“The sign of the Scapular” – wrote Holy Father John Paul II – “…two truths are evoked by the sign of the Scapular: on the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life’s journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honor on certain occasions, but must become a “habit”, that is, a permanent orientation of one’s own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life, through frequent reception of the sacraments and the concrete practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In this way the Scapular becomes a sign of the “covenant” and reciprocal communion between Mary and the faithful: indeed, it concretely translates the gift of his Mother, which Jesus gave on the Cross to John and, through him, to all of us, and the entrustment of the beloved Apostle and of us to her, who became our spiritual Mother.”
Providentialis gratiae eventus – Message to the Carmelite Family – Apostolic Letter to Carmelite Family on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1251 – 2001) March 25, 2001
Relic of the Scapular of John Paul II
kept by the Carmelite Sanctuary of St. Joseph in Wadowice
