The Blue Scapular Prayer Book

35 course of centuries, be highly esteemed, and that those decrees, which were given in the early days regarding the cult images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be religiously observed. (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, No. 67) Pope Paul VI, further elaborating on the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, talked about the great significance of the scapular. In March of 1965, he said: May the faithful have great reverence for the exercises and pious practices associated with the devotion to the Most Holy Virgin Mary, which in the course of centuries were approved by the Church. ... The rosary to Mary and the scapular are among the recommended exercises. ... The scapular is a practice which, due to its simplicity, is suitable for everyone and which has spread widely among the faithful Christians to their spiritual benefit. In his Apostolic Letter of March 25, 2001, Pope St. John Paul II wrote: There are two truths drawn out from the symbol that the scapular constitutes. One— the continuous protection of the Most Holy Virgin, not only along life’s journey, but also at the moment of passing through to the fullness of eternal glory. The other—the knowledge