Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

The story of this celebration

+ On November 27, 1830, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré, then a novice with the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France.

+ In the vision, Saint Catherine saw Our Lady standing on a globe with shafts of light streaming from her hands and the words, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,” surrounding the image.

+ In the same vision, Catherine saw a capitol “M” with a cross above it and two hears below. The young sister seemed to hear a voice telling her to have she saw struck as a medal, along with a promise that whoever wore the medal would have the protection and intercession of Mary.

+ The first 1,500 of these “Miraculous Medals” were distributed in 1832. A diocesan tribunal approved Catherine’s revelations in 1836.

For prayer and reflection

“Among the various medals of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the most diffuse must be the "Miraculous Medal"… It recalls the mystery of Redemption, the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. It signifies the mediatory role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mystery of the Church, the relationship between Heaven and earth, this life and eternal life.”—Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy

Vocations

The Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Grace Monastery (Beech Grove, IN): www.benedictine.com

The Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace (Christoval, TX): http://carmelnet.org/christoval/christoval.htm

Spiritual bonus

On this day, we also remember Saint Fergus “the Pict.” A “traveling bishop” in Ireland, he later traveled throughout Scotland and founded a number of churches. He attended a synod of Rome and settled in Glamis, Scotland. Saint Fergus died around the year 730.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, You have willed that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, immaculate from the first moment of her conception, should be glorified by countless miracles; grant that we, who always implore her patronage, may attain to eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal, 1962 edition)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.