the Blessed Mother, and for those who wear it.

Let us also note the erroneous and dangerousunderstanding of the scapular that may be found inpeople of “small faith.” By regarding the sca pularas a talisman that guarantees salvation and promis-es graces regardless of the way of life one leads, onerisks falling into superstition and susceptiblity tomagic. “There is no other thing in Christianitymore worthy of condemnation than this satanicimpertinence,” affirmed St. Louis de Montfort.

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In 1750, St. Alphonsus Maria Ligouri in TheGlories of Mary stated that in honor of the greatleaders of the world, their followers adopt theirgarb. Mary Immaculate is also happy that her devo-tees wear her scapular as a sign of devotion andbelonging to the family of the Divine Mother. SaintAlphonsus also said that he shows his devotion bywearing Our Lady’s Scapular.

The Role of the Scapular

The role of the scapular in the history of theworld is similar to that of the rosary. It is intendedas a sign of conversion, unity with God, and dailystriving for holiness. As St. Dominic prophesied inthe 13th century to Br. Angelus: “One day, throughthe rosary and the scapular, the Most Holy VirginMary will rescue the world.”

The acceptance of the Blue Scapular and theworthy wearing of it—which is an obli gation ofev ery member of the Confra ternity of the Imma -cu late Concep tion—ensure access to the manyspecial gra ces of which Our Lord spoke and withwhich the Church endowed the scapular by thepower of her authority. But participation in thespiritual benefits associated with the scapular re -quires assuming and fulfilling certain obligations.

In order to increase in the Church devotion tothe Im ma culate Conception, the Blue Scapular wasendowed, as mentioned above, with the many in -dul gences which are listed further in this handbook.Our Lady sees those wearing the Blue Scapu lar asher special children; she showers them with manygraces and protects them against all evil.

Responsibilities of the FaithfulWearing the Blue Scapular

and Belonging to the Confraternity

Let us remember that these special graces andindulgences are granted only if people honor theImmaculate Conception of the Blessed Motherthrough:

• Wearing the Blue Scapular day and night;

AVAILING ONESELF OF THE GRACES ASSOCIATEDWITH BELONGING TO THE CONFRATERNITY OF

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ANDWEARING THE BLUE SCAPULAR

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• Living a life of chastity according to their sta-tion in life;

• Showing special devotion to the Most HolyVirgin Mary in the mystery of her Immacu -late Conception;

• Praying for the conversion of sinners and forGod’s mercy on the whole world.

Nature of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception:

Its Goals and Spiritual Benefits

The Congregation of Mari an Fathers’ Confra t -ernity of the Immaculate Concep tion of the MostB.V.M. is a private association of the faithful who,living in the world and participating in the spiritu-ality, apostolate, and mission of the Congregationof Marian Fathers, particularly spread devotion tothe Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.and pray for the deceased, while striving for Christ -ian perfection in the manner proper to their stationin life. Confraternity members share (both dur ingtheir lifetime and after death) in the Cong re ga tion’sspir it ual benefits. The Confraternity’s goals are:

• To help its members, living in the world, intheir striving for Christian perfection ac cord -ing to the spirituality of the Congre ga tion ofMarian Fathers.

• To spread devotion to the Immaculate Con -ception of the B.V.M. and to assist the de ceas -ed suffering in Purgatory.

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Confraternity members, vested with the BlueScapular, shall always devoutly wear it as a visiblesign in honor of the Immaculate Conception of theMost B.V.M. and a distinguishing feature of thosewho are particularly devoted to the Most BlessedVirgin Im ma cu lately Conceived.

Membership in the Confraternity obliges themem bers to spread devotion to the ImmaculateConc eption of the Most B.V.M. by imitating Ma -ry’s vir tues, but above all by living in the state ofgrace. It also obliges them to continuously dedicatea certain amount of time to meeting the Lord inprayer, to frequently participate in the EucharisticSacrif ice, and to meditate upon the Rosary.

Confraternity members are to recite and offerdai ly for the intention of the deceased the Chap -let of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the B.V.M.or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Salve Reg -ina prayer. They may also offer for the intentionsof the Poor Souls their deeds of mercy, sufferings,and trials of life, as well as voluntary self-denial andmor tification.

It is recommended for the Confraternity mem-bers to frequently invoke Mary’s protection withshort ardent prayers such as, “Immaculate Queen ofthe Holy Scapular take me under the mantle of yourprotection;” “O Mary Conceived without sin, pray forus who have recourse to you;” “May the Virgin Ma -ry’s Imma culate Con cep tion be our health and pro-tection,” and “Blessed be the holy and Imma culateCon ception of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.”

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As faith-filled persons involved in the life of theChurch, Confraternity members shall participatein the life of their parish community and supportthe priests in various ways, especially in the workof evan gelization in their own parish. Theyshould also spread the scapular devotion andencourage others to join the Confraternity of theImma culate Conception.

Confraternity members should participate in pe -ri o dic meetings presided over by the local Pro moterof the Confraternity, for the purpose of revitalizingtheir sense of belonging, learning the spirituality ofthe Marian Fathers, and strengthening their aware-ness of the needs of their neighbor, doing all of theabove in close communion with Mary. They shouldalso support the Marians with their prayers andalms; finding new friends for the Congregation andpraying for good and holy Marian vocations.

Confraternity members share in all spiritual ben-efits of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of theImmaculate Conception of the B.V.M.:

• Fruits of the daily Masses celebrated by theMar ian priests, and Masses for the intentionsof the living and deceased associates of theCongregation of Marian Fathers.

• The right to enroll their deceased loved onesin the Memorial of the Holy Masses celebrat-ed by the Congregation in the entire month ofNovem ber and in the Solemn Ves pers sungduring the Octave of All Souls Day.

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• Fruits of the daily prayers recited by the mem-bers of the Congregation.

• Supernatural fruits of the merits, good deeds,and indulgences obtained by members of theCon gre gation.

By virtue of receiving and wearing the Blue Sca -pu lar of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.,and by the power of the directives of the ApostolicSee of February 2, 1968, and of March 30, 2012,Confraternity members may obtain a plenary indul-gence under the usual conditions on the day ofreceiving the Scapular and their admission into theConfra ter nity, as well as on the days listed below.

The primary feasts of the Confraternity are:

• The solemnity of the Immaculate Con ceptionof the Most Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8);

• The Commemoration of All the Faithful De -parted (November 2).

Confraternity members shall live out the solem-nity of the Immaculate Conception in profoundlove and gratitude to God and Mary. On this daythey shall renew their devout commitment to herservice, their faithfulness to Christ and His Church,and shall entrust to the maternal Heart of theImmaculate Virgin the entire Marian family.

On the day of All the Faithful Departed, Confra -ternity members shall commend to God throughprayers, sacrifices, and indulgences the souls of thedeparted suffering in Purgatory.

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Indulgences Attached to the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.

and the Marian Fathers’ Confraternity

Those who wear the Scapular of the Immacu lateConception can receive a plenary indulgence underthe usual conditions* on the following days:

• The day of investiture with the Scapular ofthe Immaculate Conception;

• The solemnity of the Immaculate Conceptionof the Most B.V.M. (December 8);

• The feast of Presentation of the Lord (Febr u -ary 2);

• The solemnity of the Assumption of the MostB.V.M. (August 15);

• Christmas Day (December 25);• Easter Sunday;• The solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord;• The liturgical commemoration of Bl. Stan -islaus Papczyński, Founder of the Marians(May 18);

• The fliturgical commemorationof St. Cajet an,Founder of the The a tine Order (August 7).

* To gain a plenary indulgence one must:• be in the state of grace and free from all at tach -ment to sin, even venial sin;

• have a general intention to gain the indulgence;• perform acts to obtain the indulgence;• receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and HolyEucharist;

• pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

ADMISSION TO THE CONFRATERNITYOF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ANDINVESTITURE WITH THE BLUE SCAPULAR

The rite of admission to the Confraternity andinvestiture with the Blue Sca pu lar described belowshould be per formed by a Marian priest or deacon(usually, the Local Confraternity Promoter) or amem ber of the clergy delegated by the Marians. Ifat all possible, it should be carried out in a commu-nal celebration.For the rite of blessing and conferral the scapu-

lar itself must be used, made of prescribed designand material: Only afterwards may a blessed scapu-lar me dal replace the scapular made out of fabric(see Appendix, Statutes of the Confraternity, p. 7).

In his homily, the Prom ot er or the person presid-ing over the ceremony ought to briefly explain thespi ritual dimension of membership in the Confra -ter nity. Since the Blue Scapular is a sign approved bythe Church and one of its sacramentals, he shouldalso emphasize its significance, point out the obliga-tions ensuing from its acceptance, and mention thegraces enjoyed by those who worthily wear it.

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ORDER OF ADMISSION AND INVESTITURE

INTRODUCTORY RITES

When the people or simply the members of the confraternityhave gathered, the celebrant enters during the singing of ahymn suited to the particular celebration. After thesinging, the celebrant says:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ofthe Holy Spirit.

All make the sign of the cross and reply:

Amen.The celebrant greets those present in the following words.

Through the Son, born of Mary, every blessingcomes to us from God our Father. May His graceand peace be with you all.

All reply:

And with your spirit.In the following words, the celebrant prepares those pres-ent for the admission and the blessing.

God uses ordinary things as signs to express Hisextraordinary mercy toward us. Through simplethings as well we express our gratitude, declare ourwillingness to serve God, and profess the resolve tolive up to our baptismal consecration.

The Blue Scapular is the sign of entrance into theMarian Fathers’ Confraternity of the ImmaculateConception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Thisscapular thus ex pres ses our intention of shar ing in

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the spirituality of the Congregation of MarianFathers. That intention renews our baptismal re -solve to put on Christ with the help of Mary Im ma -culately Conceived, whose own greatest desire isthat we become more like Christ in praise of theTrinity, until, dressed for the wedding feast, wereach our home in heaven.

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

A reader, one of those present, or the celebrant reads atext of sacred Scripture, taken either from the readingsin the Lectionary for Masses in honor of Our Lady orone of the following excerpts.

Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of theProphet Isaiah: Is 61:9-11

Their offspring shall be renowned among thenations, and their descendants in the midst of thepeoples; All who see them shall acknowledge them:They are offspring the Lord has blessed.

I will rejoice heartily in the Lord, my being exultsin my God; For he has clothed me with garmentsof salvation, and wrapped me in a robe of justice.Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, as abride adorns herself with her jewels. As the earthbrings forth its shoots, and a garden makes its seedsspring up, So will the Lord God make justice springup, and praise before all the nations.

The word of God.

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All reply:

Thanks be to God.

or:

Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of theLetter of St. Paul to the Ephesians: Eph 4:17, 20-24

So I declare and testify in the Lord that you mustno longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility oftheir minds; that is not how you learned Christ,assuming that you have heard of him and weretaught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you shouldput away the old self of your former way of life, cor-rupted through deceitful desires, and be renewedin the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self,created in God’s way in righteousness and holinessof truth.

The word of God.All reply:

Thanks be to God.

After the reading, the celebrant gives the homily.

INTERCESSIONS

The intercessions are then said. The celebrant introducesthem and an assisting minister or the one of those presentannounces the intentions.

Celebrant: Relying on the intercession of the Vir -gin Mary Immaculately Conceived, who by the po -

wer of the Holy Spirit gave the World our flesh, sothat we might share in the grace of our firstbornbrother and live for the glory of God, let us pray tothe Father, saying:All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

Reader:

Father, you willed to have your beloved Son takeon our humanity, so that in Him we might share inYour own life; grant that we may be called and trulybe Your children. For this we pray.All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

Reader:

You wished Christ to be in every respect like us, butwithout sin, so that in following Him we mightshare in His filial image; grant that we may followChrist so as to please You in all things. For this wepray.All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

Reader:

You call those who are clothed in the wedding gar-ment of the kingdom to the feast of Your grace,where You reveal Yourself to them; teach us to serveyou loyally. For this we pray.All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

Reader:

You clothe us with the robe of righteousness and holi-ness, so that though the Holy Spirit we may live for

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You. Show forth the holiness of Your Church andthrough Christ make us grow in holiness, so that wemay work together generously for the salvation ofothers. For this we pray.All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

Reader:

You continually bestow on us in Christ every spir-itual blessing, until, clothed in the wedding gar-ment, we go out to meet Christ at His coming;grant that through the prayers of Mary we maypass from death to life. For this we pray.All: God, grant that we may put on Christ.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

With outstretched hands, the celebrant continues:

O God, the author and perfecter of all holiness, Youcall all who are reborn of water and the Holy Spiritto the fullness of the Christian life and the perfec-tion of charity. Look with kindness on those whowill join today the Confraternity of the ImmaculateConception and who will devoutly receive the BlueScapular in honor of the Blessed Virgin MaryImma cu lately Con ceiv ed. As long as they live, letthem become sharers in the image of Christ YourSon and, after they have fulfilled their mission onearth with the help of Mary, the Virgin Mother,receive them into the joy of Your heavenly home.We ask this through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

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ADMISSION TO THE CONFRATERNITY

Those to be admitted into the Confra ternityapproach the altar and remain standing.

Celebrant: Our help is in the name of the Lord.All: Who made heaven and earth.

C. Lord, hear my prayer.All: And let my cry come to You.

C. The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.

C. Let us pray.O God, who by the Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwel lingfor your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you pre servedher from every stain by virtue of the Death of yourSon, which you foresaw, so, though her interces-sion, we too, may be cleansed and admitted to yourpresence. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, yourSon, who lives and reigns with you in the unity ofthe Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.All: Amen.

Celebrant: In virtue of the power entrusted to me, I acceptyou into the Marian Fathers’ Confraternity of theImmaculate Con cep tion of the Most Blessed VirginMary. By joining this Con fra ter nity, you accept thecommitments that entitle you to share spiritually inthe life, pray ers, and good works of all the Marianpriests and brothers, both during your lifetime and

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after death. In the name of the Father, and of theSon, and of the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.

The celebrant sprinkles the newly admitted with holywater, upon which they kneel and recite after the cele-brant the following Act of Oblation:

Most Blessed Virgin Mary, / Mother of God andIm maculate Virgin, / I, (here each person mentionshis/her name), / a poor and sinful person, / mostunworthy to see your holy face, / wish to serveyou. Trusting in your great mercy, / in the presenceof your belov ed Son, / Lord Jesus—our Savior andMaster, / and of all the Angels and Saints, / I offermy self today / into your bondage of love / as themost devoted child / in the Confra ternity of yourImmaculate Conception, / tak ing you as my specialMother, / Lady, / and Pro tect ress. / I firmlyresolve / never to leave you / and always to defendyour honor. / I especially promise / that I shallpromote / the mystery of your Immacu lateConcep tion / until death. / Therefore, / I humblyask you, / Most Bles sed Virgin, / through theBlood / of your only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, /to mercifully re ceive me / among the ranks of yourservants / as your eternal slave; / to help me / inall my troubles and needs; / and, above all, / tocome to my assistance / at the hour of death / asthe Mother of Mercy. / Amen.

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INVESTITURE WITH THE BLUE SCAPULAR

The newly admitted to the Confraternity remainkneeling and the celebrant continues with the prayerof the blessing of the scapular. The following formulacan be used also when the ceremony of blessing andinvestiture with the scalupar is not combined with theadmission into the Confraternity.

Lord Jesus Christ, You chose to share our hu mannature. We humbly ask You to bless this sca pu l armade in honor of the Immacu late Con cep tion ofthe Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant that thosewho are clothed in it lend themselves to moral re -new al among people. And may this/those, Yourservant(s), invested with the scapular, through theintercession of the Virgin Mary ImmaculatelyConceived also deserve to be cloth ed in You, wholive and reign for ever and ever.All: Amen.

The celebrant sprinkles the scapular with holy waterand places it over the shoulders of the recipient, saying:

Brother/Sister, receive this Blue Scapular, fromnow on a sign of your belonging in the Confra -ternity of the Immaculate Conception of the MostBlessed Virgin Mary, that by her help you maydivest yourself of “the old man.” May God grantthat you may wear it cleansed of every sin and freeof all stain, and thus pass into eternal life.All: Amen.

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By the authority delegated to me, I extend to youa share in the spiritual benefits of plenary indul-gences and other graces bestowed upon those whoare vested with and worthily wear the Blue Sca -pular. In the name of the Fa ther, and the Son, andthe Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

The celebrant, with his hands outstretched, concludes therite with a solemn blessing. All those present bow theirheads:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.

C. Bow your head(s) and pray for God’s blessing.

C. May the Lord, who redeemed the worldthrough His Son born of the Virgin Mary andwho deigned to accept you into the Confrater -nity of her Immacu late Conception, grant youHis blessing.

All: Amen.

C. May the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, whogave us the Giver of Life, protect you always.

All: Amen.

C. May the Lord grant health, true joy, andeter nal happiness to all present here today tohon or the Immaculate Virgin.

All: Amen.

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Then he blesses all present:C. And may Almighty God bless you all, the Fa -

ther, � and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.

C. May the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Con cep tionbe your health and protection.

All: Amen.It is recommended to end this celebration with a suit-able song.

Additional Explanations

• It is necessary to go to Communion on the dayof joining the Con fraternity of the ImmaculateCon cep tion of the B.V.M. and receiving theBlue Sca pu lar. The scapular should be made outof blue cloth. The scapular should be worn sothat its one part is over the chest and the otherover the back.

• In 1910, St. Pope Pius X introduced a scapularmedal*, which may be substituted in most ca -ses for any of the various cloth scapulars.How ever, valid enrollment in the scapularsmust be made before the substitution.

• Both the cloth scapular and the medal should beworthily worn. When the Blue Scapular wearsout or becomes misplaced or lost, an other sca -

* View the official decree in Latin and its English rendition:Appendix, Confraternity Statutes, p. 18 and p. 20 respectively.

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pular should be put on; the replacement can beblessed by any priest or deacon.

• People wearing the Blue Scapular also share inall the spiritual benefits of the Order of theClerics Regular—Theatines, both during theirlifetime and after death.

• The names of the faithful belonging to the Con -fraternity of the Im ma cu late Con cep tion shouldbe re corded in the registry of the Con fraternity.Some of the Ma ri an chur ches at which the Con -fra ternity exists (i.e in War saw-Stegny, Poland,or in Lon don, the Unit ed Kingdom) have sucha registry. In the U.S. the Confraternity is estab-lished at the Nation al Shrine of The Divine Mer -cy in Stock bridge, Mass. Con fraternity mem bersre ceive a special certificate confirming theirmem bership.

• The death of a Brother or Sister of the Con fra -ter nity (the honorary title of a member) shouldbe reported to the respective Marian church, sothat the Congre gation can in clude that personin their prayers for the departed.

• The pious wearing of the scapular and devotion-al practices—as for example, kissing the sca pularor medal—carry an additional partial indulgencegranted by the Church.

• There is the opportunity of accepting the Sca -pular of the Immaculate Conception of theMost Bles sed Virgin Mary without joining the

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Marian Fathers’ Confra ter nity. The faithful whowish to accept the Scapular but do not want tobelong to the said Confra ter nity should clearlystate this when asking for the Scapular. Thefaithful who wear the Blue Sca pular but are notformally aggregated (admitted into the Con fra -ternity of the Mari an Fathers and listed in theirRegister) be long spiritually to the broadly un -der stood community of the The a tine Fathers—custodians of the Blue Scapu lar. In addition,they share in the spiritual benefits of the Arch -confraternity of the Im maculate Concept ionlocated at the Sant’And rea della Valle Basilica inRome, which is run by the The at ine Fathers.

Copperplate depicting Immaculate Mary against the background of the ten-ray star that symbolically representsevangelical virtues of the Mother of God. The image is takenfrom the book entitled “Gwiazda zaranna” [The MorningStar], which was translated and edited by the Venerable

Servant of God Fr. Casimir Wyszynski. The book appeared inprint in 1749, in Warsaw, and is now preserved in theLibrary of Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland.

PRAYERS TOTHE IMMACULATE VIRGIN MARY

Marians spread God’s glory through fostering de -vo tion to the Immaculate Conception of the MostBles sed Virgin Mary.

People who wear the Blue Scapular and aremem bers of the Confraternity should cultivate aspecial devotion to the mystery of the ImmaculateConception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Aswe meditate upon this privilege of Our Lady, weadmire the good ness and omnipotence of Godwho preserved Mary from sin, and we praise theLord for His great mercy. We also learn from theImmaculate One to live in sanctity. Let us prayardently and with great love to our ImmaculateMother. Let us avail ourselves often of the treasuryof prayers compiled below, particularly on the feastsand solemnities of Mary.

Daily Offering of Oneself to the Blessed Mother

My Lady and my Mother, I give myself entirely toyou, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrateto you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, myheart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore,Good Mother as I am your own, keep me and guardme as your property and possession.

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Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lordis with you. Blessed are youamong women, and blessed isthe fruit of your womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Most pure,Most prudent,

Most humble,Most faithful,Most devout,Most obedient,Most poor,Most patient,Most merciful,Most sorrowful.

Pray for us, sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Chapletof the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the B.V.M.

The Marians have recited this prayer since the time of approvalof the Order upon the “Rule of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of theB.V.M.” by Pope Innocent XII in 1699. Blessed StanislausPapczynski, Found er of the Marians, was the first to make hissolemn vows on this rule in Warsaw, on June 6, 1701.

To pray the Chaplet, use only 10 beads of a Rosary ora 10-bead chaplet. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, fol-lowed by one Our Father. Then on each of the 10 beads,pray one Hail Mary, adding after the words “Holy Mary,Mother of God...” one of the following virtues.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

Our Father who are in heaven...

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V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to theHoly Spirit.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shallbe, world without end. Amen.

V. In Your Conception, O Virgin Mary, You wereIm maculate.

R. Pray for us to the Father whose Son, Jesus, youbrought forth into the world.

V. Let us pray:O God, who, by the Immaculate Con ception of

the Blessed Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling forYour Son, grant, we pray, that, as You preserved herfrom every stain by virtue of the Death of Your Son,which You foresaw, so through her intercession, wetoo, may be cleansed and admitted to Your pres-ence. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of theHoly Spirit, one God for ever and ever.R. Amen.V. May the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception,R. Be our Health and our Protection.

Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;blessed are you among women and blessed is thefruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother ofGod, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour ofour death. Amen.

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V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary . . .

V. And the Word was made Flesh.R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary . . .

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.R. That we may be made worthy of the promis-es of Christ.

V. Let us pray: Pour forth, we beg you, O Lord, Your grace

into our hearts: that we, to whom the incarnationof Christ, Your Son, was made known by the mes-sage of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross bebrought to the glory of His Resur rec tion, throughthe same Christ Our Lord.R. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bernard (Memorare)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, thatnever was it known that anyone who fled to yourprotection, implored your help, or sought your in -ter cession was left unaided. Inspired by this confi-dence, I fly to your aid, O Virgin of Virgins, myMother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinfuland sorrowful. O Mary, Mother of the Word In -carnate, despise not my petition but in your mercyhear and answer me. Amen.

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Prayer to Mary in the Words ofSt. Bernard of Clairvaux

When tossed by tempests and storms on the tur-bulent sea of this world, I lift my eyes to you, OMary, Shining Star, that the waves may not over-whelm me. When the gales of temptations blow fier -cely, when I fall upon the sharp rocks of pain, I liftup my eyes to you and call upon you, O Mary.When the violent tides of pride, blasphemy, and jeal-ousy toss me about, I lift up my eyes to you and callupon you, O Mary. When anger, or greed, or lustshake the fragile boat of my soul, I lift up my eyes toyou, O Mary. And should the abyss of sorrow or themagnitude of despair begin to overwhelm me, tor-mented by the gravity of my sins, confused by theugliness of my conscience, frightened by the threatof judgment, I would still look up to you, ever call-ing upon you. O Mary, in danger, depression, ordoubt I will always call upon you. Following you, OMary, I will never lose my way—thinking about you,I will never be lost. And if you will continue to sup-port me, I will not fall. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life,our sweetness and our hope! To you do we cry,poor banished children of Eve, To you do we sendup our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valleyof tears. Turn, then, O most gracious advocate,your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile

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show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

We Fly to Your Patronage

We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother ofGod. Despise not our petitions in our necessitiesbut deliver us from all dangers, O ever-gloriousand Blessed Virgin. O our sovereign Mistress, ourAdvocate, our Mediatrix, and our Consolation:Reconcile us with your Son; recommend us toyour Son; commit us to your Son. Amen.

Prayer to Mary Immaculate for a Life of Holiness

O, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true Godand Mother of the Church, you who show yourgraciousness and compassion for all those who seekrefuge in your protection, hear the prayer which webring to you with filial trust and present it to yourSon, Jesus, our only Redeemer.

O, Mother of Mercy, the teacher of silent andhidden sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sin-ners, we offer on this day our whole being and allour love. We also offer you our life, our work, ourjoys, our weaknesses, and our suffering.

Grant our days peace, justice, and happiness, forwe entrust to your care all that we have and all thatwe are, Our Lady and Mother. We want to belongto you entirely, to walk with you the path of com-

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plete fidelity to Christ in His Church: guide usalways with your gracious hand.

Grant our families the grace to respect and loveeach conceived life with the same love with whichyou conceived the life of the Son of God in yourwomb.

Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, guard ourfamilies that they may always remain in harmony,and bless the upbringing of our children.

O Mary, our hope, look upon us with com pas -sion; teach us always to walk towards Jesus; andshould we fall, help us to rise again and return toHim by confessing our faults and sins in the Sacra -ment of Reconciliation, which brings peace to oursouls. We beseech you, give us the gift of love forall the Holy Sacraments which your Son left for usas signs here on earth.

Then, O Most Holy Mother, with God’s peacein our conscience, with our hearts free from angerand hatred, we will be able to bring to others thetrue joy and the true peace whose source is yourSon, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reignswith the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever andever. Amen.

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Prayer for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception ofthe Most Blessed Virgin Mary

(by St. John Paul II)

Blessed be God, the Father of Our Lord, JesusChrist, who filled you, Virgin of Naza reth, with allspiritual blessings in Christ. In Him you were Im -ma culately Conceived!

Chosen to be His Mother, in Him and throughHim you were redeemed more than any other hu -man being!

Preserved from the effects of original sin, youwere conceived and came into this world in thestate of sanctifying grace.

Full of grace! In today’s feast we venerate thismystery of faith. Today, together with the entireChurch, we venerate the redemption which tookplace in you. This very special participation in theredemption of the world and man was reserved foryou alone: exclusively for you.

Hail Mary, Alma Redemptoris Mater!

You, who are the first among the redeemed, helpus, the people of the twentieth century which isdrawing to a close, and, at the same time, the peo-ple of the second millennium after Christ, to findour share in the mystery of redemption.

Help us to understand the profound divine di -mension, and, at the same time, the human di men -

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sion of this mystery, and to have a fuller access to itsinexhaustible riches. We ask all this of you on to -day’s feast: O graci ous, O compassionate, O sweetVirgin Mary. Amen.

Litany of Loreto

Lord, have mercy.Christ have mercy.Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary, pray for us.Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of Virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace,Mother most pure,Mother most chaste,Mother inviolate,Mother undefiled,Mother most amiable,Mother most admirable,Mother of good Counsel,Mother of our Creator,Mother of our Savior,Virgin most prudent,

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Virgin most venerable,Virgin most renowned,Virgin most powerful,Virgin most merciful,Virgin most faithful,Mirror of justice,Seat of wisdom,Cause of our joy,Spiritual vessel,Vessel of honor,Singular vessel of devotion,Mystical rose,Tower of David,Tower of ivory,House of gold,Ark of the covenant,Gate of heaven,Morning star,Health of the sick,Refuge of sinners,Comforter of the afflicted,Help of Christians,Queen of Angels,Queen of Patriarchs,Queen of Prophets,Queen of Apostles,Queen of Martyrs,Queen of Confessors,Queen of Virgins,Queen of all Saints,Queen conceived without original sin,

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Queen assumed into heaven,Queen of the most holy Rosary,Queen of families,Queen of peace,

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.R. That we may be made worthy of the promis-es of Christ.

V. Let us pray. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we,

Your servants, may enjoy perpetual health ofmind and body, and by the glorious intercessionof Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be freedfrom present sorrow, and rejoice in eternal happi-ness. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Litany of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

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God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, God, the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, One God,

Holy Mary, pray for us.Holy Mary, conceived without original sin, All beautiful and with no stain, Free from all lust and covetousness, Beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father, Chosen Mother of the Son of God, The most beloved Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Shrine of the Holy Trinity, Shining Dawn of the Sun of Justice, New Eve, as promised in Paradise, empowered to crush the Serpent’s head,

Consolation, Joy, and Blessing of the Cho sen People,

The most perfect being of all creatures,Lily shining with purity among thorns,Virgin, wed to God in the dawn of time, Shining Light, adorned with seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,

Holocaust of God’s Love, Living Vessel of the Incarnate Word, Virgin Mother of Jesus, The greatest Pride of the Christian World,Worthy Daughter of the Old Covenant’s holy women,

Faithful Fulfillment of the Prophets’ visions, Blessed among women,

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Queen of heaven and earth, Conqueror of demons, Refuge of sinners, Strong Support of the weak, Treasury of Graces for all seeking holiness, Peerless Model for the saints, The most true Mirror of Jesus’s Heart, Mediatrix of God’s graces, for all are entrusted to you,

Comforter of the afflicted and Hope of the dying, Special Protectress of those who call upon you, Most gracious Mother of all your children, Our Lady of Sorrows, present at the foot of Christ’s Cross,

Wide Gate of Heaven, for all your venerators, Rich Reward in Heaven for the imitators of your virtues, Special Patroness of those who spread the

honor of your Immaculate Conception,

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. In Your Conception, O Virgin Mary, You wereIm maculate.

R. Pray for us to God the Father, whose Son,Jesus, you brought forth into the world.

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V. Let us pray.O God, who, by the Immaculate Con ception of

the Blessed Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling forYour Son, grant, we pray, that, as You preserved herfrom every stain by virtue of the Death of Your Son,which You foresaw, so through her intercession, wetoo, may be cleansed and admitted to Your pres-ence. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of theHoly Spirit, one God for ever and ever.R. Amen.

Litany of the Mysteries of Mary’s Life

Mother of God and Virgin Immaculate, intercede for us.

Bringing joy to the world by your birth,Presented as a child in the Temple,Betrothed to St. Joseph,Greeted by the Archangel Gabriel,Chosen to be the Mother of God,Blessed among women and full of grace,Visiting St. Elizabeth, Giving birth to Jesus in Bethlehem,Revealing the Son of God to the she pherds and the magi,

Presenting your Son in the Temple,Fleeing into Egypt with Jesus,Finding Jesus in the Temple,Listening to the teaching Christ,Holding in your arms your Son taken down from the Cross,

The first to welcome the Risen Lord,Watching your Son ascend to Heaven,Entreating the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle,

Assumed into Heaven body and soul,Our Most powerful Queen and Lady,

intercede for us.

V. By the mysteries of your life, you are our mo -del, O Lady.

R. Intercede for us that we may imitate you inour daily lives.

V. Let us pray.O Lord God, in the life of the Most Holy Virg -

in Mary, You have shown us the most perfect exam-ple of how to live our daily lives as followers of theSaviour, and have revealed the joy of salvation thatawaits us. Through the intercession of Mary, whoselife we ponder, grant that we may become co-heirsin the Kingdom of Your Son, who lives and reignswith You, for ever and ever.R. Amen.

Litanyto the Immaculate Heart of Mary

(by Blessed John Newman)

Immaculate Mary, gentle and humble of heart—make our hearts like the Heart of Jesus.

Heart of Mary pray for us.Heart of Mary, united with the Heart of Jesus,

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Heart of Mary, Temple of the Holy Trinity,Heart of Mary, Home of the Incarnate Word,Heart of Mary, overflowing with grace,Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts,Heart of Mary, abyss of humility,Heart of Mary, sacrifice of love,Heart of Mary, crucified,Heart of Mary, consolation of the afflicted,Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners,Heart of Mary, hope of the dying,Heart of Mary, seat of mercy,Heart of Mary, pray for us.

V. Immaculate Mary, gentle and humble ofheart.

R. Make our hearts like the Heart of Jesus.

Novena Before the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.

Introductory prayer (recited daily)

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and theHoly Spirit. Amen.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, with you we praisethe Holy Trinity and thank the Triune God foryour preservation from original sin. We beseechyou most urgently to hear our petitions and grantus your help and protection. Amen.

Day 1. Immaculate Mary, we praise your Imma -culate Conception. You were greeted by the Arch -

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angel Gabriel with the words: “Hail Mary, full ofgrace, the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28). We beg youto help us to call on your name to overcome evilinclinations and lusts. Amen.

Day 2. Immaculate Mary, you are the humblehandmaid of the Lord. You yourself used this namewhen you spoke to God’s messenger: “Behold, Iam the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to meaccording to your word” (Lk 1:38). Help us,through your intercession with your Son, to rootout from our lives all the pride which poisons oursouls. Amen.

Day 3. Immaculate Mary, you forgave all whowounded your Immaculate Heart and the SacredHeart of your Son, Jesus. Your Son taught us topray to the Father: “Forgive us our debts, as wealso have forgiven our debtors” (Mt 6:12). Cure usfrom all inclinations toward prejudice and hatredfor our neighbors, and fill us with kindness andlove toward all. Amen.

Day 4. Immaculate Mary, purity of heart is one ofthe special graces and favors God bestowed on you.In your conversation with the Angel you asked:“How shall this be, since I do not know man?” (Lk1:34). Teach us to value this virtue and to despisethe impurity of sin. Amen.

Day 5. Immaculate Mary, you treasured in yourheart every word spoken by and about your DivineSon. He admonished us to “stop judging and you

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will not be judged. Stop condemning and you willnot be condemned” (Lk 7:37). Protect us, dearMother, from using slander and calumny by whichwe hurt the hearts of our neighbors. Amen.

Day 6. Immaculate Mary, your Son taught:“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsyfrom gluttony and drunkenness and the anxietiesof daily life” (Lk 21:34). Help us to obtain thegrace to make abstinence and sobriety hallmarks ofour own lives. Amen.

Day 7. Immaculate Mary, you were always faithfulin fulfilling the Lord’s will. St. John testifies thatyou stood at Jesus’ side till the very end: “Butstanding by the cross of Jesus were His mother ...”(Jn 19:25). O, how many times did we transgressGod’s commandments? Teach us, O BlessedMother, to respect your Son’s will. Amen.

Day 8. Immaculate Mary, your Son said: “Letyour ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’”(Mt 5:37). Our speech, then, should be simple andhonest, but there is often so much dishonesty andsham in us. Help us to obtain the grace of simplic-ity and truth. Amen.

Day 9. Immaculate Mary, your feast day is ap -proaching. You are the masterpiece of the MostHoly Trinity. The Divine Love gave you to us. Wethank God with a grateful heart for this magnifi-cent gift, and we ask you, teach us to grow in sin cere love of Our Father in Heaven and ourbrothers and sisters on earth. Amen.

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Antiphon (recited daily)

You are all fair, O Mary,The original stain is not in you.You are the glory of Jerusalem,You are the joy of Israel,You are the honor of our people,You are the advocate of sinners.

O Mary, Virgin most prudent,Mother most merciful,Pray for us. Intercede for us with your Son, OurLord, Jesus Christ.

V. In Your Conception, O Virgin Mary, You wereIm maculate.

R. Pray for us to God the Father, whose Son, Jesus,you brought forth into the world.

V. Let us pray.O God, who, by the Immaculate Con ception of

the Blessed Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling forYour Son, grant, we pray, that, as You preserved herfrom every stain by virtue of the Death of Your Son,which You foresaw, so through her intercession, wetoo, may be cleansed and admitted to Your pres-ence. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of theHoly Spirit, one God for ever and ever.R. Amen.

Blessed Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski as the intercessor of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.

Copper plate by I.B. Dourneau,probably made in Portugal in the middle of the 18th century.

General Archives of the Marian Fathers in Rome.

Marians spread God’s glory by praying for thesouls suffering in Purgatory.

Because we are dedicated to the Immaculate Vir -gin Mary, we are called not only to strive for ourpersonal holiness, but also to help others in theirpilgrimage to full participation in the community ofthe saved. Our help is not limited to our living bro -thers and sisters, but—by the example of the Bles -sed Mother—we want to help the departed, whoare being ripened for Heaven in Purga tory, toachieve union with God. Let us, therefore, pray forthe deceased. Let us offer the indulgences we gain,our mortifications, and the difficulties of our every-day life for them.

Prayers for the Departedfor Every Day of the Week

Introductory Prayer (recited daily)

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.R. And let my cry come unto You.

V. O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faith - ful, grant unto the souls of Your servants and hand-maids the remission of all their sins, that throughour devout supplications they may ob tain the par-don they have always desired, You who live andreign, world without end.R. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED

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SundayO Merciful God, I ask You by the Precious

Blood, which Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, shedin the Garden, deliver a soul from Purgatory, andespecially that one which is the most forsaken of all,and receive him/her into Your glory, where he/shemay praise and bless You forever. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest grantunto them, O Lord. And may perpetual light shineupon them.

MondayO Merciful God, I ask You by the Pre ci ous

Blood which Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, shed inHis cruel scourging, to deliver a soul fromPurgatory, and especially that soul which is nearestto its entrance into Your glory, that it may soonbegin to praise You and bless You forever. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

TuesdayO Merciful God, I ask You, by the Precious

Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, that Heshed during His crowning with thorns, deliver asoul from Purgatory, and particularly that soulwhich is in the greatest need of our prayers, inorder that he/she may not be delayed much longerin praising You in Your glory forever. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

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WednesdayO Merciful God, I ask You, by the Precious

Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, that Heshed in the streets of Jerusalem, carrying the crosson His sacred shoulders, deliver a soul fromPurgatory, and especially the one which is richest inmerits in Your sight, so that, having soon attainedthe high place in glory to which he/she is destined,he/she may praise You and bless You forever.Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

ThursdayO Merciful God, I ask You, by the Precious Bo -

dy and Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ,which He Himself, on the night before His Pas -sion, gave as food and drink to His beloved Apos -tles and bequeathed to His Holy Church as the per-petual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of thefaithful, deliver a soul from Purgatory, and especial-ly that soul which was most devoted to this Mysteryof Love, in order that he/she may praise You to -gether with Your Son in Your glory forever. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

FridayO Merciful God, I ask You, by the Precious

Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus Christ shedthis day upon the tree of the Cross, especially fromHis sacred hands and feet, deliver a soul from Pur -gatory, and especially that soul which most faithful-

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ly remained with the Blessed Mother at the Cross,offering her suffering to You. Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

SaturdayO Merciful God, I ask You, by the Precious

Blood which gushed forth from the side of YourDi vine Son, Jesus Christ, in the presence, and tothe great sorrow of His Immaculate Mother, deliv-er a soul from Purgatory and especially that soulwhich was most devoted to the Immaculate VirginMary, that it may come quickly into Your glory,there to praise You with her, through all the ages.Amen.

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Eternal rest...

Prayer for All the Deceased

Omnipotent God, through the death of YourSon, Jesus Christ, on the Cross, You destroyed ourdeath, and through His rest in the grave and theglorious Resurrection, You restored us to immor-tal life. Graciously hear my prayer for all those whodied in Christ and now trustingly await resurrec-tion. God of the living and the dead, in Your gra-ciousness, grant that those who came to know Youon earth through their faith, may eternally praiseYou in Heaven. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer for the Deceased(by Blessed John Newman)

God of all souls, Jesus, the lover of souls, I offerYou all the deceased who departed with the sign offaith and sleep in peace. I beg You, O Lord andSavior, just as You became man out of Your Mercyfor us, so now graciously receive them into YourPresence. Remember, O Lord, that they are Yourcreatures, created by You, the only, living, and trueGod. For there is no other God than You, and thereis no one who could equal Your works. May theirsouls rejoice in Your light. Be not mindful of theirold sins which they committed out of the excess oftheir desires, or because of the corrupt habits oftheir stained nature. Although they had sinned, yetthey always strongly believed in the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit, and, before they died, theybecame reconciled with You through true com-punction and the Sacraments of Your Church.

O gracious Lord, I beseech You, be not mindfulof their sins or the inexperience of their early years,but, in Your great Mercy, remember them in Yourheavenly glory. May the gates of Heaven openbefore them, may the Angels rejoice with them.May the Archangel Michael lead them to You. MayYour Angels come to meet them and lead them tothe Heavenly Jerusalem. May they be received bySt. Peter, whom You entrusted with the keys to theHeavenly Kingdom. May St. Paul, the chosen ves-sel, stand by their side. May St. John, the beloved

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disciple who was granted the grace to share in theDivine mysteries, intercede for them. May all theApostles, who were endowed with the authority tobind and loose, pray for them. May all the saintsand God’s chosen ones who suffered in this worldfor His Holy Name, show their graciousness tothem, so that, released from Purgatory, they may bereceived into the glory of Your Kingdom whereYou live and reign with the Father and the HolySpirit, one God for ever and ever.

Saints of God, come to their aid! Obtain forthem release from punishment. Hasten to meetthem, angels of the Lord! Receive their souls andlead them to the Lord.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And mayperpetual light shine upon them. May they rest inpeace. Amen.

Act of Heroic Love

Lord God, our best Father, out of my love forYou, and for Your greater glory, in union with thesacrifice of Your Son, I relinquish all the satisfacto-ry values of any good deeds I will ever perform andall indulgences that I will ever obtain during mylife or which others may offer for me after mydeath. I offer all these spiritual benefits to Youthrough the intercession of Mary Immaculate.

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Act of Mercy for Those Who AreUndergoing Purification in Purgatory

Immaculate Mary, Mother of Mercy, you gazedupon the sacred body of your Beloved Son nailedto the cross; you saw the earth soaked with HisBlood and were the witness of His saving death. Icommend to you, Mother of Mercy, the soulsundergoing purification. I beg you: Look uponthem mercifully and obtain for them the grace ofeternal happiness. To obtain your intercession, OImmaculate Mother, I forgive all those who haveever hurt me with all my heart and, through yourintercession, I beg Our Savior to grant them everygrace and blessing. Through your intercession, OHoly Virgin, I offer this act of love to God in orderto obtain His Mercy for the souls suffering inPurgatory. Amen.

Litany for the Souls in Purgatory

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, God, the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God,

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Holy Mary, pray for (him, her, them).Gate of Heaven,Queen assumed into Heaven,St. Michael,St. John the Baptist,St. Joseph,St. (Patron Saint of the deceased person),All you holy men and women saints of God,

Be merciful to them, deliver (him, her, them), O Lord.

From all evil,From suffering in Purgatory,Through the mystery of Your Incarnation,Through Your Nativity,Through Your Baptism and holy fasting,Through Your Cross and bitter Passion,Through Your glorious Resurrection,Through Your wonderful Ascension,Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, Through Your coming in glory.We ask that You would absolve us from our sins,

hear us O Lord.We ask that You would grant us a desire of heav-enly life,

We ask that You would protect us from sudden and unexpected death,

We ask that You would deliver our relatives andbenefactors from eternal damnation,

We ask that You would grant all our benefactors an eternal award,

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We ask that You would bring all our teachersinto the eternal light,

We ask that You would have mercy on all victimsof disasters and wars,

We ask that You would grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,

We ask that You would allow them to rejoice in the glory of the resurrection.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world;spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world;graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world;have mercy on us.

V. Let us pray.O God, You caused Your Son to conquer death

and ascend into Heaven. Grant Your deceased ser-vants a share in His victory over death, so that theymay for ever remain in Your presence, their Creatorand Redeemer. Through Christ, Our Lord. R. Amen.

Marians spread God’s glory through promoting TheDivine Mercy message and devotion.

Mary in her Immaculate Conception experienc -ed most fully the greatness of Divine Mercy. Fromthe very beginning the Lord bestowed upon herHis grace and mercy, preserved her from the stainof any sin. As she stood at the Cross of her Son, Je -sus, she was proclaimed the Mother of Mercy, andthrough her Assumption, she received a unique po -wer of obtaining God’s mercy for all people, partic-ularly those who, entangled in their sins, are unableto find their way back to God. Let us ask, throughher intercession, for the graces neces sary for sinnersand for Divine Mercy upon the world.

The prayers below are based on the Diary ofSaint Maria Faus tina Kowalska.

Prayer for Sinners

O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity andunfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sin-ners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy, fromwhich gush forth rays of inconceivable graces uponthe entire human race, I beg of You light for poorsinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter

PRAYERS FOR THE CONVERSIONOF SINNERS AND

FOR DIVINE MERCY UPON THE WORLD

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Passion and do not permit the loss of souls re -deemed at so dear a price of Your most preciousBlood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price ofYour Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one dropalone would have been enough for the salvation ofall sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickednessand ingratitude, the price paid for us can never beequalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in thePassion of the Lord, and place its hope in Hismercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone.Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercywill never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joyburns in my heart when I contemplate Your incom-prehensible good ness, O Jesus! I desire to bring allsinners to Your feet that they may glorify Yourmercy throughout endless ages. Amen (Diary, 72).

Act of Oblation for Sinners

Before Heaven and earth, before all the choirs ofAngels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, beforeall the powers of heaven, I declare to the OneTriune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ,Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering ofmyself for the conversion of sinners, especially forthose souls who have lost hope in God’s mercy.This offering consists in my accepting, with totalsubjection to God’s will, all the sufferings, fears,and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return,I give them all the consolations which my soulreceives from my communion with God. In a

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word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses,Holy Commu nions, penances, mortifications,prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of Divinejustice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God,in this way I want to make amends to You for thesouls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hopeagainst all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. MyLord and my God, my portion — my portion for-ever, I do not base this act of oblation on my ownstrength, but on the strength that flows from themerits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act ofself-oblation by pronouncing the following prayerwhich You Yourself have taught me, Jesus:

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth fromthe Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, Itrust in You (Diary, 309).

Prayer to The Divine Mercy

O God, how good You are, how great is YourMercy. I fly to Your mercy, Com passionate God,who alone are good. Although my misery is greatand my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercybecause You are the God of mercy and it hasnever been heard of in all ages, nor do heaven orearth remember, that a soul trusting in Yourmercy has been disappointed.

O God of compassion, You alone can justifyme and You will never reject me when I, contrite,approach Your Merciful Heart, where no one has

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ever been refused, even if he were the greatestsinner. For Your Son assured me: “Sooner wouldheaven and earth turn into nothingness than mymercy fail to embrace a trusting soul” (Diary,1730).

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are myhaven, You are my peace. You are my salvation,You are my serenity in moments of struggle andamidst an ocean of doubts. You are the bright raythat lights up the path of my life. You know ourweaknesses and, like a good physician, You com-fort and heal, sparing us sufferings (Diary, 247).

Prayer for Divine Mercy

O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, to -day all mankind calls out from the abyss of its mis-ery to Your mercy—to Your compassion, O God;and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it criesout. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of thisearth’s exiles. O Lord, Goodness beyond our un -derstanding, who are acquainted with our miserythrough and through, and know that by our ownpower we cannot ascend to You, we implore You,anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increas-ing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully doYour holy will all through our life and at death’shour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield usfrom the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that wemay with confidence, as Your children, await Yourfinal coming—that day known to You alone. And

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we expect to obtain everything promised us by Je -sus in spite of all our wretchedness, for Jesus is ourhope: Through His merciful Heart as through anopen gate we pass through to heaven (Diary, 1570).

Prayer for a Merciful Heart

O Jesus, I understand that Your mercy is incom-prehensible, therefore I beseech You, make myheart so big that it could contain the needs of allsouls living on this earth. May it reach beyond thisworld, to the souls suffering in Purgatory .... OJesus, make my heart sensitive to every suffering ofmy neighbors’ souls or bodies. O Jesus, I knowthat You do unto us as we do unto our neighbors.O my Jesus, make my heart like Your MercifulHeart (Diary, 692) and change it into Your own,that I may recognize the needs of other hearts, andespecially those that are suffering and sad; may therays of mercy take rest in my heart (Diary, 514).Jesus, help me to go through my life doing goodto everyone (Diary, 692).

Act of Trust in The Divine Mercy

Your mercy runs through our life like a goldenthread which maintains in good order the contactof our being with God. For He does not need any-thing to make Him happy; so everything is solelythe work of His mercy (Diary, 1466).

Even if everything should conspire against meand the earth should slip from under my feet, I am

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calmed by Your Heart. I will sing You my painthrough my silence, and You will understand mebeyond any words. ... (Diary, 1490).

O Jesus, I am locking myself in Your MostMerci ful Heart as in a fortress, impregnable againstthe missiles of my enemies (Diary, 1535).

Litany of Praises of The Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You.

Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God,Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery,Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity,

Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect,human or angelic,

Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life andhappiness,

Divine Mercy, better than the heavens,Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders,Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe,Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Personof the Incarnate Word,

Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the openwound of the Heart of Jesus,

Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus forus, and especially for sinners,

Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution ofthe Sacred Host,

Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church,

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Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ,

Divine Mercy, accompanying us through ourwhole life,

Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hourof death,

Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life,Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment ofour life,

Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell,Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners,Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints,

Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries ofGod,

Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery,Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy,Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingnessto existence,

Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands,Divine Mercy, crown of all of God’s handiwork,Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed,Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts,Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear,Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls,Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope,

V. Let us prayEternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the

treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly

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upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in dif-ficult moments we might not despair nor becomedespondent, but with great confidence submit our-selves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercyitself. Through Christ, Our Lord.R. Amen. (Diary, 948-949).

The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy

Begin with:

Our Father ... Hail Mary ... The Apostles’ Creed ...

On the large bead before each decade:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood,Soul and Divinity, of Your dearly beloved Son, OurLord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins andthose of the whole world.

On the 10 small beads of each decade:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercyon us and on the whole world.

In conclusion (after five decades):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,have mercy on us and on the whole world.(3 times)

(Diary, 476)

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Act of Entrusting the Worldto The Divine Mercy

(by St. John Paul II in Cracow –Lagiewniki, August 17, 2002)

God, merciful Father, in Your son, Jesus Christ,You have revealed Your love and poured it outupon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Weentrust to You today the destiny of the world andof every man and woman.

Bend down to us, sinners, heal our weakness, con-quer all evil, and grant that all the peoples of theearth may experience Your mercy. In You, theTriune God, may they ever find the source of hope.

Eternal Father, by the Passion and Resurrection ofYour Son, have mercy on us and upon the wholeworld. Amen.

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Contact InformationTo receive more information about joining the Con -

fraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.at the National Shrine of The Divine Mer cy in Stock -bridge, Mass., 01262, U.S.A., and to learn of the du tiesand spiritual benefits of membership, along with the in -for mation about the Scapular itself, please send an e-mailto our Con fraternity coordinator at:

confraternity @ marian.org or fill out our online form at: marian. org/confraternity. You may also call the toll-free number 1-800-462-

7426 (for U.S. and Canada only) for information, or toorder the Handbook for Confraternity members (pleasemention its code EBS). The faithful residing in the United Kingdomwho are

interested in the Confraternity and the Blue Scapular,please contact the Marians at:

Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception1 Court field Gardens, Lon don W13 0EY;

tel.: (+44) 020.8998.0925; e-mail: info@divinemercy.org.uk

Those who are considering the religious life andwould like, as priests or brothers, to spread the honorof the Immaculate Conception of the Most BlessedVirg in Mary, to pray for the deceased, and work in theMarian spirit in our country or in the missions, maycontact the Mari ans in person or by mail at the follow-ing address:

Vocation DirectorMarians of the Immaculate Conception

515 Belleview BoulevardSteubenville, OH 43952

call toll free: (877) 261-8806or e-mail: vocations.@marian.org

APPENDIX

This painting from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercyin Stockbridge, MA, depicts the moment of conferral by PopeInnocent XII of the“Rule of Ten Virtues of the Most BlessedVirgin Mary,” together with the Scapular of the ImmaculateConception, upon the Order of Marians in Rome in 1699.

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Venerable Ursula Benincasa(1547–1618)

A vision from February 2, 1617, in which Venerable Ursula Benincasa received

the Blue Scapular from the Mother of God.

The painting called “the Mass of Fr. Stanislaus Papczynski,” thework of a Marian, Fr. John Niezabitowski (1744-1804), repre-sents one of the main goals of the Marians: assisting souls suffer-ing in Purgatory, especially through promoting the scapulardevotion and the recitation of the Chaplet of Ten Virtues of theB.V.M. Chapel of the Marian monastery in Skorzec, Poland.

The image presenting Blessed Stanislaus Papczynski, holding the Blue Scapular, as the Advocate of Poor Souls inPurgatory. Painting by Yolanda Bello. Marian Religious

House on Eden Hill, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

A fragment from the painting on the rightshows Mary as Our Lady of Balsamão holding the Blue Scapular in her hand.

Painting by Antonio J. 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.

Father Wyszynski was also a zealous promoter of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception

with the Blue Scapular.

One of the Marian Order’s main goals set by the Founder,Blessed Fr. Stanislaus Pap czynski, is to pray for the Poor Soulsin Purgatory, especially those who lost their lives on the battle-field. The above painting of 1934 by Aleksander L. May

depicts Blessed Stanislaus giving last rites to a dying soldier.Religious House of the Marians in Warsaw-Praga, Poland.

Front page from the Register of the Confra ter nity of the Im ma culate

Con cep tion dating 1774from the Marian

monastery on Mount Balsa mão

in Portugal.General Archives of the

Marian Fathers in Rome

An entry from 1788 in the Register of the Confraternity ofthe Immaculate Conception, located in the Marian

monastery in Gozlin, Poland.

BLUE SCAPULARHANDBOOK FOR THE CONFRATERNITYOF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

BLU

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This Handbook is acomprehensive source ofinformation, instructions,and prayers necessary forthose faithful who want tojoin the Confraternity ofthe Immaculate Conceptionand to live out the spiritualityof the Marian Fathers.Confraternity members wearthe Blue Scapular as the

essential sign of belonging to the Confraternity.The Marian Fathers’ Con fra ternity of the Im ma culate Conception of

the Blessed Vir gin Mary exists since the 18th century. Bles sed StanislausPapczyƒ ski (1631—1701), Founder of the Marians, consideredspread ing devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Mo ther ofGod as one of his Or der’s prin cipal goals. He fervently encouraged hisspiritual sons to establish Confraternities of the ImmaculateConception at the churches under their care. His wish was reflected inthe Order’s first Rule from 1694-1698.The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception is a private

association of the faithful who, living in the world and participating inthe spirituality, apostolate, and mission of the Congregation of MarianFathers, spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Motherof God and pray for the deceased, while striving for Christianperfection. Confraternity members share in the spir itual benefits of theMarian Fathers. They also have the privilege of obtaining a plenaryindulgence on the day of admission into the Confraternity and conferralof the scapular, as well as on the other particular feasts and solemnitieslisted in this Handbook.

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