Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception

The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception (most known as simply Blue Scapular) is a devotional scapular that traces its roots to Venerable Ursula Benincasa, who founded the Roman Catholic religious order of the Theatine Nuns.^[1] This scapular must have a blue woollen cloth and on one side bears a symbolization of the mystery of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady and on the other the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

History

Ursula Benincasa

Consecrated by her parents to Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception, Ursula Benincasa (1547-1618), spent part of her youth and adult life as a hermit in the region of Saint Elmo (Naples). In 1583, she founded the Congregation of the Oblates of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. She also founded the Hermitage of the Contemplative Nuns of the Immaculate Conception. The rule of both communities was approved by Pope Gregory XV on April 7, 1623.^[2] On August 7, 1793, Pope Pius VI recognized the heroic virtues of Ursula, and proclaimed her "Venerable".

Blue Scapular

According to legend, in 1617, in Naples, Benincasa experienced a vision in which Jesus promised great favors for her religious order. She then begged Jesus for the same graces to such people who, living in the world, would have a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception, observe chastity according to their station in life, and wear a small blue scapular. She stated that Jesus granted her petition and she began to make small blue scapulars. One part bears the image of the Immaculate Conception, the other has the name of the Virgin Mary. She had them blessed, and started to distribute them.^[2] In January 1671, Pope Clement X approved the blessing and investing of this scapular.^[1]

Confraternity

The confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God Mary was erected in 1894 in the Theatine Church of Sant'Andrea della Valle at Rome. (However, according to the official Blue Scapular handbook's reference to historical documents, it was first established on June 26, 1734, at the Congregation's first monastery).^[3] It later became an archconfraternity. According to the statutes of the archconfraternity, admission is effected by the blessing and investing with the Blue Scapular, the presentation of the small chaplet of the Immaculate Conception, and the enrolling of the name in the register of the confraternity.^[4]

On June 3, 1992,^[5] the Marians of the Immaculate Conception obtained a perpetual permission from the Superior General of the Theatine Fathers to bless and confer the blue scapular of Immaculate Conception.^[6]

The Blue Scapular is also included in the Fivefold Scapular. The Fivefold Scapular is made of five of the most popular scapulars sewn together on the top and connected to a single shared string.^[7]

Notes

^ ^a ^b Veny-Bellester, A., Ursula Benincasa o una experiencia de Dios, 1967
^ ^a ^b ""A History of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception", Marians of the Immaculate Conception". Archived from the original on 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
^ Marian Fathers’ Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M. Janusz Kumala, MIC, and Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC, editors. THE BLUE SCAPULAR Prayer Book to Accompany the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. 4th amended edition. pg. 20. Accessed July 2021. https://images.marianweb.net/archives/pdfs/misc/en/The_Blue_Scapular_Prayer_Book.pdf
^ Hilgers, Joseph. "Scapular." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 24 Dec. 2014
^ Marians of the Immaculate Conception. "Scapular of the Immaculate Conception." https://padrimariani.org/en/the-blue-scapular/
^ Fr. Adam Boniecki Article on the Blue Scapular Archived April 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Scapular". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. Several scapulars may be attached to the same pair of strings or bands; each scapular must of course be complete, and must be attached to both bands. In many cases the five best-known of the early scapulars are attached to the same pair of bands; this combination is then known as the "fivefold scapular". The five are: the Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity, that of the Carmelites, of the Servites, of the Immaculate Conception, and the Red Scapular of the Passion.

External links

[Veny-1] Veny-Bellester, A., Ursula Benincasa o una experiencia de Dios, 1967

[Marians-2] ""A History of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception", Marians of the Immaculate Conception". Archived from the original on 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2014-12-24.

[3] Marian Fathers’ Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M. Janusz Kumala, MIC, and Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC, editors. THE BLUE SCAPULAR Prayer Book to Accompany the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. 4th amended edition. pg. 20. Accessed July 2021. https://images.marianweb.net/archives/pdfs/misc/en/The_Blue_Scapular_Prayer_Book.pdf

[Hilgers-4] Hilgers, Joseph. "Scapular." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 24 Dec. 2014

[5] Marians of the Immaculate Conception. "Scapular of the Immaculate Conception." https://padrimariani.org/en/the-blue-scapular/

[6] Fr. Adam Boniecki Article on the Blue Scapular Archived April 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

[7] "Scapular". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. Several scapulars may be attached to the same pair of strings or bands; each scapular must of course be complete, and must be attached to both bands. In many cases the five best-known of the early scapulars are attached to the same pair of bands; this combination is then known as the "fivefold scapular". The five are: the Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity, that of the Carmelites, of the Servites, of the Immaculate Conception, and the Red Scapular of the Passion.

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