STORY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine Labouré

The Blessed Virgin Mary herself designed the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the "Miraculous Medal".

The Miraculous Medal

It was in November of 1830, a period when God and His Church were being attacked by His enemies and ignored by the faithful. Our Lady told Sister Catherine about the evils of the world, which were to become more intense in the years that lay ahead. She then portrayed an image signifying her Immaculate Conception. She instructed Sister Catherine to have a medal made to that likeness, which should be worn by all as a safeguard against the snares of the devil. As Sister Catherine tells it:

“The Blessed Virgin was standing on a globe, and her face was beautiful beyond words. Her fingers were covered with pre­cious jewels whose light dazzled me. And I heard: ‘Behold the symbol of the graces I shed upon those who ask for them!’ Then an oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin and I read in let­ters of gold: ‘O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.’ The vi­sion reversed and I beheld the letter ‘M’ surmounted by a cross, at the foot of the cross, a bar, and below all, the Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns, and the Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. A voice said to me, ‘Have a medal struck after this model. Persons who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.'”

After two years of delibera­tion by Church authorities, the medal was finally struck accord­ing to Our Lady’s prescription, and in a short time it was being worn by millions. Countless won­ders came to those who wore it: health was restored; bad habits were overcome; dangers were averted; men survived war and pestilence; and thousands were converted to the True Faith. People began to call it the “Miracu­lous Medal” — the official title it now bears in the liturgical feast that was established to honor the Queen Mother who gave it to us.

The little French nun whom the Blessed Virgin used as an agent remained unknown to the world during her lifetime. Not even her colleagues in her Order were aware of her role of intermediary in God’s work until after her death in 1876. She was canonized Saint Catherine Labouré in 1947, and today her mortal remains lie, still incor­rupt for all to see, in the chapel where the Blessed Virgin first appeared to her.