Whoever dies wearing this garment will be saved

Fatima's seer Sister Lucia strongly emphasized the importance of wearing the scapular in a conversation with Father Rafferty on October 15, 1950. “In many books on Fatima," Father Rafferty remarked, "the authors do not mention the scapular when they present the message of Fatima.“Oh, how wrong they are," cried the seer, "the scapular is the sign of our consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!”

When Father Rafferty asked if the leaders of the Blue Army (1) were right to insist on wearing the scapular, Sister Lucia replied: "Yes, this practice is essential to fulfilling the requests of Our Lady of Fatima.

- Would you say that the scapular is as indispensable as the Rosary?

- The scapular and the Rosary are inseparable.

Indeed, the garment signifies that the one who wears it belongs to the person from whom he received it, and, in turn, it signifies the protection given by that person. In any army, the commitment to serve entails the wearing of a uniform. In the same way, the scapular manifests, on the part of the one who wears it, his belonging to Mary and, on the part of Our Lady, the commitment to help him on every occasion, especially at the hour of death.

Wearing the scapular is a very simple act that requires only a small effort, that of having it imposed on oneself by a priest, and then of wearing it constantly on one's person. Unfortunately, this practice is often neglected, even though the effort it requires is easier than the daily recitation of the Rosary for example.

This is unfortunate since the grace of final perseverance is attached to the wearing of the scapular. In the 13th century, Our Lady appeared to Saint Simon Stock and confided to him: “Whoever dies wearing this habit will be saved.” This promise has since been recognized by the Church and is perfectly consistent with Our Lady's words of June 13, 1917: “To whomever will embrace this devotion (of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), I promise Salvation; these souls will be cherished by God, like flowers placed by me to adorn His throne.”

(1) Our Lady’s Blue Army, or the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, also known today as the World Apostolate of Fatima.

Yves de Lassus

President of Cap Fatima 2017