tioned by the practice of pious souls throughout the Christian world, by the testimony of twenty-two Popes, by the writings of an incalculable number of pious authors, and by multiplied miracles during the past 600 years; so that, says the illustrious Benedict XIV., " He who dares call in question the validity of the devotion of the scapular, or deny its privileges, would be a proud despiser of religion."
CHAPTER LTX.
Means to avoid Purgatory — Privileges of the Holy Scapular — Venerable Father de la Colombiere — The Hospital at Toulon — The Sabbatine — St. Teresa — A Lady at Otranto.
According to what we have said, the Blessed Virgin has attached two great privileges to the holy scapular; on their part, the Sovereign Pontiffs have added to them the richest indulgences. We shall not speak here of the two indulgences; but we consider it useful to make these two precious privileges thoroughly known, the one under the name of Preservation, the other under that of Deliverance.
The first is the exemption from the torments of Hell: In hoc moriens aternum non patietur incendium — "He who dies wearing this habit shall not suffer the fire of Hell." It is evident that he who dies in mortal sin, even whilst wearing the scapular, will not be exempt from damnation; and such is not the meaning of Mary's promise. This good Mother has promised mercifully so to dispose all things that he who dies wearing that holy habit will receive an efficacious grace worthily to confess and bewail his faults; or, if he is surprised by sudden death, he will have
