History:
St. Catherine Laboure, of the Daughters of Charity, received visions of
the Blessed Mother which were to result in the introduction of the Miraculous
Medal. During the vision that took place on July 18, 1830, in the chapel
of the motherhouse near Paris, France, the Blessed Mother sat on the director's
chair near the altar. After confiding certain matters to St. Catherine,
she said, "Come to the foot of the altar: there graces will be shed upon
all, great and little, who ask for them. Graces will be especially shed
upon those who ask for them."
During the vision that occurred
on November 27, 1830, the Blessed Mother stood with her hands outstretched,
brilliant rays of light coming from rings on her fingers. Some rings gave
off no rays, representing graces for which souls forget to ask. Our Lady's
feet were crushing the head of the serpent. An oval framed the Blessed
Mother, showing these works in letters of gold: "O Mary conceived without
sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
Promise: Then
a voice was heard to say: "Have a medal struck after this model. Those
who wear it will receive great graces. They should wear it around the neck.
Abundant graces will be given to those who wear it with confidence." The
back of the medal was then revealed: 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. The whole was encircled with
twelve stars.
The medal had originally
been called the "medal of the Immaculate Conception," but so many remarkable
graces and favors were soon granted through it that it quickly became known
as the Miraculous Medal. |
