Catherine spoke to no one about her vi- fixed her eyes upon me, and a voice sions except her spiritual director, Fr. said in the depths of my heart: This John Aladel. After two years of discern- globe you see represents the whole ment, he discussed these visions with the world, especially France, and each Archbishop of Paris. The Archbishop person in particular.” finally gave his permission for the med- als to be made. There now formed around the Blessed Virgin a frame rather oval in The first 2,000 medals were delivered on shape on which 30 June 1832. The use of the medals were written in spread very quickly. Pope Gregory XVI letters of gold put one of them at the foot of the cruci- these words: “O fix on his desk. Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have re- For the 46 years between the time of the course to thee.” Then a voice said to apparitions until Catherine’s death, only me: “Have a medal struck upon this she and her confessor knew who it was model. All those who wear it, when to whom the famous Miraculous Medal The Story of it is blessed, will receive great graces was revealed. Catherine lived her life in especially if they wear it around the simple humility, serving elderly men as St. Catherine neck. Those who repeat this prayer a Daughter of Charity. with devotion will be in a special Labouré manner under the protection of the Catherine’s remains may be seen today Mother of God. Graces will be abun- at the Mother House of the Daughters of and the dantly bestowed upon those who Charity in the very chapel where the have confidence.” Blessed Mother appeared to her more Miraculous than 185 years ago. Catherine then described the back of the medal: “I saw on the back of it Medal the letter “M” surrounded by a cross, Congregation of the Mission with a cross bar beneath it, and under the monogram of the name of Mary, Vincentian Fathers & Brothers the Hearts of Jesus and of his Mother; Vincentian.org\Vocations the first was surrounded by a crown [email protected] of thorns and the second was pierced 800 depaul-1 by a sword.” insights. One day, while visiting the hospital of the Catherine rose, went over and knelt, St. Catherine Labouré was the Daugh- Daughters of Charity, she noticed a picture on the resting her hands in the Virgin’s lap. Mary ter of Charity who received and passed wall and asked one of the Daughters placed her arms around Catherine and on a request from the Blessed Virgin who it was. She was told that it was said: “God wishes to charge you with a Mary to create the Miraculous Medal their holy founder, St. Vincent de mission. You will be contradicted, but do worn today by millions of Christians, Paul. It was the same priest that not fear; you will have the grace. Tell your both Roman Catholic and people of spiritual director all that passes within Catherine had seen in a dream while other faiths and no faith. you. Times are evil in France and in the sleeping. Catherine asked her father world.” Mother Teresa of Cal- if she could join the Daughters of cutta used a simple Charity. In January 1830 Catherine entered the The Second Apparition occurred on 27 "tool" as a symbol of the Daughters as a postulant and in April of the same November 1830. This is how Catherine charity and love she year she entered the novitiate in Paris. described what happened: “...while wanted to convey: the making my meditation in profound Miraculous Medal. Mother Teresa It was during 1830 that Catherine was blessed with silence...I seemed to hear on the right would take a fistful of medals, kiss the apparition that led to the devotion of the Mi- hand side of the sanctuary something like them, and hand them out to those raculous Medal. She was living at the Daughter of the rustling of a silk dress. Glancing in that whom she encountered, especially direction, I perceived the blessed Virgin Charity Mother House on the Rue du Bac in Paris. poor persons. Very seldom would standing near St. Joseph’s picture. Her Her formation directoress had given each novice a someone leave her presence without height was medium and her countenance, receiving a Medal from her. For Moth- piece of cloth from St. Vincent’s clothing. Cathe- indescribably beautiful. She was dressed er Teresa, the Miraculous Medal was a rine prayed that she might see the Mother of God. in a robe the color of the dawn, high- sign of Mary’s love and God’s care for The night of July 18-19 an angel awoke her from necked, with plain sleeves. Her head was each and every person. sleep saying: “Sister Labouré, covered with a white veil, which floated come to the chapel; the Blessed over her shoulders down to her feet. Her Catherine Labouré was born on 2 May Virgin is waiting for you.” feet rested upon a globe, or rather one 1806 in the tiny village of Fain-lès- half of a globe, for that was all that could Moutiers, northwest of Dijon, France. When Catherine went to the be seen. Her hands, which were on a level with her waist, held in an easy manner She was the 9th of 11 children. After chapel, she found it ablaze with lights. Catherine another globe, a figure of the world. Her her mother died when Catherine was 9 knelt near the sanctuary, then moved into it when years old, she moved to Saint-Rémy. eyes were raised to Heaven, and her she saw Mary in a chair. When she lifted her head countenance beamed with light as she She became the “head of household” from prayer, the Blessed Virgin, in a blaze of glory, offered the globe to Our Lord. As I was and managed the farm and family. sat in the chair just beyond Catherine’s reach. busy contemplating her, the Blessed Virgin She was given to visions and intuitive