Mjb,
In your RCIA classes, did they explain the power of our blessed Mother?
Mary is always sympathetic to our weakness and will always help us to break the bonds of anything that is keeping us from her Son.
There are three sacramental gifts that Mary offers us; Brown scapular, Miraculous Medal, Green scapular.
My own particular view is this. Mary would not give us her sacramental gifts if they were ineffective and if she didn’t want to help us. She really loves us that much to help in anyway her sons/daughters are in need and are hurting. She made certain promises of help and she would not have made them if she didn’t intend to keep them.
What person could help us more that the most powerful and loving saint in heaven?
What good mother would not do everything in her power to help her little one in need?
In the Brown Scapular, the person is clothed(investiture) with it, and when worn you are attached in some fashion to the carmelite order, and share in their good works and prayers. On your part, there are degrees of prayer that you will do daily. How much prayer is more or less left up to the person.
There is good, better, and best and left up to your decision without being obligated thru sin.
Once invested always invested. It is a spiritual way of life and a great one. And the nice part is, one can start small and gradually increase in this way of life.
This is a very good way to go because you have the support of not only Mary, but others as well.
The miraculous medal is blessed by a deacon,priest, and always worn. Mary made a simple promise, and this is what I like about it. She promised that --great-- and --abundant-- graces would be given to those that wear it. But she did require one thing – trust – that she would obtain these great and a boundant graces. I have worn this all my life and I can honestly say that I have been spoiled by her. My faith has been strong all my life. She has kept her word to me. I use this medal in all my trials, by holding it in my hand and at that point asking for the great grace she promised. I do not remember a time that this didn’t work. She told St. Catherine Labourae that she wanted everyone to have one. That means not just all catholics but everyone. It is so simple but so effective.
The Green scapular is blessed by a decon,priest, and can be worn or carried on the person in the wallet, purse, pocket, etc. The scapular carries these promises:
- Conversion of those who do not have the faith
- Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
- Assurance of a happy death
- Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
- Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular <<<=============
This scapular is used frequently for the conversion of someone, and also for protection from Satan.
It is given to the person to be converted to the faith or to a catholic to revive their faith. If they will not take the scapular it may be put in their room, chair, bed, etc. Then the giver prays this simple prayer for them everyday; “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death”, twice, once for themselves and once for the other person.
But it is also used for oneself for protection from the devil and for an increase of faith.
I have one of these as well in my wallet.
In the bible story of Jesus being tempted in the desert, notice that it was the devil doing the tempting all three times. He uses other things, and our own weaknesses, to tempt us, that is, the world and the flesh. As St Peter said, our fight is against principalities and powers.
Your fight is mainly against the devil using your weakness against you. This is what Mary has promised to do for those using her gift of the Green Scapular, namely, protection from the devil.
Her graces also will take you where you need to go, and show you what you must do. For the devil is the father of lies as Jesus said. He will try to mislead you and confuse you and discourage you. On the journey with her, she will dispell all of that and show you how.
Congratulations, and be at peace.