Miraculous Medals

Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine LaBoure in 1830 at the convent at 30 Rue de Bac, Paris, France. As Catherine slept one night, Our Lady sent an angel to her and told her to go to the Chapel. There, sitting on the chair in the chapel was Our Lady, who instructed Catherine to have a medal struck. Our Lady showed Catherine how she wanted the Medal to appear,with Our Lady's hands open and rays emminating from the rings on her fingers. Catherine asked why some of the rings didn't emit rays, and Our Lady told her that they were graces that people fail to ask for.

Surrounding Our Lady on the medal is the invocation: "O Mary, Conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recourse to thee" with the date 1830. On the back of the medal are twelve stars surrounding the cross and beneath the cross is a large "M". Below that are the hearts of Jesus and Mary. The twelve stars signify the book of Revelation's reference to Our Lady with the crown of twelve stars. The "M" shows that Our Lady stood beneath the Cross of her Son, Jesus. The two hearts show how united Jesus and Mary are in working for our salvation.

It would not be until 1854 that the Holy Father would declare the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, thereby confirming the Miraculous Medal's invocation. Our Lady told Catherine that people should wear her medal to protect themselves from the onslaught that satan would wreak on the world. The power of Our Lady's medal is legendary, with many inexplicable healings and spiritual conversions, leaving no doubt as to its miraculous effects. There would be a tremendous power in the medal over the years, which was why it is called "Miraculous". Many people have been helped in unusual and remarkable ways.

The oval shape is the one that Our Lady showed Catherine, but today artists have made varying forms of the medal.  Some of the newer forms include a round shape, the "four way cross" has a Miraculous medal as one of the medallions contained on its cross shape. Other shapes include a heart shape surrounding the medal, and various other embellishments.  The important theme among these medals is the figure of Our Lady with her hands outstretched, the rays shining from them, and the words surrounding her figure. The back of the medal must also remain the same. When you have the medal blessed by a priest or deacon, Our Lady goes to work to protect you abundantly!