Fr. John Nahrgang speaks at Catholic schools throughout the diocese about Mary and her role in our Church and in our lives.

Read the History and Significance of the Miraculous Medal 

In 1830, at the convent of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared multiple times to Sister Catherine Labouré. During the first apparition of July 18th, which took place in the convent chapel, our Lady said:

“My child, I am going to charge you with a mission; you will suffer many trials on account of it… You will be sustained by grace, do not fear; with simplicity and confidence, tell all that passes within you to him who is charged with the care of your soul… My child, the times are very disastrous, great trials are about to come upon France, the throne will be overturned, the entire world will be in confusion by reason of miseries of every kind… At a certain time the danger will be great indeed, it will seem as if all were lost, but do not fear, I shall be with you.”

With tears in her eyes, the Blessed Virgin continued: “Among the clergy of Paris there will be victims… the Archbishop will die. My child, the cross will be despised, it will be trampled underfoot, our Lord’s side will be opened anew, the streets will flow with blood, the entire world will be in tribulation.” Sister Catherine wondered when this would happen. An “interior light” answered: forty years. Days after this first apparition, King Charles X was overthrown.

On November 27th, while at evening meditation in the chapel, Sister Catherine saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing upon a globe and a green serpent with yellow spots. She wore a robe of “deep white, tinted with the mild, beautiful radiance of dawn,” and with her eyes lifted up to Heaven she seemed to be offering a second globe to God. Suddenly, rings with precious stones appeared on the Blessed Virgin’s fingers and emitted rays of light so dazzling that Catherine could no longer see her robe. The Blessed Virgin looked at the young novice and did not move her lips, yet Catherine heard her voice: “The globe you see represents the entire world, and particularly France, and each person in particular. Behold the symbol of the graces I shed upon those who ask for them.”

The globe then disappeared from Mary’s hands. An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, containing these words: “OH MARY CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE.” Some of the precious stones did not emit rays; Catherine was told that they represented “graces we neglect to ask of Mary.” Catherine again heard the Virgin Mary’s voice: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it indulgenced will receive great graces, especially if they wear it on the neck; abundant graces will be bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

Suddenly, the image rotated and Catherine saw a large “M” surmounted by a cross, with a bar at its base, and beneath it the pierced hearts of Jesus and Mary. Catherine then heard these words: “Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God.” First known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, it quickly acquired the name of Miraculous Medal due to many healings and conversions.

In 1870, forty years after the first apparitions, the Prussian Army attacked Paris and nearly fifty thousand civilians died in the ensuing violence. Socialist revolutionaries assumed power and launched a religious persecution. Archbishop Georges Darboy and several priests were executed. In January of 1871, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at Pontmain and stopped the advance of the Prussian Army. An armistice between France and Prussia was signed shortly after.

In 1876, after a life of service, Sister Catherine Labouré died. She was formally declared a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947. ◼️

1. Details above are from Sister Catherine’s own testimony to her confessor Fr. Jean Marie Aladel, C.M, as related in his book The Miraculous Medal: Its Origin, History, Circulation and Results (Wentworth Press). See also Catherine Labouré: Visionary of the Miraculous Medal by René Laurentin (Pauline Books) and The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers and Devotions by Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle (Franciscan Media).

2. Pope Paul VI explains: “The faithful who use with devotion an object of piety properly blessed by any priest, can acquire a partial indulgence” (Indulgentiarum doctrina, 17). The indulgence attached to the Miraculous Medal draws from the infinite value of Christ’s merits and “the truly immense, unfathomable and ever pristine value before God of the prayers and works of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (Catechism 1476 and 1477). 

Front – The Blessed Virgin Mary
The prayer inscribed on the medal reminds us that Mary is the Immaculate Conception who is ready to pray for us, assist us, and protect us. From Heaven, she intercedes and distributes graces as the Mediatrix who participates uniquely in the one Mediation of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). She is the Mother of Mercy, our maternal Advocate. She is the New Eve, the Woman who battles and defeats the ancient serpent (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12).

Back – The Union of Mother and Son in the Work of the Redemption
At the foot of the Cross, Mary was commissioned by Jesus to be the spiritual mother of all mankind (John 19:25-27). From Heaven, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary continue to burn with love for us. The twelve stars recall Mary’s vocation as Queen of the Apostles and Mother of the Church (Acts 1:13-14 and 2:1-4; Revelation 12).

“By [sacramentals] men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy. Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man… [B]y the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. For well-disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramentals sanctifies almost every event of their lives with the divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. From this source all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1667, 1668 and 1670

“Wear it, Christian youth, and amidst the numberless dangers lurking in your paths repeat frequently: ‘O Mary! conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!’ Virgin most faithful, she will preserve you from all peril. Wear it, fathers and mothers… And the Mother of Jesus will shed upon you and your families the most abundant benedictions.” – Father Jean Marie Aladel, confessor and spiritual director to Sr. Catherine Labouré

“[Distribute] wherever possible, the Miraculous Medal among the good and the bad, Catholics and non-Catholics, inasmuch as if a person manifests this small tribute to the Immaculata, that is, carries her medal, she will never abandon that person and will lead him to faith and repentance. Spread the Miraculous Medal, therefore, and pray fervently to the Immaculata for one’s own conversion and that of others.” – Saint Maximilian Kolbe
(in The Writings of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe – Various Writings, p. 439 (Nerbini International, Kindle Edition).

“Now it must be propagated.” – Sister Catherine Labouré, upon seeing the first Miraculous Medals produced