The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

exists to promote the devotion to the Immaculate Conception of our Immaculate Mother so her motherly love might strengthen, comfort, and fill hearts with the joy whose source is her Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. The external sign of belonging to the Confraternity is the Blue Scapular.

Confraternities were established in the Middle Ages when many lay people wished to participate in some way in the spiritual life of religious orders. The sign of acceptance and membership was the investing of a scapular to identify its members.

In 1681, Pope Innocent XI granted the Venerable Servant of God, Father Stanislaus of Jesus Mary Papczynski (1631-1701), the privilege of establishing Confraternities of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Marian churches. In 1733, the Venerable Servant of God, Father Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszynski (1700-1755) obtained permission to make the Blue Scapular one of the elements of devotion associated with the confraternity. Finally, on July 3, 1992, Father Donald Petraitis, MIC, then Superior General of the Marians, obtained for himself and his successors a perpetual permission to bless and confer the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Theatine Fathers reaffirmed this permission on March 19, 2005.

Learn more about the history and spirituality of the Blue Scapular and Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception:

History
Theology
Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II
for all members of The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception
Let Our Lady's Blue Scapular Protect You
An article written by Fr. Adam Boniecki, MIC

When you join the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you assume certain obligations and are then able to enjoy certain spiritual benefits. As a sign of belonging to the Confraternity, you are invested with the Blue Scapular. In order to become a member of the Confraternity, you must be enrolled during a special ceremony conducted by a Marian priest — or a priest or deacon in your own parish to whom the Marians have delegated that authority.

For more information on how to join the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception that exists at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts (USA), its obligations and benefits, and the Blue Scapular itself, you may request a copy of our Blue Scapular and Confraternity leaflet (WBLS), by sending an e-mail to our Confraternity coordinator at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, by filling out our online form, or by calling 1-800-462-7426 (in North America only).

We are presenting to Confraternity members some readings on Our Lady for spiritual nourishment and growth. Our aim is to post one spiritual reading in preparation for the celebration of the major Marian Feast Days during the liturgical year. Please look for such postings before the Feasts of the Annunciation, the Assumption of Our Lady, and the Immaculate Conception.

Please read the meditations in our series on the Mother of God for the members of the Confraternity:

In addition to the meditations, please read the series of articles devoted to The Ten Evangelical Virtues of Mary. Each article spotlights one of the following virtues: Purity, Prudence, Humility, Faith, Devotion, Obedience, Poverty, Patience, Mercy, and Sorrow.