The Fatima Crusader encourages us to pray the rosary more fervently, more frequently and claims that Mary asks that we wear the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
The Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel…consists of two small pieces of brown wool connected by string and worn over the shoulders. The Scapular must be brown, rectangular in shape and made of 100 percent lamb’s wool (symbolic of Jesus, the Lamb of God). The strings connecting the pieces of wool may of any color or material and pictures on the scapulars are optional. The Scapular must, however, be worn over the shoulders, one part in front and one in back.
The Scapular devotion was born on July 16, 1251 when Our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Simon Stock, general of the Carmelite Order, in response to his heartfelt prayers for assistance. Holding the Scapular before him, Our Lady spoke, saying: “Take this Scapular. Whosoever dies wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and pledge of peace.” This great promise was further magnified some eighty years later when the Queen of Heaven appeared to Jean Dreze (later Pope John XXII) and told him that “those who have been invested with this Holy Habit will be delivered from Purgatory the first Saturday after their deaths.”
This great secondary promise attached to the Scapular is called the Sabbatine (Saturday) Privilege and is based on a decree issued by John XXII in 1322 (and re-confirmed 400 years later by Pope Paul V). In our own century, Pope Benedict XV, as a sign of his approval, granted a 500 day indulgence each time the Scapular is kissed…
For over seven hundred years, the promise of the Scapular has been proven theologically sound and confirmed by miracles which the Blessed Claude de la Colombiere has called ‘more numerous and authentic’ than any other sacramental devotion.”1
The conclusion of this description is very clearly that Simon Stock was deceived by a satanic deception and he was subsequently followed by John XXII, Pope Paul V and Pope Benedict XV in spreading an un-biblical, un-Christian, pseudo gospel of salvation which is not “by grace…though faith” (Ephesians 2:8) but by wearing a scapular. According to this, the conclusion is that God’s plan of salvation has changed.
But why conclude “satanic deception”? Because of what God’s holy word states concepts such as “Scapular devotion…sacramental devotion”:
My fear is that, just as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may fall away from your sincere and complete devotion to Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3).
Yet, consider the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church:
The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship (Catechism of the Catholic Church #971)
Obviously, one must choose: the Bible or Roman Catholicism—you cannot have both and be consistent.
The Fatima Crusader further compounds the heresy as they have a pseudo-Mary state:
You saw hell where the souls of poor sinners go. In order to save them, God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. If people do what I ask, many souls will be saved and there will be peace…Only I can help you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.2
“Scapular devotion…sacramental devotion…devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
It appears as if the pseudo-Mary is saying that though what the Bible refers to as satanic manipulation she can save those who are already in hell—an un-biblical doctrine. Even if she is referring to keeping people from going to hell in the first place, this cannot be done via the satanic manipulation of drawing people away from “complete devotion to Christ.” Moreover, according to the Bible “there will be peace” when Jesus returns to Earth and established that peace. Thus, this is another un-biblical deception that takes away from Jesus Christ and draws attention to devotion to a pseudo-Mary.
Lastly, that the pseudo-Mary’s “Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God” is also false and un-biblical as Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 ).
The Fatima Crusader propagates falsity as follows:
On October 13 [1917]…the three shepherds enjoyed several visions….At the end of the 1940’s…Sister Maria-Lucia of the Immaculate Heart (known as Sister Lucy) recalled that the Blessed Virgin Mary wished that the devotion of the holy Scapular be propagated.3
“Scapular devotion…sacramental devotion…devotion to my Immaculate Heart…devotion of the holy Scapular.”
The Fatima Crusader further notes:
To obtain the fullest possible benefits from the Brown Scapular devotion, one must be validly invested (sometimes called “enrolled”) in the Brown Scapular by a priest who possesses the faculties (usually a Carmelite, Dominican or Franciscan), using a scapular blessed by the same or any other priest. After proper enrollment in the Scapular, a person need not have subsequent scapulars blessed. Once enrolled you are enrolled until death.
Thus, even though the Apostle Peter (the supposed first Pope) referred “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) the Roman Catholic Church claims to have a priesthood which is different, up, above and beyond that of those who are supposed to be their fellow believers.
In this case, even the regular Roman Catholic priesthood is not enough but “a priest who possesses the faculties (usually a Carmelite, Dominican or Franciscan)” is required.
The Fatima Crusader also states:
Part of the “Scapular Ritual for Priests” states, “Thy servants will wear devoutly, so that through the intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protect against the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace…ask the Most Holy Virgin that by Her merits, it may be worn with no stain of sin, protect you from all harm and bring you to everlasting life.
Amen…Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent so that you may enter into possession of your eternal heritage through Christ our Lord.”4
There are, at least, five further un-biblical heresies tightly packaged in this succinct statement:
1) They have the “Virgin Mary” being a virgin yet, she was a virgin for as long as she was a virgin and not thereafter—see my essay Eternally a Virgin?
2) They have the “Virgin Mary” as intercessor even though the Bible states, “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1st Timothy 2:5)—see my essays Intercessor? Mediator? Advocate? and Trinity : Who is the Mediator / Intercessor / Advocate
3) They have the “Virgin Mary” as the “Mother of God” yet, she is not the mother of God the Father or God the Holy Spirit—not the mother of the Trinity. She is the Mother of God the son, who preexisted her. The Bible refers to Mary as “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43) and we should not go beyond this—see my essay Mother of God?
4) They have the “Virgin Mary” crushing “the head of the ancient serpent” yet, the Bible has Jesus, “the seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) doing this—see my essay Will She “Crush Your Head”?
5) They have the “Virgin Mary” as the entrance “into possession of your eternal heritage through Christ our Lord.” This is part of the concept of to Jesus through Mary which is an excuse to take away attention and devotion which is rightly and only due to Jesus and give it to Mary—see my essay To Jesus through Mary
Overall, taking into consideration the texts of scripture which we have explored above and which we will explore below it is apparent that the whole concept of the scapular is a dangerous corruption of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Anyone who knows the Bible and is honest about its contents will instantly recognize that it is without question or doubt absolutely impossible that the promise of the Scapular has been proven theologically sound for over seven hundred years. However, the fact that the term “theologically sound” is used instead of “Biblically sound” is very telling. It demonstrates that we are not just dealing with the Word of God but that we are dealing with the opinions of theologians, the opinions of Popes, the opinions of clergy, the opinions of saints, the opinions of apparitions and so it is possible by taking into account many and various non-biblical opinions to prove the promise of the scapular theologically sound. There is nothing wrong with opinions as long as the match up with the Word of God, the Bible.
We should also not be impressed or convinced that the promise of the Scapular has been confirmed by “miracles” when we consider that God has revealed the following:
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing….
But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 19:20)
See my essay “The Fatima Crusader” : True vs. Counterfeit Miracles.
One should wonder if the devotion to the scapular was born on July 16, 1251 and further magnified some 80 years later, why did it take nearly 30 years for Sister Lucy to recalled that Mary wished that the devotion of the scapular be propagated?
The following are some of the alleged promises that Mary has made to anyone who will devoutly pray the Rosary:
Whoever shall faithfully serve me…I promise My special protection and the greatest graces…The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies…cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God…Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means… The soul which recommends itself to Me…shall not perish…God will not chastise him in His justice…become worthy of eternal life…I shall deliver from purgatory, those who have been devoted to the Rosary…The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven…
You shall obtain all you ask of Me…I have obtained from My Divine Son, that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors, the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death…Devotion to My Rosary is a great sign of pre-destination.”5
“Scapular devotion…sacramental devotion…devotion to my Immaculate Heart…devotion of the holy Scapular…Devotion to My Rosary.”
Note that since “Devotion to My Rosary is a great sign of pre-destination” if you are not devoted to pseudo-Mary’s rosary then it is a virtual sure sign that you were not predestined for salvation.
Lastly, note that every reference to herself (or itself) is a reference that takes away from Jesus, “serve me…I promise…My special protection…to Me…I shall…ask of Me…I have…Devotion to My Rosary is…a great sign of pre-destination.”
—————
Also see:
On the Treatment of Images, part I of II
And,
Is a Long Life Necessarily Better? The Case of the Green Scapular and, Hezekiah Revisited
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