St. Catherine Laboure was born on May 2, 1806 in the Burgundian hills of France. She became a Sister of Charity, and on November 27, 1830, Our Lady appeared to her. Prior to the appearance of Our Lady, St. Vincent de Paul appeared in one of her dreams.
St. Catherine was instructed by Our Lady to have a medal made, and in 1832, Our Blessed Mother showed her the pattern for the Medal. Archbishop de Quilen of Paris approved the making of the Medal and confirmed the authenticity of St. Catherine's vision. The medal was made available the same year. Through the Archbishop's urging, the phrase “Queen conceived without sin” was added to the Litany of Loretto.
The medal contained 12 stars on it, a reference to the text from Apocalypse 12:1 – “A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” On the Medal's back, there is reference to Our lady’s part as Co-redemptress in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary with the one crowned with thorns and the other pierced with a sword. The M surmounted by a cross plainly is a representation of Mary beneath the Cross of her Son.
It was initially known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. Over time, the medal was called the Miraculous Medal due to the number of miracles obtained from those wearing it (most notably was the conversion of the Jew Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842).
In 1895, the Medal received liturgical approbation when a Mass and Office were assigned in its honor at the direction of Cardinal Masella, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites; it is one of only 3 sacramentals in the history of the Church to be thus liturgically honored, sharing its distinction with the Rosary and Brown Scapular.
Wearing the medal has a special place in deepening personal devotion to the Mother of God, and although Our Lady did not request a chapel, there is one now on rue du Bac in Paris. As the “Virgin of the Globe,” Our Lady is undoubtedly the Mediatrix of all grace -- for the whole world, especially France, and for each person in particular. All prayers and petitions, whether addressed specifically to her, or to God and the saints, are presented to God by her; likewise all graces, whether answers to prayer or gifts unsought, pass through her hands to mankind.
St. Catherine died on December 31, 1876, and was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1933, and made a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947. St. Catherine’s “formula” was very simple: she did what she was supposed to do, as well as she could do it, and she did it for God. She is known as the “Saint of Ordinary People.” Her body is incorrupt.
CALL TO ACTION: Heed the simple message of this apparition; that is, wear the Miraculous Medal with great faith and confidence, and ask for abundant graces from the Blessed Mother!
Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe