Confraternity statutes edited

Conception at Marian churches began to be known also as the “scapular confraternities.” e first mention in extant docu- ments which speak of the establishment of a Confraternity of the immaculate Conception dates from June 26, 1734. it speaks of the confraternity at theMarian church in PuszczaMariańska. From that time, the Confraternity of the immaculate Concep- tion arose purposefully at each of the Marian cloisters and in other churches at which Marians undertook pastoral ministry. is is witnessed to by documents from 1888, among others, regarding the dedication of the church inMariampole, lithua- nia, where aMarian cloister was found. We read therein that at each of the 15 existing dedicated churches [whereMarians sup- ported local pastors], there existed a Confraternity of the sca- pular of the immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. rough the years theeatine Fathers repeatedly renewed the privilege of investing with the scapular which had been granted to theMarian Fathers.e renovator and reformer of theMarianOrder, Blessed archbishopGeorgeMatulaitis-Mat- ulewicz, also asked theeatines in rome for a similar author- ization. it was granted to him on December 1, 1911. On July 3, 1992, Fr. Donald Petraitis, MiC, then the superior General of the Marians, obtained from the superior General of the ea- tine Order a perpetual permission for himself and his succes- sors to bless and confer the scapular of the immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. is permission was reaffirmed on March 19, 2005, also granting the power of sub- delegating Marian priests and deacons. On July 1, 2008, this power of sub-delegating was extended to include non-Marians, according to Canon 1169 of the Code of Canon law. us, according to their centuries-long tradition, theMarian Fathers establish Confraternities of the immaculate Conception of the BVM, in which membership is marked externally by wearing the Blue scapular. Conducting the confraternities of the immaculate Conception is one of the important means by which the Congregation of Marian Fathers spreads devotion to the immaculate Conception of the Mother of God and assists the souls suffering in Purgatory. 20