If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Jesus Christ


If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. – 

St. Thomas Aquinas

 
The Sacrifice of Isaac (circa 1607), Cigoli

  'So great a love on the part of Mary deserves our gratitude, and that gratitude should be shown by at least meditating upon and pitying her in her sorrow. But she complained to Saint Bridget that very few did so, and that the greater part of the world lived in forgetfulness of them: "I look around at all who are on earth, to see if by chance there are any who pity me, and meditate upon my sorrows; and I find that there are very few. Therefore, my daughter, though I am forgotten by many, at least do thou not forget me; consider my anguish, and imitate, as far as thou canst, my grief."'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

This came from another website but it was such a good explanation of the Green Scapular and encouraging story that I'm going to share it with you:

MARY'S GIFT OF THE GREEN SCAPULAR

(taken from http://olrl.org/pray/gscapular.shtml)

The Green Scapular or Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is, like the

Miraculous Medal, a gift of our Blessed Mother to the Daughters of Charity of St.

Vincent de Paul.

On November 27, 1839, Justine Bisqueyburu, destined by Providence to make known this devotion, entered the Novitiate of the Daughters of Charity, 140 Rue du Bac, Paris.

On January 28,1840, during her first retreat, the young sister was favored with a

celestial vision. Our Lady appeared to her clothed in a long white robe over which

hung a bright blue mantle. In her hands she held her Heart, from the top of which

issued brilliant rays. The same apparition was repeated four or five times during her

novitiate. This favor seemed to have no other end than to increase in the Sister

herself tender devotion to Mary Immaculate.

Clothed with the habit, on September 8, 1840, feast of the Nativity of the Blessed

Virgin, Sister Bisqueyburu was favored during prayer with an apparition of the Mother

of God, who held in her right hand her Heart surrounded by flames, and in her left a

sort of scapular, consisting of a single piece of green cloth suspended from a cord

of the same color. On one side was a picture of the Blessed Virgin as she had shown

herself in the apparitions; on the other, a Heart all inflamed with rays more

brilliant than the sun, and clearer than crystal. This heart pierced with a sword was

surrounded by an oval inscription, surmounted by a cross. The inscription read:

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

time an interior voice revealed to the Sister the meaning of this vision. She

understood that this new Scapular, through the medium of the Sisters of Charity,

would contribute to the conversion of those who have no faith, and above all, procure

for them a happy death, and that it should be distributed with confidence. As the

scapular was distributed, wonderful conversions and some bodily cures were produced.

The Scapular is not the badge of a confraternity but simply a double image attached

to a single piece of cloth and suspended from a cord. The Blessed Virgin declared to

her faithful servant that no special formula of blessing was necessary. It suffices

that it be blessed by a priest and worn by the one for whom it is intended. It may be

placed in the clothing, on the bed, or simply in the room. The only prayer to be

recited is the inscription surrounding the heart on the reverse of the Scapular:

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

be repeated daily, if not by the one wearing it, by the one giving it. The Scapular

may be distributed everywhere. Although wonderful graces are attached to it, they are

proportionate to the confidence with which it is given. The Green Scapular was twice

approved by Pope Pius IX, in 1863, and again in 1870 when he said: "Write to these

good Sisters that I authorize them to make and distribute it."

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE GREEN SCAPULAR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Rev. Leo Steinbach

When I first came in contact with this devotion, I read an explanation which seemed

to give the impression that it was intended only for lax Christians. I thought it

might be useless for me since I had very little contact with Christians, be they

good, bad or indifferent. My contacts were mostly with Buddhists and Shintoists whom

I was trying to christianize. However I put a few scapulars in my pocket and decided

to try one out. That very day I went to a nearby hospital where I discovered a

non-Christian woman patient who had been unconscious for 10 days previously. The

doctor explained to me that she would very probably die within three days without

regaining consciousness. He and a nurse escorted me to the room. I addressed the sick

woman but she gave no indication whatsoever that she understood a word I was saying.

Thereupon I took a green scapular from my pocket, applied it to her forehead and

repeated the invocation, "Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour

of our death."

And what happened? The woman immediately regained consciousness, joined her hands and

very devoutly asked God to forgive her sins. I was amazed. The doctor and the nurse

both non-Christians were also flabbergasted. I immediately instructed and baptized

the dying patient that same day much to her joy. She remained perfectly conscious for

three days more during which time she very devoutly received Holy Viaticum. She

breathed her last while praying to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

News of this double miracle spread rapidly. People kept asking me for green scapulars

and since I only had a couple dozen which I had received from an army chaplain and

since I had no means of replenishing my supply, I started to lend my remaining

scapulars with a proviso that they be returned after three days. I did this in order

to help as many people as possible. Meanwhile a Catholic newspaper reporter helped me

procure the necessary materials and we began making them. During the past 25 years we

have made and distributed many tens of thousands to people living all over Japan. We

have also sent quite a number to the United States, Brazil, Paraguay, Korea and

Indonesia. A Catholic magazine here in Japan published an explanation of the green

scapular about a year ago and we have been receiving requests daily ever since. On

one single day we received 140 letters and we try to fulfill each request promptly.

We never charge for them nor do we ask for postage. However we have never been in

debt. Grateful people send us donations which cover the cost of materials and

postage.

It is edifying to read the letters of gratitude. Many people report spiritual

blessings and there have been miraculous cures too of almost every type of human

ailment including blindness, deafness, cancer, tuberculosis, high blood pressure,

rheumatism, arthritis etc. Luke-warm Catholics and non-Catholics seem to receive more

favors than good practicing Catholics.

An 80-year-old non-Christian lady said she would like to visit the church in her

vicinity but she was unable to walk because of arthritis. Every winter both her

ankles and wrists were swollen and very painful. She was given a green scapular which

she applied daily but since she could not remember the prayer she merely asked the

Mother of Christ for help. Within a few days she was completely cured. After a brief

instruction and Baptism, she attended mass daily and always received Holy Communion.

She kept up this habit for two years until she was called to her reward. During this

interval she converted her aged friend who lived just across the street from her home

and she had the happiness of being her godmother. Her good husband, a staunch

Shintoist, also treasured his green scapular but no one could induce him to become a

Christian. However, just three days before he died, he had a change of heart. He died

very happily after receiving the sacraments.

The owner of a fleet of 60 taxis in Kyoto asked his pastor to bless his vehicles on

New Year's Day, whereupon he presented each of his drivers a new green scapular. He

encouraged them, although they are non-Christians, to recite the prayer at least once

a day. During the year there were just a few bent fenders but there were no accidents

that caused a personal injury. The Blessed Mother is never invoked in vain. Her

prayers are powerful. Japanese "kamikaze" drivers moving at a high speed in all kinds

of weather, day and night, are very grateful to their Protectress.

 

We just finished "Introduction to the Devout Life" by St. Francis de Sales in our  religion class with  Bishop Giles.  No matter if the book is on Kindle or a hard copy, I usually highlight the pertinent parts that mean something to me.  So in keeping with my previous post about Brother Anthony's sermon, here are some of my highlighted notes in regard to hasty judgments, slander and other counsels as to conversation:

"Of a truth, hasty judgments are most displeasing to God, and men's judgments are hasty, because we are not judges on of another, and by judging we usurp Our Lord's own office."

"But alas! for the most part we precisely reverse these precepts, judging our neighbor, which is forbidden on all sides, while rarely judging ourselves, as we are told to do." 

"...those who drink deep of pride, envy, ambition, hatred, will see harm and shame in every one they look upon."

"If your affections are warm and tender, your judgment will not be harsh; if they are loving, your judgment will be the same.......And so ought we always to judge our neighbor as charitable as may be; and if his actions are many-sided, we should accept the best."

"And so when we cannot find any excuse for sin, let us at least claim what compassion we may for it, and impute it to the least damaging motives we can find, as ignorance or infirmity.....Rash judgment always presupposes something that is not clear, in spite of which we condemn another."

"If an action is in itself indifferent, it is a rash suspicion to imagine that it means evil, unless there is strong circumstantial evidence to prove such to be the case."

ON SLANDER:   "....of all worldly possessions the most precious is a good name"

"My daughter, I entreat you never speak evil of any, either directly or indirectly; beware of ever unjustly imputing sins or faults to your neighbor, of needlessly disclosing his real faults, of exaggerating such as are overt, of attributing wrong motives to good actions, of denying the good that you know to exist in another, of maliciously concealing it. or depreciating it in conversation."

"Witty slander is the most mischievous of all....."

"If God's Mercy is so great, that one single moment is sufficient for it to justify and save a man, what assurance have we that he who yesterday was a sinner is the same today?......we must never, in our wish to shun slander, foster or flatter vice in others; but we must call evil evil, and sin sin, and so doing we shall serve God's Glory......"

"We gain nothing by sharpness or petulance"....An excessive reserve and stiffness, which stands aloof from familiar friendly conversation, is untrusting and implies a certain sort of contemptuous pride; while an incessant chatter and babble , leaving no opportunity for others to put in their word, is frivolous and troublesome.....