The Miraculous Medal
(1830)
Feast day – November 27
The Miraculous Medal comes directly from the Most Blessed
Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother; it is a gift from heaven which has
never ceased to effect marvels of grace throughout the entire world. This medal
is a very simple and very efficacious means to benefit from the protection of
Mary in all our necessities, both spiritual and temporal.
On November 27, 1830, in a residence of the Daughters of
Charity, at the Chapel of the Rue du Bac in Paris, the Most Blessed Virgin
appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré (1806-1876) for the second time. On
this day the Queen of Heaven was seen with a globe under Her feet and holding
in Her hands, at the level of the heart, another smaller globe, which She seemed
to be offering to Our Lord in a gesture of supplication. Suddenly, Her fingers
were covered with rings and beautiful jewels; the rays from these streamed in
all directions...
The Blessed Virgin looked down on the humble novice who was
contemplating Her. “Behold,” She said, “the symbol of the graces that I bestow
on those who ask Me for them. The jewels which remain in the shadows symbolize
the graces that one forgets to ask Me for,” the Virgin continued. And Catherine
Labouré wrote later, “She made me understand how generous She is towards
persons who pray to Her, how many graces She grants those who ask Her for them,
and what joy She has to bestow them!” Then there formed around the Mother of
God an oval background on which was written in gold letters:
In a gesture which invited recourse and confidence, the
hands of Mary descended and were extended as we see them represented on the
medal.
Sister Catherine Labouré beheld this vision with happiness.
A voice said to her: “Have a medal struck on this model; the persons who will
wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.
These graces will be abundant for those who wear it with confidence.” The
picture seemed to turn around, and Sister Catherine saw, on its reverse side,
the letter M surmounted by a little cross, and below it the holy Hearts
of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the second
transfixed by a sword. Twelve stars surrounded the monogram of Mary and the two
holy Hearts.
Sister Catherine faithfully accomplished the mission Heaven
had entrusted to her. In 1832 the medal was struck and immediately underwent a
extraordinary diffusion throughout the world, accompanied by unceasing
prodigies of cures, protection and conversion. Thus it came to be known as the
Miraculous Medal. Let us wear this medal of the Most Blessed Virgin with
respect, and often repeat with confidence and love, the invocation by which Our
Heavenly Mother desires that we implore favors: O Mary, conceived without
sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Sources for this article were taken from: http://magnificat.ca
Prayer
O God, Who didst instill into
the heart of Saint John ot the Cross, Thy Confessor and our Father, a perfect
spirit of self-abnegation, and a surpassing love of Thy Cross: grant, that
assiduously following in his footsteps, we may attain to eternal glory. Through
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who
have recourse to Thee
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