The Green Scapular: A Simple Help for Souls

Dec 18

Available in our parish bookstore

Many of us carry a Rosary or wear a scapular as a quiet reminder that we belong to Our Lady. One beautiful and often less-known sacramental is the Green Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary—a powerful aid for conversion, healing, and return to the faith, especially for those who seem far from God.

Where Did the Green Scapular Come From?

In 1840, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, a Daughter of Charity in Paris. In these apparitions, Our Lady showed her a small piece of green cloth with an image of the Blessed Virgin on one side and Her Immaculate Heart on the other.

From this came what we now call the Green Scapular.

On the front: Our Lady, standing as a loving Mother.
On the back: Her Immaculate Heart, pierced by a sword, with rays of grace and the prayer:
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”

The Church has encouraged the faithful to use this scapular with confidence in Our Lady’s intercession.

How Is It Different from Other Scapulars?

Unlike some other scapulars, the Green Scapular is very simple:

There is no formal enrollment required.
A priest blesses the scapular, and then it may be used.
It does not have to be worn in the traditional way; it can be carried or placed discreetly.

You can:

Wear it around your neck or keep it in your pocket or purse.
Place it in a wallet, next to a sickbed, or under a pillow.
Quietly place it in the room or belongings of a loved one for whom you are praying.

For Whom Is the Green Scapular?

The Green Scapular is especially associated with:

Conversions of those far from the faith
Return to the Sacraments
Help for the sick (spiritual and sometimes physical)
Peace of soul and special graces at the hour of death

It is particularly recommended for:

Family members who have stopped practicing the faith
Loved ones who reject the Church or struggle with belief
The sick, the anxious, and those in spiritual danger

Our Lady asks for trust and persevering prayer. The short invocation on the scapular—

“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”

—should be prayed at least once a day, either by the person who has the scapular or, if they will not pray, by the one who gave it to them.

How to Use the Green Scapular in Parish Life

Here are a few practical ways parishioners can make use of this devotion:

Give a blessed Green Scapular (quietly and respectfully) to a family member who is away from the Church.
Keep one near someone who is sick or elderly, and pray for them each day.
Place one in your home and pray the invocation for all members of your household.
Use it as part of your daily Morning Offering, asking Our Lady for the conversion and protection of specific souls.

The power does not come from the cloth itself, but from Our Lady’s intercession and the faith and confidence with which we pray.

Available in Our Parish Bookstore

If you would like to begin this devotion for yourself or for someone you love, Green Scapulars are available in our parish bookstore.

You may ask a priest to bless the scapulars.
Consider taking more than one to share with those most in need of Our Lady’s help.

Through the Green Scapular, the Immaculate Heart of Mary reaches quietly into homes, hospital rooms, and hearts. Let us turn to her with confidence, trusting that she will lead many souls back to her Son.