PROCEDURE FOR THE BLESSING AND INVESTITURE
THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
    
     (Latin)
    
     Priest - Ostende nobis, domine misericordiam tuam.
     Respondent - Et salutare tuum da nobis.
     P - Domine, exaudi orationem meum.
     R - Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
     P - Dominus vobiscum.
     R - Et cum spiritu tuo.
     P - Oremus.  Domine Jesu Christe, humani generis Salvator, hunc
     habitum, quem propter tuum tuaeque Genitricis Virginis Mariae de Monte
     Carmelo, Amorem servus tuus devote est delaturus, dextera tua
     sancti+fica, tu eadem Genitrice tua intercedente, ab hoste maligno
     defensus in tua gratia usque ad mortem perseveret:  Qui vivis et
     regnas in saecula saeculorum.  Amen.
    
     THE PRIEST DOES THE ASPERSION AND INVESTS PERSONS SAYING:
    
     P - Accipite hunc, habitum benedictum precantes sanctissima Virginem,
     ut ejus meritis illum perferatis sine macula, et vos ab omni
     adversitate defendat, atque advitam perducat aeternam.  Amen.
    
     AFTER INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:
    
     P - Ego, ex potestate mihi concessa, recipio vos ad participationem,
     omnium bonorum spiritualium, qua, cooperante misericordia Jesu
     Christi, a Religiosa de Monte Carmelo peraguntur.  In Nomine Patris +
     et Filii + et Spiritus Sancti.  + Amen.
    
     Benedicat + vos Conditor caeli at terrae, Deus omnipotens, qui vos
     cooptare dignatus est in Confraternitatem Beatae Mariae Virginis de
     Monte Carmelo: quam exoramus, ut in hore obitus vestri conterat caput
     serpentis antiqui, atque palmam et coronam sempiternae hereditatis
     tandem consequamini Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
     R - Amen.
    
     (English)
    
     Priest - Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
     Respondent - And grant us Thy salvation.
     P - Lord, hear my prayer.
     R - And let my cry come unto Thee.
     P - The Lord be with you.
     R - And with your Spirit.
     P - Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, sanctify by Thy
     power these scapulars, which for love of Thee and for love of Our Lady
     of Mont Carmel, Thy servants will wear devoutly, so that through the
     intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protected
     against the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace. 
     Thou who liveth and reigneth world without end.  Amen.
    
     THE PRIEST DOES THE ASPERSION AND INVESTS PERSONS SAYING:
    
     P - Receive this blessed scapular and beseech the Blessed Virgin that
     through Her merits, you may wear it without stain.  May it defend you
     against all adversity and accompany you to eternal life.  Amen.
    
     AFTER INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:
    
     P - I, by the power vested in me, admit you to participate in all the
     spiritual benefits obtained through the mercy of Jesus Christ by the
     Religious Order of Mont Carmel.
    
     In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.
    
     May God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, bless you, He who
     has deigned to join you to the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin of
     Mont Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent
     so that you may enter into possession of your eternal heritage through
     Christ our Lord.
     R - Amen.
 

GREEN SCAPULAR

In addition to the Miraculous Medal, the Virgin Mary chose to use St. Vincent de Paul's Daughters of Charity to reveal a second great sacramental: the Green Scapular. Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu in Paris, France, on Jan. 28, 1840. Actually the fifth of a series of apparitions, Justine was given the design of a new scapular. Sr. Justine was hesitant at first, but eventually revealed the devotion to her Spiritual Director Fr. Aladel (who was also the director of St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal). After much delay, the scapulars were produced and distributed with many conversions and cures following.

The Green Scapular emphasized the theme of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Bl. Pope Pius IX twice strongly recommended its promotion and use.

Practices
1. Wear or carry the scapular
2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room)
3. Pray, at least daily: "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death"
4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray themselves)
5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest (general blessing of sacramentals)
6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:
 

Promises/Benefits
1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
3. Assurance of a happy death
4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular

MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception — popularly known as the Miraculous Medal — was designed by the Blessed Virgin herself! No wonder, then that it wins such extraordinary graces for those who wear it and pray for Mary's intercession and help.

The First Apparition

The story begins on the night of July 18-19, 1830. A child (perhaps her guardian angel) awakened Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, and summoned her to the chapel. There she met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours. During the conversation Mary said to her, “My child, I am going to give you a mission.”

The Second Apparition

Mary gave her this mission in a vision during evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. On the globe was the word “France,” and our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world, but especially France. The times were difficult in France then, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from the many wars of the time. France was first to experience many of those troubles which ultimately reached many other parts of the world and are even present today. Streaming from rings Mary's fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolize the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on the rings were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and graces were available but did not come because no one had asked for them.

The Third Apparition and the Miraculous Medal

The vision then changed to show our Lady standing on a globe with her arms now outstretched and with the dazzling rays of light still streaming from her fingers. Framing the figure was an inscription: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. 

The vision turned and showed the design of the reverse side of the medal. Twelve stars encircled a large “M” from which arose a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. One heart is encircled in thorns and the other is pierced by a sword.

Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.” Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out Mary’s instructions. She did not reveal that she received the Medal until soon before her death 47 years later.

With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal. The devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity, following in its wake. Before long people were calling it the “Miraculous” Medal. And in 1836, a Canonical inquiry undertaken at Paris declared the apparitions to be genuine.

There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal is not a “good-luck charm”. Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and faith. God uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an instrument, in bringing to pass certain marvelous results. “The weak things of this earth hath God chosen to confound the strong.”

When our Blessed Mother gave the design of the medal to Saint Catherine Labouré she said, “Now it must be given to the whole world and to every person.”

The Meaning of the Front Side of the Miraculous Medal

Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary's sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.

The Meaning of the Back Side of the Miraculous Medal

The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.” The cross can symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of her initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as mother of the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (See also Lk 2:35).

St. Catherine Labouré, pray for us!