The Scapular of Saint Joseph
History
In Aylesford, England, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, as he fervently pleaded with the Mother of Carmel her protection, reciting the beautiful prayer he composed: "Flower of Carmel, fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, fruitful and singular Virgin, Oh benign Mother, without knowing a man, the privilege of Carmelites, Star of the Sea!" After this prayer, she raises her eyes full of tears, sees the cell suddenly fill with light. Surrounded by angels, in a great procession, appeared the Blessed Virgin, clothed with splendor, bearing in her hands the Scapular, saying to St. Simon Stock, with inexpressible maternal tenderness: "Receive this, beloved son, this Scapular of your Order as a distinctive sign and the mark of the privilege that I obtained for you and for all the children of Carmel; it is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, a covenant of peace and an everlasting protection. Whoever dies clothed with him shall be preserved from everlasting fire."
This special grace was immediately diffused in the places where the Carmelites were established, and authenticated by many miracles which, occurring everywhere, made silent the adversaries of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. St. Simon Stock reached extreme age and highest sanctity, operatinginnumerable miracles, having also obtained the gift of tongues; was called to the Heavenly home by God on May 16, 1265. Our Lady returned to Heaven and the Scapular remained as a sign of Mary. At the last apparition of Fatima, Our Lady brings the Scapular and comes with Saint Joseph and the Baby Jesus to bless the world.
On July 14, 2000, Edson visited Aylesford with a friend of his, Marina Hodking, who lives in São Paulo. This happened when his friend visited Italy in July. Edson was at this time in Brescia, at the house of his friends. Marina, before going to England, invited Edson to come with her. He stayed two weeks in England in order to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In England, Edson had some apparitions of Our Lady, Jesus and St. Joseph, they spoke about the devotion of the Three Hearts and about very sad future events in this country.
In Aylesford, when Edson was in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmel, he visited the chapel of St. Joseph with his friend. In this chapel, he had an apparition of the Holy Family. This apparition drew a lot Edson's attention: Our Lady, accompanied by the Infant Jesus and St. Joseph, held in their hands a scapular, but not the scapular of the Order of Carmel, but a different scapular of white color, where Edson could distinguish well the three Hearts. When the apparition was over, Edson mentioned what had happened and what he saw to his friend Marina and was very thoughtful about this vision, because he still did not fully understand the request of the three Hearts.
Already in London, when he went to the celebration of the Holy Mass, he had a revelation from God, which showed him in a vision the three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph uniting into one heart. This vision repeated itself three times, so that it would make an impression in his mind and he would not forget it, not having the slightest shadow of doubt as to the indivisible unity of the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. "By examining the nature of matrimony, whether St. Augustine or St. Thomas Aquinas constantly place in the ' indivisible union of souls ', in the ' Union of Hearts ' and in agreement; these elements, which, in that marriage, have occurred in an exemplary manner. In a culminating moment of the history of salvation, when God manifested His love for humanity, through the gift of the Word, there was precisely the marriage of Mary and Joseph, in which it took place with full «liberty» the «spousal gift of self» welcoming and expressing such a love. "(John Paul II-encyclical Redemptoris Custos, 8/15/89)
On July 16, 2001, Edson was in the city of Sciacca, province of Agrigento - Sicily, Italy, visiting the group of young people formed there. In the afternoon, after praying the rosary and giving his testimony in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, of the Capuchin Friars, he had an apparition of the Holy Family in front of the people present.
In this apparition, Our Lady gave him a message and then said: "Pay close attention to what I am about to show you. As you have seen, have a scapular made. This will be the scapular of St. Joseph. My son Jesus and I wish that all use it with faith and love, deeply honoring my spouse Joseph as he deserves. Whoever wears it will receive the protection of God through his Most Chaste Heart and his protective cloak, as well as many graces from Heaven necessary for salvation and sanctification. " Edson saw appear over the Holy Family the writing in golden color: "Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph" and on the bottom: Be the guardian of our family!"
Soon the vision disappeared giving room to the three illuminated and radiant Hearts. From the Heart of Jesus came two rays that were directed to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph and from them rays that were going to the world. Above the Hearts appeared written in golden color: "Jesus, Mary, Joseph" and below them: "I love you, save souls!" ... Soon after this vision, Our Lady reappeared with the Child Jesus and St. Joseph. The three blessed together the people present and disappeared in the brightness of the beautiful light that enveloped them. Edson did not know that on the day this apparition occurred, it was the commemoration of the 750th anniversary of the delivery of the Scapular by Our Lady to St. Simon Stock at the Carmelite Order and in the Church all over the world. It was a very special day for the Carmelites, a great event in the Order of Carmel and the day when Jesus and Our Lady asked for the scapular of St. Joseph to the Church and the World as a special protection for all the families of the whole world.
In order to receive the scapular of St. Joseph it is necessary to pray the Holy Cloak of St. Joseph for thirty consecutive days in memory of the thirty years of life lived by St. Joseph with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You must confess and participate in Holy Mass. The Celebration of the Imposition of the Scapular takes place on the feast day of Saint Joseph on March 19 or on the Feast of his Most Chaste Heart, the Wednesday after the Feast of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, or on every first Wednesday of the month.
PRAYER OF BLESSING FOR THE SAINT JOSEPH SCAPULAR
The priest with outstretched arms pronounces this prayer of blessing:
O God, Author and source of all holiness, who calls the fullness of the Christian life and the perfection of charity those whom you have made to be born of the water and the Holy Spirit. Look with benevolence on those who are to devoutly receive the Scapular of St. Joseph, who will diligently carry it as a sign of their offering to the Most Chaste and Virginal Heart of St. Joseph. Let them be loved and guided by St. Joseph and, imitating his virtues, and perfections, be protected from the assaults of the devil, be strengthened in faith and love for the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and obtain the grace to reach the perfection of love and perfect holiness as he lived for glory of the Holy Trinity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Follow the sprinkling with holy water.
IMPOSITION FORMULA
The priest then places the scapular on each of the faithful:
Receive this scapular, a sign of the protective Cloak of St. Joseph: may his Most Chaste and Virginal Heart protect you against all evil and danger; protect you in holy purity of soul and body and grant you all Divine Grace in time and in eternity. Amen!
Priest: Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph! Faithful: Be the guardian of our family!
Priest: Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you! Faithful: Save souls!
If necessary, the priest may say once to all, aloud, the formula of imposition of the Scapular. All respond together: Amen. And they approach the priest to receive the scapular.
