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Who was Saint Catherine Labouré of the Miraculous Medal?
Saint Catherine Labouré was a French nun known for her role in creating the Miraculous Medal. She was born on May 2, 1806, in Fain-lès-Moutiers, France, and joined the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity in 1830.
In 1830, while still a novice, Catherine Labouré experienced a series of visions of the Virgin Mary. The most significant occurred on the night of July 18, 1830, when she saw the Virgin standing on a globe, with rays of light emanating from her fingers. Mary asked her to have a medal made based on that vision, promising that those who wore it with faith and devotion would receive great graces.
Catherine Labouré, initially reluctant to reveal the vision, eventually shared it with her spiritual director, who had the medal made. It became known as the Miraculous Medal and continues to be worn by millions of Catholics worldwide.
Saint Catherine Labouré lived a life of humble service, working with the poor and sick as a member of her religious order. She passed away on December 31, 1876, at the age of 70. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and her feast day is celebrated on November 28.
Where are his remains?
Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, rue de Bac, Paris, France
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, located in the rue du Bac neighborhood in Paris, is a place of great spiritual significance for Catholics worldwide.
This church, dating back to the early 19th century, is known for being the site where Saint Catalina Labouré had her famous visions of the Virgin Mary, who revealed to her the design of the Miraculous Medal.
The body of Saint Catalina Labouré, incorrupt since her death in 1876, is displayed on a side altar within the chapel, allowing the faithful to venerate it. This fact, along with the presence of the image of the Virgin Mary as she appeared to Catalina, makes the chapel a site of deep devotion.
Each year, thousands of pilgrims visit this shrine to pay homage to the Virgin and ask for the intercession of Saint Catalina Labouré, whose intact body is considered a sign of her holiness and closeness to God.
In addition to being a place of devotion and prayer, the chapel stands out for its impressive architecture, combining classical elements with an atmosphere of deep peace and contemplation. The main altar, the statue of the Virgin, and the stained glass windows that adorn the walls are just some of the elements that invite the faithful to reflection and meditation.
This sanctuary has become a spiritual refuge, not only because of its connection with the origin of the Miraculous Medal but also because of the power of the graces that many attribute to its intercession.
- For more information about this Church, visit the website of the Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
- Location: 140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France
Prayers
Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
Immaculate Virgin of the Miraculous Medal who manifested yourself to Saint Catherine Labouré as the mediator of all graces, hear my prayer. In your maternal hands, I leave all my spiritual and temporal interests and particularly entrust to you the grace that I dare to implore from your goodness, so that you may commend it to your Divine Son and ask Him to grant it to me if it is in accordance with His Will and for the good of my soul.
Raise your hands to the Lord and then turn them towards me, Powerful Virgin. Envelop me in the rays of your graces so that in the light and warmth of those rays, I may detach myself from earthly things and joyfully follow you until the day you welcome me at the gates of Heaven.
Amen.
Prayer of Saint John Paul II
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. This is the prayer you inspired, O Mary, to Saint Catherine Labouré, and this invocation, engraved on the medal, is now carried and pronounced by many faithful around the world. Blessed are you among all women! Blessed are you who have believed! The Mighty One has done great things in you! The wonder of your divine motherhood! And in view of this, the wonder of your Immaculate Conception! The wonder of your fiat! You have been so intimately associated with the entire work of our redemption, you have been associated with the cross of our Savior!
Your heart was pierced along with His Heart. And now, in the glory of your Son, you do not cease to intercede for us, poor sinners. You watch over the Church of which you are Mother. You watch over each of your children. You obtain from God for us all those graces that symbolize the rays of light that radiate from your open hands. With the only condition that we dare to ask you for them, that we approach you with the trust, boldness, and simplicity of a child. And precisely in this way, you continually lead us to your Divine Son.
We consecrate to you our strengths and availability to serve the plan of salvation carried out by your Son. We ask you that through the Holy Spirit, faith may take root and be strengthened in the entire Christian people, that communion may overcome all seeds of division, that hope may be revived in those who are discouraged. We pray for those who suffer particular trials, physical or moral, for those who are tempted by infidelity, for those who are shaken by doubt in a climate of unbelief, and also for those who suffer persecution because of their faith.
We entrust to you the apostolate of the laity, the ministry of priests, the testimony of religious.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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The Miraculous Medal is a sign of faith and protection that has transformed the lives of millions. Saint Catherine Labouré taught us to trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Would you like to deepen this devotion? Accompany it with the Eucharist at Mass in a nearby church.
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What do the elements of the Miraculous Medal symbolize?
Each element of the Miraculous Medal has a profound spiritual meaning. Mary standing on the world represents her dominion over evil. The rays of light symbolize the graces she grants to those who ask for them. The inscription emphasizes her Immaculate Conception. On the reverse, the letter “M” intertwined with a cross represents Mary at the foot of the cross. The two hearts are the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, showing their union in redemption.
What are the Virgin Mary's promises to those who wear the Miraculous Medal?
The Virgin promised Saint Catherine Labouré that those who wore the Miraculous Medal with faith would receive abundant graces. Among these promises are special protection, conversion of sinners, and strengthening in faith. Numerous testimonies of miracles and conversions attributed to the devout use of this medal have been documented.
How should the Miraculous Medal be used to receive its graces?
The Miraculous Medal should be worn with faith and devotion, preferably blessed by a priest. It is not an amulet, but a sign of trust in the Virgin’s intercession. It is recommended to pray daily the prayer “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” and to receive the sacraments frequently.
When is the feast of the Miraculous Medal celebrated?
The Church celebrates the feast of the Miraculous Medal on November 27, commemorating the last apparition of the Virgin to Saint Catherine Labouré in 1830. On this date, the faithful renew their devotion and give thanks for the graces received through the medal.
