Ten years after St. Catherine Labouré received her visions of Mary, another sister of the same order, Sr. Justine, received her own vision. In 1840, she saw Mary clutching her enflamed Immaculate Heart with her right hand, and her left hand grabbing a green scapular, with an image of the Immaculate Heart pierced by swords on the reverse, encircled by the prayer “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” A voice told her that through this image, many lost souls would be brought to Mary and saved. Sr. Justine knew that she had to distribute this sacred image as fast as she could. In 1841, Sr. Justine told Fr. Jean-Marie about the visions, but as he was already promoting the Miraculous Medal devotion of St. Catherine Labouré, the promotion of the Green Scapular devotion was delayed and lacking in faith. Mary appeared in 1842 and 1846 to protest. People asked whether the devotion required any specific blessings, and Mary told Sr. Justine in a vision that, as the scapular belonged to no particular order, no specific blessing was needed. The devotee need only pray the prayer on the back of the scapular daily. The Pope approved the Green Scapular devotion and it spread widely, bringing many souls to conversion.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. Catherine Labouré (3)
