By Tobert A. Macdonald, C.Ss.R.

 

Let me tell you the story of how I discovered the Green Scapular. This is my only way of trying to spread a true and tender love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of paying my debt to her. Seven years ago before penicillin was in use, I was lying in a hospital very ill with pneumonia. I began to hemorrhage and the doctors decided to operate as a last resort. Then a nun came into my room.

 

"Father, have you great faith in the Mother of God, especially in her Immaculate Heart? If so, you can be cured."

 

"How, Sister?"

 

"Through the Green Scapular."

 

"What is that?"

 

"Four years ago, Father, I was operated on for cancer. I was so filled with it, that they just closed me up and sent me away to die. Then I prayed to Our Lady of the Green Scapular, grew tired of waiting to die and came back to work. I am cured, Father. Do you want me to give you a Scapular?"

 

"Please, Sister."

 

With that she put one over my head. A feeling of tremendous confidence poured into me and the bleeding stopped. Two days later, in the X-ray room, they asked me when the hemorrhage had ceased. When I replied that it was a matter of a couple of days, they expressed great surprise.

 

"You have a wound that is six months healed and there is no other mark." To-day even the scars are gone. No wonder I speak of an unpayable debt to her Immaculate Heart. Since then I have done everything possible to foster this devotion. To my great joy and amazement those to whom I have spoken of the Green Scapular have become more zealous than I. Never have I seen the equal of the faith and confidence of these new apostles of Mary.

 

I asked the rector of St. Patrick's, Toronto, for permission to speak of it at the Wednesday devotions. I had a thousand Green Scapulars on hand, but no one thought that more than thirty would be asked for. The thousand were gone the first morning.

 

I was stunned at the response, I have no explanation for it. Certainly it was not due to the simple little sermon that I preached. I believe the explanation of it was given by a priest with all simplicity: "She wants her Heart loved."

 

Those who doubted in the beginning are to-day the most devoted to the Green Scapular. They love to say the beautiful prayer which we learned from Mary's lips.

 

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

 

Toronto today is feeling the warmth of that Heart. A man who had refused for years to see a priest, remained adamant on his deathbed. One of the family brought a Scapular into his room, said the prayer twice and, suddenly, he begged for a priest.

 

The special grace that Mary obtains through devotion inspired by the Green Scapular is the grace of conversion. Mary wishes to bring her Son into the hearts of men; to give Him new birth in souls, to restore the life of grace in careless hearts. Although there are many cures like my own, I repeat, Her great desire is to revive and warm faith in Her Son.

 

The Green Scapular is the story of Sister Justine Bisqueyburu. An orphan in early life she was adopted by a wealthy relative who left her his fortune. Her greatest day of joy was November 27, 1839, when she entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. Her Sisters in religion are spread all over the world. There may be a house of the Community of the Daughters of Charity near to you.