Green Scapular
The Green Scapular is part of the “Seton Family.”
The Green Scapular was a gift given to the world by the Blessed Mother through a series of apparitions to a Daughter of Charity, Sister Justine Bisqueburu, in the early 1840s in Paris, France, just 19 years after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s death. In the apparition, the Blessed Mother held in her right hand her heart, surrounded by flames, and in the other hand a kind of scapular. It was a single piece of green cloth rectangular in shape and hanging by a green string. On one side was a picture of the Blessed Virgin; on the other was “a heart all ablaze with rays more dazzling than the sun and as transparent as crystal.” That heart, pierced with a sword, was encircled by an oval inscription surmounted by a gold cross with the words, “IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, PRAY FOR US NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH.”
This powerful tool of prayer in honor of Mary’s Immaculate Heart aids those whose religious faith is weak or negligible to bring them back to the Faith through deeper conversion. It can also be a very powerful prayer aid in healing. Pilgrims come to Mother Seton's Shrine from all over the world questioning God’s will for their lives and asking for St. Elizabeth Ann’s intercession. They walk along the Seton Way to learn about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her story of conversion to the Catholic Church.
The Green Scapular symbolizes the call to conversion that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton felt in her life and which Christ continues to extend to us all. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded what is today the Daughters of Charity in the United States right here in Emmitsburg, MD, in 1809. This was one of the very first places in the United States that served as a distribution point for the Green Scapular. Today in the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, inside the Chapel of the Holy Agony, a stained-glass window highlights the Scapular of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, The Green Scapular. Visitors often pray for interior conversion for themselves, their families and friends. You can click here to learn more about how to plan your pilgrimage.
To foster devotion to the Green Scapular we have created a Green Scapular Guild and erected a Green Scapular Memorial on the grounds of the Shrine. For information on how to join the Green Scapular Guild, order your free Green Scapulars, or submit a prayer request, please call us at 301-447-7080 or visit our shoppe. Most of all, please pray for us and send us your prayer intentions, as well as any reports of conversion and cures attributed to the Green Scapular (including time, place and persons) to the address listed below.
Upcoming Events
Emmitsburg Community Day
On Saturday, June 30, from 9 am to 5 pm, Emmitsburg will celebrate its annual Community Day. This year, the Shrine will hold the Seton Heritage Expo on our grounds. The event will feature Civil War reenactors, heritage demonstrations, living historians tours, children’s activities, and more. Read More
Songs from the Camps, A FREE Civil War Picnic Concert
The distinctive down-home sounds of banjos, fiddles, tambourines and mandolins, which entertained soldiers on the battlefield camps, will fill the air on Sunday, July 8 at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as two Civil War era bands perform a FREE picnic concert on our grounds. The concert will feature the Hancock String Band and the 2nd South Carolina String Band, both acclaimed for playing authentic Civil War era music. Read More
Annual Seton Legacy Classic Golf Tournament
Are you ready to play some golf, socialize with local VIPs and businesses, and just have some good-hearted fun! Join us on Sunday, June 24 at 1:30 pm at The Links at Gettysburg for our annual Seton Legacy Classic golf tournament. Read More
Civil War Tours
Take a guided tour to learn how the the Sisters and Daughters of Charity served the soldiers during the war that divided our nation, and visit the site where Union officers conducted a war council to prepare for the battle of Gettysburg. Read More
News & Events
Summer Renovations and Revised Shrine Hours
You are visiting the National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton at a very special time – a time of growth, a time of expansion, and a time of inspiration. Our roots in this Valley of Blessings, as Mother Seton referred to this area, are deep and strong – deep from the years of history that took place here and strong from the enduring legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Our mission is to promote the life and legacy of the Elizabeth Ann Seton as a source of inspiration and encouragement for all people. As part of this mission we are expanding our spiritual and historical enrichment programs for all ages, pilgrimages, retreats, and workshops. Our museum will also be expanding its historical exhibits and offerings. All of this expansion results in the need to grow physically as well as spiritually! Much growth has already taken place and there is more to be done. As part of this growth, the HVAC system is being replaced in part of our facility, which includes the Basilica and some of the Museum areas. We appreciate your understanding during our time of growth, and it is our utmost priority to provide a comfortable and memorable visit for our patrons. Many of the areas are unaffected by the HVAC construction, and they will be cool and ready for you to visit! Read More
