The Green Scapular
The Gift of Sister Justine Bisqueyburu
In 1830, when Saint Catherine Labouré was greatly
blessed by the Most Holy Presence of Our Lady Queen of Heaven and the
Gift of the Miraculous Medal was given, Our Lady promised that all who
made pilgrimage there in Faith would receive great graces through Her
intercession with Her Divine Son.
In the same Chapel nine years later, another great
blessing was given to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, that of the Green
Scapular. Justine Bisqueyburu was born on 11th November 1817, in the
village of Mauleon in the lower Pyrenees. She spent her early years
with her mothers' sister and at the age of twenty-two joined the
Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. The Motherhouse of the
Order was in the Rue du Bac in Paris. Shortly after her arrival she
received a most special blessing. On 28th January 1840, while making
her entrance retreat, and while praying in silence in the convent
Chapel, she was greatly blessed to receive the Most Holy Presence of
Our Lady.
The Blessed Queen of Heaven was robed in a long gown
of white silk that reached down to Her feet, which were uncovered.
Over the gown was a mantle of pale blue. Her hair was not covered by a
veil. In Her hands She held The Immaculate Heart, from the top of
which issued dazzling flames. The Mother of God said nothing. This
vision was repeated at the end of Sister Justine's retreat and on
another five occasions during the course of her novitiate. On each
occasion, the Blessed Virgin said nothing and the vision was as
before.
After her first Profession of Vows, Sister Justine
was sent to the town of Blangy to work with the Sisters of her Order
there. Shortly after her arrival the Sisters gathered together to
celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this feast day
of the birth of the Mother of Our Lord, Sister Justine was in prayer,
meditating upon the feast day and the Lady in whose honour it is
celebrated. She saw again The Blessed Mother of God. This time,
however, the vision was different.
The Blessed Virgin was dressed as before in a gown
of white silk covered by the pale blue mantle, and in Her hands, She
held Her Immaculate Heart, the most intense and dazzling flames
issuing from it. In Her left hand, She held a Scapular. The Scapular
was made of a single piece of cloth strung on green cords. It bore an
image of The Blessed Virgin as She had appeared in the earlier
visions, holding Her Immaculate Heart in Her right hand. Sister
Justine looked on the reverse of the image, and saw "a Heart all
ablaze with rays more dazzling than the sun and as transparent as
crystal." The Heart was pierced by a sword and was surrounded by words
in the shape of an oval surmounted by a Cross of gold.
"Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us, now and at
the hour of our death"
As Sister Justine looked at this vision, an inner
voice told her that this Scapular of The Immaculate Heart was to be an
instrument in the conversion of souls, particularly of disbelievers
and by this Scapular the Blessed Virgin would obtain for them the
Grace of a happy death in the Friendship of God. She was advised that
Our Lady desired that this Scapular be promoted far and wide so that
souls might seek these particular Graces through its devout use.
Ever humble and prudent, and distrusting of herself,
Sister Justine related this message to her Novice Mistress, her direct
superior in the Order, but asked her to keep silence over this.
However, she also asked if the Novice Mistress felt it necessary for
the Spiritual Director to be told of what had occurred.
On a further two occasions, this vision of the Green
Scapular was repeated to Sister Justine and she realised that she
should speak of it to her Spiritual Director. The Priest responsible
for her spiritual direction was Father Aladel - and unknown to Sister
Justine, he was intimately involved in the promotion of the Miraculous
Medal being also Spiritual Director of another Sister in the Order -
Catherine Laboure. Much testing and prudent discernment followed,
which caused a delay in the making and distribution of the Green
Scapulars. In subsequent visions, Our Blessed Lady spoke of the time
being taken to have the Scapular made and distributed. Finally, the
Scapulars were produced and the Sisters began to distribute them
throughout Paris and then all over France and beyond. To this end, the
Sisters had received the formal approval and encouragement of His
Holiness, Pope Pius IX, in 1870.
Sister Justine retained a veil of silence about her
great blessings and spoke of them only to those who were directly
responsible for her religious training. Justine was a humble and
obedient servant, faithful to the Rule, obedient to those in authority
and compassionate to those who needed assistance. After the completion
of her religious training she worked quietly in a number of hospitals
run by the Sisters across France, and was later remembered as being a
diligent, capable, compassionate and and gentle Sister.
The Green Scapular may be worn, carried on one's
person or retained amongst one's belongings. The prayer given on the
Scapular should be prayed daily.
The particular Graces of this Scapular are those of
a deepening of devotion to The Immaculate Heart of Our Lady and of
conversion of hearts and souls. Through the devout use of this
Scapular, such Graces have been given to many.
"Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us, now and at
the hour of our death"
