Miraculous Medal

The medal of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Miraculous Medal, was manifested to a spiritual daughter of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Catherine Labouré. This took place in the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity, 140 rue du Bac, Paris, France.

Sister Catherine, during her novitiate days, received extraordinary favors from God, such as visions of the heart of St. Vincent and manifestations of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In 1830 she was blessed with the apparitions of Mary Immaculate to which we owe the Miraculous Medal.

Saint Catherine describes the apparition of our Lady on November 27, 1830, in these words:

"Her feet rested on a white globe. I saw rings on her fingers, and each ring was set with gems. The larger gems emitted greater rays and the smaller gems, smaller rays. I could not express what I saw, the beauty and the brilliance of the dazzling rays. A voice said, 'They are the symbols of the graces I shed upon those who ask for them.'

A frame formed round the Blessed Virgin. Within it was written in letters of gold: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.' Then the voice said, 'Have a Medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck.' At this instant the tableau seemed to turn, and I beheld the reverse of the Medal: a large 'M' surmounted by a bar and a cross; beneath the 'M' were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pierced with a sword."

When Saint Catherine related the vision to her confessor, he asked her whether she had seen any writing on the back of the Medal. She answered that she had seen none at all. He told her to ask the Blessed Virgin what to put there. The Sister prayed to Mary a long time and one day during meditation she seemed to hear a voice saying, "The 'M' and the two hearts express enough."

The Medal was made according to our Lady's design. It was freely circulated and in a short time was worn by millions. Many graces were given and blessings bestowed until the little Medal of the Immaculate Conception became known by the name it bears today, the Miraculous Medal.