Green scapular Questions?

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Daniel_Jiaen

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I’m thinking of getting a green scapular for a protestant friend who is interested in the faith. I am doing this in the hope that they’ll convert, with me praying the prayer every day for them. If they were to convert, or do not convert for several years, is it permissable to stop praying or only pray for them once in a while? I might be undedicated but I’m a bit worried about being bound to praying for this person for the rest of my life.
 
From what I read about the green scapular on the green scapular society page, one thing they ask you to do is to pray the prayer for the intention of all the scapulars. So if your friend does not convert, continuing to pray would still benefit someone somewhere.

Also, results seem contingent on the amount of faith you put into it. So if you stopped praying, nothing would happen from my understanding of it. Since one is not enrolled in order to ask for the benefits of the green scapular, I don’t think anyone is bound to pray the prayer.

I’m also interested in the green scapular but I haven’t had mine blessed yet.

All that said, why would you stop praying for a friend? Conversion would only be the start of his faith journey, just change your intention from conversion to increased faith for your friend. And remember, when it seems like he won’t convert, God’s timing is not our timing.
 
This is the prayer on the Green Scapular:

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

If you forget to say that prayer, it doesn’t mean that she will forget to intercede. Do your best to form the good habit.

“Pray always and do not lose heart.” Right now, I do not know where that verse is in the bible. 🙂
 
Reverie said:
From what I read about the green scapular on the green scapular society page, one thing they ask you to do is to pray the prayer for the intention of all the scapulars.
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I’m not sure about the society page, but Wikipedia says ‘The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray themselves)’

Although, praying once for all the scapulars sounds much simpler, would this affect the effect of the scapular?
 
I don’t know the answer to your question. Here is the page I read. greenscapular.com

My issue with scapulars in general is that it seems kinda superstitious to me. Why would a prayer be more affective just by wearing a particular holy image?
 
Will your Protestant friend ‘receive’ the scapular from you and even wear it? Just curious.

I had a green scapular blessed and I put it between the mattress in my husband’s side of the bed, of course I’ve been praying for years that he come into the church.

Well, he decided this past Holy Week to come into the church next year!

Was it because of the scapular? No not really, but by me knowing it was there, with it being blessed (thus having that prayer attached) brought a sense of always being in prayer for my husabnd’s conversion.
 
DJgang said:
Will your Protestant friend ‘receive’ the scapular from you and even wear it? Just curious.

I had a green scapular blessed and I put it between the mattress in my husband’s side of the bed, of course I’ve been praying for years that he come into the church.

Well, he decided this past Holy Week to come into the church next year!

Was it because of the scapular? No not really, but by me knowing it was there, with it being blessed (thus having that prayer attached) brought a sense of always being in prayer for my husabnd’s conversion.
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I have practically the same story! Sacramentals are blessed items, blessed by the priest with the prayer of the Church. They are something tangible, and they can remind us to pray.

(Superstition depends on the attitude of the person using the sacramental.)
 
I don’t believe in superstition but I do believe that Mary will keep her word to us if we trust that she will. In giving the green scapular it is more than giving just a holy item to the person which is blessed. The green scapular has her word placed on it. That indeed is more than something just with a blessing on it. It is a powerful way to obtain difficult graces.

Some people have an bad attitude to get over. They think this whole religious thing is a bit much to swallow hook line and sinker. They think that basically they are A ok people and don’t need this religious bit. Or it could go even more down hill with the attitude that sin is more fun than religion and the whole religious idea needs dbunking. Or they could care less. And it is very difficult to discuss it with them.

Mary knew this, that it would be difficult to give this scapular to some people because of their attitude. She understood this by allowing the person to hide it somewhere around this unchristian person. And since they probably wouldn’t even consider prayer, then the person could hid it and also substitute saying the prayer in their place. Why would she allow this? Because she truely cares about the people who are close to you and understands the sorrow you may be going thru because of their terrible attitude, and also the hopelessness of talking to them. Mary now has given us a way to break thru this. But she does ask for one thing, our absolute trust that she will keep her word and wants what you want. But she asks you just how much do you really want it. Are you willing to do this as she asks? Do you love this person enough to to this for them? I don’t think the problem is with Mary, but with ourselves, for we need to answer the hard question of what we really are willing to do for them. For Mary to come thru for us, then we can’t play milktoast, rather we have to realize what this does ask of us.

But in response to this, isnt’ it worth it? What else could be as important as another human person waking up to the call of Christ? Ecumanism means bringing the world to Jesus. What better way, open to anyone and everyone, that Mary makes this possible. Do we have anything more important to do than that which Christ wants us to do?

No need to worry if it is worthwhile, for she always keeps her word.

Just some thoughts.
 
Dorthy, thank you for you nice thought. For this gives me an excuse to say something I missed.

One of Mary’s benefits of this green scapular is protection from the devil.
Now this notion of protection from the devil might sound a bit of a stretch to some. If I go to the sacraments frequently, why do I need protection from the devil? The sacraments are certainly greater in power.

But there is a peculiar thing about the devil, he is a respector of noone, including the holy.
How many times have saints been assailed by the devil in all kinds of ways. There have also been reports of obsession and possession of very good people. But worst of all is his constant nagging and harassing of the weak with his barrage of evil thoughts to plague us everyday, whether we may be aware of it or not. Otherwise, why would Mary give us her green scapular and make the promise to protect us in these situations? If the sacraments are all that are needed then why does the church promote sacramentals? Apparently, noone is free of the devil’s ill intentions and above all his traps.

We all know what a trap is. It is something that is planned our a prolonged period of time to catch the victim. The devil’s traps are set up this way. It isn’t always the immediate temptation that we must be afraid of, but where is he leading us over a prolonged period of time. We may not even be aware of what he has set up to get us to follow him down that wrong road until the trap is sprung. Mary has said she would protect those from the devil’s plots who carry her green scapular with them. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I know this to be very true.

I have heard numerous times of people, right here on CAF, complaining of these same symtoms of the devil over and over. What I don’t understand is what are you waiting for? Get a green scapular and carry one always on you, and say the prayer every day. Ask Mary to live up to her promise and help you when you feel alone in your fight. By all means go to the sacraments, but don’t neglect this big help to you.

Some feel all you need are the sacraments. I don’t know about them, but I do know about me. I need all the help I can get. And if I can get help from the one that Christ loves the most, then I’m certainly going to use it when she wants to help me. What a fool I would be not to.

Just some thoughts about our wonderful mother.
 
So…Can you do a blanket prayer for all your scapulars and is it permissable to stop praying after a very long time? I’m still not sure of the answers…
 
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