27 November 2011: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

In 1830, France was in upheaval. Wars were imminent; the common people starving. The Blessed Virgin appeared at least three times in the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris to a humble novice, Sister Catherine Laboure. The first was on July 18:
“That night at eleven-thirty, I heard my name called three times. Upon drawing my bed curtains I beheld a child of four or five years who said to me: ‘Come to the Chapel. The Blessed Virgin awaits you!’ I followed him to the sanctuary. I saw a Lady descend the steps of the altar and seat herself in the chair ... Then I sprang forward, throwing myself on my knees on the steps of the altar. I rested my hands on the knees of the Blessed Virgin. She said to me: ‘My child, I am going to charge you with a mission’. ...”
The second and third apparitions were very similar, the principal manifestations were on November 27. St Catherine describes it:
On the epistle side, over the ‘Virgo Potens’ Altar, Our Lady appeared “standing on a globe, her face 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 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 indulgenced will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.’”
Ecclesiastical authorities after two years of rigid investigation declared the apparitions to be fact. They allowed the Medal to be struck and to be used by the faithful.
The Medal spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity, followed in its wake. Thus, people began to call it the ‘Miraculous’ Medal.
Ref: The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, PA, USA, “Membership Booklet”, 1952, pp6-10

Our Lady anticipated the Dogma of her Immaculate Conception
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was defined by Holy Church in 1854. Four years later, Our Lady, at Lourdes declared she is the Immaculate Conception.
It is not strange that God works miracles using water to cleanse the soul of original sin in Baptism. He uses oil to confer his graces in Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick.
He uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, in causing marvelous results. ‘The weak things of this earth hath God chosen to confound the strong’.
The Medal is truly one of those trifles which are crucial in daily life. A railroad signal, eg, is but a feeble light through a bit of red glass. And yet it can halt the mightiest train and save hundreds of lives.
So we may say the Medal is a signal designed by Mary; approved by God. Upon our breasts it is a signal to Mary that we need her aid.
Mary has promised to recognize that signal always. ‘Persons who wear it indulgenced will receive graces.’ And Mary is every day fulfilling her promise!
The obverse, ‘joyful’, side of the Medal shows Mary in the glory of her Immaculate Conception standing on the globe as Queen-Mother of all mankind. Her feet crush the serpent, to proclaim that Satan and his brood are helpless before her.
From her outstretched hands pour ‘the graces which she sheds on all who ask for them’. About the rim is the invocation she composed: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
The reverse, ‘sorrowful’, side pictures Mary’s suffering. Mary told Sister Catherine, “the ‘M’ and two hearts express enough”.
For the love of men His heart wears a crown of thorns; hers, pierced with a lance. The letter ‘M’ under the cross is for Mary who stood beneath the cross of Christ.
The twelve stars refer to the Apostles or to the vision of St John in which “a great sign appeared in Heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1).
Ref: The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, PA, USA, “Membership Booklet”, 1952, pp6-10

‘An Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal’
“O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to thee under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of thy affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties towards thee. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever. Amen.”
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” (3x)
Ref: The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, PA, USA, “Membership Booklet”, 1952, pp6-10

Science and the Mystery of Life
The enlightened copyist who in the 13th century (as evidenced by a document in the Vatican Library) wished to transcribe the Hippocratic Oath by arranging the text in the form of a cross, certainly recognized that rational argumentation on the right to life had value as a preparation for the Christian conception of the human person and sacredness of life: indeed, for full recognition of the mystery of life. Such recognition does not circumscribe the impetus of science, but spurs it on and ennobles it. (cf “Pope John Paul II, Breakfast with the Pope”, 1984, 70)

Tears formed in her eyes
At Rue du Bac in Paris, St Catherine’s guardian angel led her to the chapel where Our Lady was waiting. As she began to speak, ‘tears formed in her eyes’. She spoke of the sufferings that will come upon the world due to sin. At La Salette (France), 16 years later (1846), she appeared as ‘Queen of the World, weeping’. (J M Haffert, “The Meaning of Akita”, 39)

• Dedication of the town of Lesina, in the campaign of Rome. This town was given to Our Lady in the year 1400 by Margaret, Queen of Poland, and mother of Ladislas. — Bzovius, liv. ix. de Signis Ecclesiae. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Novgorod (Russia). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Universally celebrated) Rue du Bac, France 1830. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)