Sister Justine was ultimately blessed with visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The most important was on September 8, 1840 when the Holy Mother gave her instructions to make and distribute the Green Scapular in honor of her Immaculate Heart, with the promise that all who used it devoutly would be protected from the powers of Satan through her intercession. Mary returned to give further instructions on this and Sister Justine began to spread the devotion as she was told. This was 10 years after the gift of the Miraculous Medal was given to Saint Catherine Laboure and it was a time of great need for the Church.
Several things about the Green Scapular have always appealed to me. One is its origin with the sisters devoted to St Vincent de Paul as it was his order, the Congregation of the Mission, to which the beloved priest who took me into the Church belonged, Father John Van Lare. It is also a very simple devotion. Since it is not part of the habit of a religious order, such as the famous Brown Scapular, it does not require an investiture or any special rules to be effective. The only stipulation is that it be blessed by a priest, be in the possession of someone, who keeps it devoutly, whether it is worn, carried or kept in a special place at home, and one regularly recites the simple prayer, "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death". In fact, it can even be a benefit to those who are not Christians, and allow them graces even if it is given to them unaware. Conversions are one of the most common miracles associated with the Green Scapular. It was twice approved by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1863 and 1870.
I received my first Green Scapular from my future sponsor in coming into the Church Jimmy Nickell. I have carried it in my wallet ever since and, perhaps partly as a result of this help, I was accepted into the Church the following year. Later, my second Green Scapular came as a gift from the e-shop Sacramentals which, like my first, was already blessed and ready to 'go to work'. Along with the Sacred Heart Badge, it is the one sacramental I have used the longest and the most. The first Green Scapular I ever gave to someone else was to my best friend Alan Goudman, which I bought in the wearable form, along with another for myself, and had blessed by my parish priest Fr. Francisco Hernandez before sending it to him. No one can know exactly how God works, but he was also recently accepted into the Church and is today one of the most devout and faithful Catholics you will ever hope to meet.
For me, the Green Scapular is the ideal sacramental for Catholics "at the front" in living out their faith day to day. Others may demand more discipline, and so gain greater benefits, since all sacramentals are simply to help us in our relationship with God, never to replace it, but the Green Scapular is a wonderful, simple tool and reminder for those of us who are always engaged and not quite suited for membership in a more formal confraternity. The Green Scapular is simple, our trust in the example of Mary helps us to remain faithful to Christ and so in return for this we can gain special protection from the power of Satan.
-Joseph A. Crisp, II
The Green Scapular from Catholic Tradition
Apostolate of The Green Scapular Website (take a free one)
The Brown Scapular Website (a powerful devotion)
Blessed Pope Pius IX
