The Devotion to the Fivefold Scapular
(The original was a 4-fold Scapular which became 5 with the addition of the Passion Scapular after St.A. Liguori's time.)

*Fivefold*

The Scapular consist of two or more pieces of cloth worn over the shoulders. There are five most-popular Scapulars approved of in the Church; they are each approved separately, and are all approved when worn all together (Fivefold). The first is the brown scapular, or the scapular or Our Lady of Mount Carmel. They trace their descent from the great prophet Elias, who lived more than eight hundred years  before the coming of the Redeemer. At the coming of our Lord and Savior the pious disciples of the prophet became Christians. They entertained a great love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in whose honor they had erected an altar in one of the many grottoes of Mount Carmel, and thus the devotion of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has continued to the present day.

*Brown*

The Order of the Carmelites has produced many great and learned men, one of the most illustrious of whom was St. Simon Stock, and Englishman by birth. From his early childhood this holy man cherished a tender devotion to the Immaculate Mother of God, and he received from Mary in return many extraordinary graces. It is now about 743 yrs ago since the saint was one day kneeling before a statue of Mary. He besought her with all the fervor of his soul to protect himself and his order from the many dangers that threatened them. All of a sudden a brilliant light  surrounded him. He beheld a great multitude of angels,  in the midst of whom was the Queen of Angels, the Blessed Mother of God herself. She was radiant with glory and unutterable beauty, and she held in her hand a Scapular, which she presented to the saint saying: "My son, receive this Scapular; it is a pledge of salvation, a safeguard. He that dies wearing this scapular shall not burn in the flames of hell." This is the origin of the brown Scapular the year was 1251.

*Black*

The Black Scapular, or, as it is called, the Scapular of Our Lady of Dolors, originated in the following manner: There lived a few centuries  ago in the fair city of Florence seven pious noblemen; they were members of a confraternity of Our Lady,  and often met together to celebrate the praises of the Mother of God. While they were once assembled on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, (1233), in order to celebrate devoutly that glorious festival, they felt their hearts filled with an extraordinary love for God and His Holy Mother. They were on a sudden wrapt into an ecstasy, and all beheld a globe of fire, from which issued seven brilliant rays that penetrated their hearts and filled them with an unutterable yearning after heaven. They then beheld the ever Blessed Virgin Mary crowned with a crown of glory, beaming with heavenly light, and surrounded by a multitude of angels. The Blessed Virgin gazed on them with  the utmost affection, called each of them by his name , and  commanded them to quit the world. The vision passed away, and the noblemen agreed together to obey the voice of their heavenly Queen. They then distributed their  wealth to the poor, and retired to a wild, mountainous district some distance from the city, where they led a life of prayer and penance, meditating daily on the suffering of our Savior and on the sorrows of his beloved Mother. Whenever they entered the city, the people flocked around them and craved their blessing, and even the children were heard to cry out as these holly men passed, " See the servants of Mary!" On Good Friday evening, as they were meditating on the sorrows of the Mother of God, they were again wrapt into an ecstasy, and beheld the Blessed Virgin descending from heaven, accompanied by a great multitude of angels carrying with them the instruments of our Saviors passion. One of them bore a palm branch, the emblem of victory. Another carried a shield, on which the words "Servants of Mary" were written in letters of gold. The Blessed Virgin herself held  in her hand a religious habit of black cloth . Her beautiful countenance bore an expression of unutterable compassion and love. She presented  the habit, to the pious religious, saying: "My children, receive this habit, and with it the name of my servants; persevere as you have begun, and this pious order, these good religious instituted the black scapular, which was approved of by the Church and enriched with many indulgences.

*Blue*

The next is the Blue Scapular, or the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception. It was on the Feast of Candlemas, a few centuries ago, that Our Blessed Lady appeared to a pious maiden named Ursula Benincasa. Our Lady was clad in a robe of dazzling whiteness, over which she wore a mantel of heavenly blue. A troop of beautiful virgins, clad in the same attire, surrounded their Virgin Queen, who bore her Divine Infant in her arms. The Holy Mother of God smiled graciously upon the pious maiden, who was at the time bitterly bewailing her sins, and consoled her, "my daughter, " said she, "dry up they tears; they sorrow shall now be changed into pure and heavenly joy. Hearken to the words  of my Divine Son, whom thou hast chosen for thy spouse." The Infant Jesus now commanded Ursula to found a new order bearing the name  of the Theatine Nuns in honor of the Immaculate Conception. (1605) This order was to be composed of thirty virgins, who were to wear a habit similar to that in which the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared. The Divine Infant promised especial graces to all those who would join this order. The pious maiden was rejoiced beyond measure at these happy tidings. In her great charity she wished that  these gracious promise might be extended to all the faithful. She therefore besought fervently the Mother of Mercy to extend to all those who would wear a blue scapular, honor the Immaculate Conception, and fulfill the duties of their state of life. Her prayer was granted, and she immediately beheld a great multitude of angels busily engaged in distributing this Scapular among the faithful.

*Trinity White*

The next is the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity. Its color is white, with a cross of red and blue in the center. About seven or eight centuries ago  the Moors were very powerful; they often landed on the coast of southern Europe, seized upon many defenseless Christians, and sold them as slaves. They also attacked Christian vessels, plundered them, and sold the crew into bondage. There lived at this time in Paris a holy priest named John de Matha. During his first Mass(1190) he was honored by a heavenly vision. He beheld a bright angel, clad in a robe of snowy whiteness; on his breast shimmered a cross of blue (transverse) and crimson (vertical). He held his hands extended over a Moor and a Christian who stood beside him. The saint understood from this vision that he was called by God to ransom the Christian captives. In order, then , to prepare himself for this generous undertaking, he quitted Paris and retired to a wilderness, where he sought the company of St. Felix, a holy hermit, who was heir to the crown of France, but had quitted all to secure his salvation. As these holy men were one day seated near a cool spring that gushed forth beside their hermitage, and were discoursing of heavenly things, they suddenly beheld a snow-white stag. Between its antlers glittered a brilliant cross of blue and crimson. St. John de Matha now told his astonished companion the vision he had seen during his first Mass. The two holy men then agreed to obey the voice of Heaven and to found an order for for the redemption of the Christian captives.  They therefore set out for Rome to receive the approbation of the Pope. On their arrival they were graciously received, and on the following morning the Pope also, during Mass, had the same vision which John de Matha beheld in Paris. The Holy Father then approved the new order, and gave it the name of the order of the Most Holy Trinity.   As the faithful were desirous of partaking in the merits and good works of this order, the Scapular of the Most Holy Trinity was instituted and approved of and enriched by the Church with many indulgences.

*Passion Red*

The last is the red Scapular of the Passion and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. It was in the evening, about the year 1840, that as Sister of Charity, Sr. Appoline Andriveau, was praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Our Blessed Saviour appeared to her, holding in his hand the red Scapular, with bands of red wool braid; on one part of the Scapular was represented the Crucifixion; at the foot of the cross lay the instruments of Our Lord's Passion. Around the cross were the words, "Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, save us." On the other part of the Scapular were represented the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Between these Hearts arose a cross, and around them were the words "Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, protect us." This apparition was renewed several times. One day our Lord revealed to the Sister that all those who wear this Scapular shall receive a great increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity, which would be reserved for them on every Friday. At another time, while this religious was meditation on the Passion during the Holy Mass, she had another apparition, which she relates as follows: "I thought," said she, "I saw Our Lord Jesus hanging on the cross. The ghastly palences of His countenance made a deep impression on me, and my whole body became covered with a cold sweat. Our Lord's head was bowed down. His brow was pierced by long and sharp thorns. On a sudden He raise His head, and the thorns were violently forced into His eyes and temples. Never can I forget that sight. there was something terrible in the pain He must have endured in the rude shock of His adorable head against the wood of the cross. I was filled with anguish and trembling. Fro that moment, the Passion of our Lord has always been before my eyes." One evening, this Sister was making the Way of the Cross. At the thirteenth station, the Blessed Virgin Mary put into her arms the mangled body of her Divine Son. The Blessed Mother of God then uttered these remarkable words: "The world is going to ruin because it does not think of the Passion of Jesus Christ. DO all you can to get men to think of the Passion. Do all you can for the world's salvation."

One Sunday, our Divine Saviour showed this religious a beautiful river, clearer than crystal. Many persons were on its banks. Those that plunged in became all resplendent with brilliancy. Diamonds and gold seem to fall from their hands. Those that fled away became enveloped in a black smoke which made them hideous to the sight Our Saviour then told her that this beautiful river represented his mercy, always ready to receive the repentance of the sinner and to give it a value.

From these well-authenticated facts we see that the Scapular is a badge of our love and veneration of the Holy Mother of God, and Jesus. It is , at the same time, a sweet pledge of their powerful protection; it is a devotion most ancient and venerable-a devotion descended from Heaven.

*INDULGENCES*

Plenary Indulgences granted to those who wear the Five-fold Scapular.

Besides the innumerable graces and indulgences annexed to this devotion, the Popes have granted many Plenary and partial indulgences to those who wear the four Scapulars, (part of the five-fold). The following are the principal indulgences to obtain which no special visit to any particular church is required.

Paul V., by his briefs of the 30th October, 1606, 31st August, 1609, and 19th of July, 1614;

Clement X., in his Constitution of 8th May, 1673;

Clement XI., in his Constitution of 12th of May, 1710;

Innocent XI., by his Constitution of the 10th of February, 1680, and on 1st September, 1682, have granted the following indulgences:

1. Four Plenary Indulgences on the day of reception, when they have the four Scapulars, provided they go to confession and receive Holy Communion, and pray for the intention of the Church.

2. Four Plenary Indulgences at the hour of death, if they receive the Sacraments.

3. A Plenary Indulgence on the Festival of Our Lady of the Seven Dolors, on the usual conditions.

4. A Plenary Indulgence on Passion Sunday, if they meditate for some time on the sufferings of Our Lord and of His Blessed Mother.

5. A Plenary Indulgence of the Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16; also whenever other Confraternities have a Plenary Indulgence; on all the festivals of Our Lord ; of the Blessed Virgin; and of the Apostles; on any two days of every week, at their option; and on every Friday, if the devoutly meditate for some time on the Passion of Our Lord, receive the Sacraments , and pray for the intention of the Church. (you should also mention for the intention of the Holy Father)

All these Indulgences are applicable to the souls in Purgatory.( for example you can keep one for yourself and offer the rest for the holy souls in Purgatory, if they get out by your prayers they are so grateful they will turn around and help you here on earth.)

***433 PLENARY INDULGENCES****

         *see note at top of page*

"And let it be remembered," says St. ALphonsus Liguori, "that besides many particular indulgences, there are annexed to the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception, all the indulgences which are granted to any Religious order, pious place, or person. And particularly by reciting the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father, **Six times**, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Immaculate Mary, are gained each day all the indulgences of Rome; Portiuncula; Jerusalem; and Galicia; which reach the number of four hundred and thirty-three (433) Plenary Indulgences, besides the temporal, which are innumerable. (from the "Glories of Mary", by St.Alphonsus Liguori.)

**PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY, WEAR YOUR FIVE-FOLD SCAPULAR (AT LEAST WEAR A BROWN SCAPULAR) WEAR A CRUCIFIX AND A ST. BENEDICT MEDAL (we include then on our scapulars) IF YOU CAN GO TO MASS OFTEN AND MEDITATE ON THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Never forget to pray for priests and for the poor souls in Purgatory, which so many have forgotten. Our world is running to ruin and Our Lord and Our Lady need your prayers, what are you waiting for?

Most of all, Do not forget to pray to Our Father in Heaven, He is Our Father and we are His children and He loves us very much.