A Short Catechism of cross and Mary stands compassionately at his the Miraculous Medal feet, assenting in faith so that the world might “Even though a person be the worst sort, be saved. if only he agrees to wear the medal, give it Front to him . . . and then pray for him, and at the The medal, then, is an astonishing summary of proper moment strive to bring him closer to Here we see a woman, the Mother of God, the Church’s teaching on Our Lady—a mini-cat encircled by a short and famous prayer: “O his Immaculate Mother, so that he has echism of the Faith for everyone. recourse to her in all difficulties Mary conceived without sin...” Being conceived and temptations.” without sin—the mystery of her Immaculate Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer Conception—means that from the beginning – St. Maximilian Kolbe this woman was full of grace. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for all who do not have Mary stands on a globe, the world. recourse to you, especially the enemies of Holy Order Additional Brochures Around her feet a twisted serpent, Church and all those recommended to you. and Miraculous Medals online the devil, struggles for mastery. This image represents a conflict Visit MarytownGiftShop.com between good and evil. Satan’s Meditation Prayer with • Order additional copies of is a world of darkness and the Miraculous Medal this brochure for your parish disgrace; Mary’s is a world of O Mary, this medal is a sign and a guarantee or prayer group. light and grace. But hers is the of your presence. You are present because • Order Miraculous Medals at bulk rate for victory won by Christ—the light your power is present, your voice is present family and friends and receive a free of the world. So we see the light and and your love is present. Marian Consecration brochcure. grace of Christ flowing from her hands; and those who choose grace rather than darkness turn to Therefore, O Immaculate Conception and her for mediation: “Pray for us who have recourse Mother of the Church, we call on you now to you.” to fulfill your guarantee. Rain down upon us the great graces you promised to those who Back carry this medal, especially to those who On the back of the medal we see a large letter wear it around the neck. Make us perceive “M” with a cross above it. M is for Mary and your presence now and always. Make us Mother because she is indeed the Mother of consciously experience your power, love To lead God’s people—a people founded on the twelve and guidance, that in your mediation we every individual with Mary Apostles, signified by the twelve stars may begin to share in your perfect response to the Sacred Heart Wear the of Jesus. arranged around the rim. to God and to each of his creatures, and join Miraculous Medal, because St. Maximilian Kolbe the Immaculata
in your war against the ancient serpent. Immaculata the of Militia Kolbe’s Maximilian St. of spirituality the Following has promised Mary to Yourself Consecrate The two hearts are those of Jesus her protection to those and Mary. God’s message for Help us to abandon our self-centered who do so. The Miraculous MedalSt. & St. Maximilian Maximilian Kolbe Mary was one of suffering: “A feelings and preoccupations. Help us to sword will pierce your soul, too,” accept our sufferings, offering them back to just as the heart of her Son would the Father through you. Teach us to listen be pierced by a soldier’s lance. and learn, that by becoming one with you in The showing of the two hearts in purpose, we might more fully respond to the one grand alliance is a reminder of God’s love Father, Son and Holy Spirit, participating for us. Mother and Son are united in the work in the life and unity of the Trinity through 1600 W. Park Ave. | Libertyville, IL 60048 of redemption as Christ offers himself on the your intercession. Amen. 847-367-7800 | KolbeShrine.org 190-603 Rue du bac: the Apparition of Then the vision reversed. It revealed the letter On the evening of October 16, 1917, the young Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal “M” entwined with a cross above the Sacred “Because conversion and sanctification are seminarian was ready to put these Marian in Heart crowned with thorns and the Immaculate divine graces, the Miraculous Medal will be sights into a concrete plan of action. He gath The Miraculous Medal owes its origin to the Heart “pierced by a sword” (Lk 2:35). This image the best means for attaining these gifts. ered six Franciscan companions in a room at apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the represents Mary as Coredemptrix, a unique For this reason it constitutes a first rate the seminary on Rome’s Chapel of the Rue du Bac, Paris, in the year 1830. participator in Jesus’ saving act of redemption. weapon of the MI; it is a ’bullet‘ with which Via San Teodoro to a faithful soldier hits the enemy, that She appeared as the Immaculate Conception to establish the Militia Surrounding the entire tableau was an oval is evil, and thus rescues souls.” Catherine Labouré, a novice with the Daughters of the Immaculata. border of twelve stars, recalling the “great sign of Charity and a future saint. – St. Maximilian Kolbe This movement, which in the sky” of Revelation 12:1. On July 18, the now numbers millions Blessed Virgin, seat- In St. Catherine’s words: “A voice said to me, Lady appeared to him in a brilliant light at the worldwide, would bind ed in this convent ‘Have a medal struck after this model. All who Church of Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte in Rome. people together around chapel, spoke gentle wear it will receive great graces, especially if In one brief moment, the light of truth dispelled one compelling and words of encourage- they wear it around the neck.’” the prejudice of error and Ratisbonne received fruitful spiritual union ment to the twenty- such a great infusion of knowledge and grace with Mary Immaculate. Miracles of the Medal two year old novice. that he was able to receive Baptism ten days It would embrace all On November 27, Soon after the apparitions of Rue du Bac, the later at the hands of Cardinal Patrizi. ages and all vocations the Virgin Mother medal came to be minted and countless millions in the church—clergy, Later, Ratisbonne became a priest and missionary returned, showing have circulated since religious, lay men and to the Holy Land, where he is now buried in Sister Cath- then, bringing untold women—stirring each to form a personal the village of Ein Karem, the traditional site of erine the design graces. The sheer num- relationship with Mary by means of the “Act of Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. of a medal that ber of these kindnesses Total Consecration.” would remind coming from Our Lady The Medal and the MIlitia of the St. Maximilian made the Miraculous Medal people of the through the medium Immaculata Movement the insignia of the Militia of the Immaculata love and protec- of the medal soon had movement. He recommended that people In January 1917, while at the tion that Our Lady people speaking of it as wear it as an external sign of their life-conse- Conventual Franciscan Friars’ continually offers to “miraculous.” So the cration to Jesus Christ through his mother. seminary in Rome, young the People of God. The design also serves name was born: The Mindful of Mary’s promise to St. Catherine Maximilian Kolbe heard the as a mini-catechism of the Catholic Church’s Miraculous Medal. that “all who wear it will receive great graces,” Miraculous Medal conversion teaching on Our Lady. St. Maximilian saw the medal as a means of One of the most cel story of Alphonse Ratisbonne. safeguarding the consecration. It reminds the The Meaning of the ebrated cases of a con- This wonderful account inspired faithful that by their consecration they belong Miraculous Medal version through the him to recognize the powerful to Mary, work for her and become one with use of the Miraculous role that God had given Mary In a vision, Mary stood on a globe with her her, so that she might act through them as her Medal was that of the in the work of leading people to conversion heel crushing the head of the serpent, Satan, Jewish agnostic, Alphonse Ratisbonne. Shortly instruments of evangelization. recalling Genesis 3:15. Brilliant light streamed and growth in holiness. He understood that after he was persuaded by a friend to wear the The ultimate goal of the MI and Marian from her jeweled fingers. “Behold the symbol of the Miraculous Medal symbolized her active medal and recite the Memorare prayer, Our consecration is encapsulated by the Miraculous graces shed upon those who ask for them,” she presence in the Church as Mediatrix of all the Medal image. It is to bring about the reign of the explained, portraying herself as Mediatrix of All graces that flow from the Heart of Christ. For Sacred Heart of Jesus and hasten the conversion Graces. Surrounding her a banner of gold letters the next nine months, Maximilian meditated “Through Mary Immaculate to Jesus— upon the Miraculous Medal, the apparition of of individuals, families, society and the entire read, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for this is our motto.” world into a “civilization of love” as called for us who have recourse to you,” expressing her Our Lady to St. Catherine Labouré and the – St. Maximilian Kolbe by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. Immaculate Conception. marvel of Ratisbonne’s conversion.