The Power of Sacramentals

In the summer of 2003, four men, (two of whom I know) were sitting in the forest after a hard day's work logging. They cracked open some beer, and kicked back to relax and enjoy themselves. The sun was very hot, so they had all removed their shirts. One of the older men was wearing a brown scapular with a miraculous medal attached to it, and it drew the interest of a younger man.

The young man was curious, and asked if he could try it on. He was told that it was a sacramental of the Church, that it was a visible sign of the blessing and intercession of the Church, and that by this use, the benediction of Almighty God is invoked on persons who wear it. He instructed his friend that Our Lord had sanctioned the use of sacramentals when He blessed the loaves and fishes, the young children, and the Apostles before the Ascension.

Now, the young man was really interested, and again asked if he could try it on. He placed the brown scapular and miraculous medal around his neck, and within a few minutes, he broke out into a sweat. His heart started pounding, and he began clawing at his chest, grabbing wildly at the scapular and screaming that it was burning him and for the others to get it off of him.

The scapular and medal were removed from him, and the young man told the others that he had sold his soul to the devil, and he was convinced the devil was attacking him while wearing the scapular.

My brother told me this story. He was there that day. He was the older man who owned the scapular and medal, and the one who placed it on the younger man's chest.