On November 27, 1830, the Blessed Virgin appeared on Rue du Bac in Paris to Saint Catherine Laboure. Almost 200 years later, the story of the Miraculous Medal moves hearts to ever more sincere, enlightened, and ardent love for the best of all mothers.
Newsroom (January 20, 2022 12:54 PM, Gaudium Press) The evidence shows that no mortal is able to glorify Mary to the fullest extent. Only God, infinitely superior to the created universe, embraces her greatness when singing her praises.
Yet the Psalm says: “O Lord our God, how glorious is your name in all the earth! Your majesty extends triumphantly above all the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and little children comes a praise that confounds your adversaries and brings your enemies to silence” (8:2-3).
With the help of the Holy Spirit, therefore, also the “little ones” can and must exalt Our Lady, in order to fill the innocent with joy and confound the proud.
To those who seek to measure their own nothingness, their lack of merits, and their imperious need of being helped, the doors of the Immaculate Heart of Mary open with overwhelming benevolence.
The Apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Catherine Labouré
We recall the apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré in Paris in 1830.
The young nun, accompanied by her Guardian Angel, enters the convent church on the night of July 18-19.
After a few moments of waiting, it is announced to her: “Behold the Blessed Virgin.”
At the sight of Our Lady, who occupied the chair that the chaplain of the community used to use, the seer throws herself at her feet and, taken by enchantment and unrestricted confidence, rests her hands on Mary’s knees.
In this atmosphere of warmth and intimacy, the happy novice receives the dramatic announcements about the future of France and the Church brought to her by the Queen of the Prophets.
The appearance of the Miraculous Medal
On November 27, 1830, the Immaculate Virgin appeared in the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris.
It was about five-thirty in the afternoon. In deep silence, Sister Catherine Labouré was engaged in holy meditation. Suddenly she heard a noise like the rustling of a silk dress, coming from the side of the Epistle.
She raised her eyes and saw the Blessed Virgin Mary, resplendent with light, wearing a white dress and a dawn-white cloak. The feet of the Mother of God rested on half of a globe; her hands held another globe, which she offered to Our Lord with an ineffable expression of supplication and love.
But behold, this living picture changes appreciably, resembling what was later represented in the Miraculous Medal. Mary’s hands, laden with graces symbolized by radiant rings, emit beams of luminous rays over the earth, but with greater abundance at one point.
The account of the pious Seer
“While I was contemplating it, the Holy Virgin lowered her eyes to me, and a voice said to me in the depths of my heart: ‘This globe that you see represents the whole world, especially France and each person in particular.'”
“I do not know how to express what I could perceive of the beauty and brilliance of the rays.
“And the Blessed Virgin added: ‘Here is the symbol of the graces that I pour over the people who ask me,’ giving me to understand how generous She is to those who invoke Her… how many graces She grants to the people who ask Her… At that moment, I was or wasn’t… I don’t know… I savored those moments!”
“A half-oval picture was formed around the Blessed Virgin, on which were read these words, written in letters of gold: ‘O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to You.'”
“Then a voice was heard saying to me, ‘Have a medal coined according to this model; people who wear it with piety will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their necks; graces will be abundant for those who have confidence.'”
The Medal was minted and spread with wonderful rapidity throughout the world, and everywhere it was an instrument of mercy, a terrible weapon against the devil, a remedy for many evils, a simple and prodigious means of conversion and sanctification.
By Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP.
Text extracted, with adaptations, from the book Maria Santíssima! The Paradise of God Revealed to Men, vol. I; Heralds of the Gospel Magazine n. 47, November 2005.
Compiled by Sarah Gangl
