The Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception (most known as simply Blue Scapular) is a devotional

scapular The scapular (from Latin ''wikt:scapula#Latin, scapulae'', "shoulders") is a Western Christianity, Western Christian garment suspended from the shoulders. There are two types of scapulars, the Monasticism, monastic and Catholic devotions, devot ...

that traces its roots to Venerable

Ursula Benincasa Ursula Benincasa, (Italian: Orsola Benincasa), born around 1550 and died in Naples on 20 October 1618, was an Italian nun and mystic, declared venerable, founder of the Oblate Sisters and Hermitage of the Contemplative Sisters of the Immaculate Con ...

, who founded the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

religious order of the Theatine Nuns.Veny-Bellester, A., ''Ursula Benincasa o una experiencia de Dios'', 1967 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 Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

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 Pope Gregory XV ( la, Gregorius XV; it, Gregorio XV; 9 January 15548 July 1623), born Alessandro Ludovisi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 February 1621 to his death in July 1623. Biography Early life Al ...

on April 7, 1623. On August 7, 1793,

Pope Pius VI Pope Pius VI ( it, Pio VI; born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, 25 December 171729 August 1799) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1775 to his death in August 1799. Pius VI condemned the French Revoluti ...

recognized the heroic virtues of Ursula, and proclaimed her "

Venerable The Venerable (''venerabilis'' in Latin) is a style, a title, or an epithet which is used in some Western Christian churches, or it is a translation of similar terms for clerics in Eastern Orthodoxy and monastics in Buddhism. Christianity Cathol ...

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. In January 1671,

Pope Clement X Pope Clement X ( la, Clemens X; it, Clemente X; 13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 April 1670 to his death in July 1676. Elected pope at ag ...

approved the blessing and investing of this scapular.

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 Sant'Andrea della Valle is a minor basilica in the rione of Sant'Eustachio of the city of Rome, Italy. The basilica is the general seat for the religious order of the Theatines. It is located at Piazza Vidoni, at the intersection of Corso Vittori ...

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). 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.Hilgers, Joseph. "Scapular." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 24 Dec. 2014
/ref> On June 3, 1992, the

Marians of the Immaculate Conception The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary ( la, Congregatio Clericorum Marianorum ab Immaculata Conceptionis Beatissimae Virginis Mariae) is a Catholic male clerical religious congregation fou ...

obtained a perpetual permission from the Superior General of the

Theatine Fathers The Theatines officially named the Congregation of Clerics Regular ( la, Ordo Clericorum Regularium), abreviated CR, is a Catholic order of clerics regular of Pontifical Right for men founded by Archbishop Gian Pietro Carafa in Sept. 14, 1524. I ...

to bless and confer the blue scapular of Immaculate Conception. The Blue Scapular is also included in the

Fivefold Scapular The Fivefold Scapular, also known as Redemptorist Scapular, is a Sacramentals, sacramental made up of five best-known of the early scapulars in the Catholic Church: the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites, the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conce ...

. The Fivefold Scapular is made of five of the most popular scapulars sewn together on the top and connected to a single shared string.

Notes

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External links

The Blue Scapular by the Marian Fathers of The Immaculate Conception

University of Dayton - Guide to the Marian devotional scapular collection

''The Blue Scapular Prayer Book''
Scapulars