Part 1
Produced by Michael Gray (Diocese of San Jose)
The Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal
---
A Brief Account of Its History and of the Establishment of the Association
_O Mary Conceived Without Sin_ _Pray for Us Who Have Recourse to Thee_
---
Published by THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, Mo.
IMPRIMI POTEST (Die 18, Junii 1918) THOMAS FINNEY, C. M. _Visitator Prov. Occidentalis._
NIHIL OBSTAT S. Ludovici, die 20 Junii 1918. F. G. HOLWECK, _Censor Theol_.
IMPRIMATUR S. Ludovici, die 21 Junii 1918. JOANNES JOSEPHUS, _Archiepiscopus S. Ludovici._
His Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop of St. Louis, in a letter to the Director, has heartily approved of the establishment of the Association of the Miraculous Medal at St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, Mo.
MISSOURIAN PRINTING & STY CO., CAPE GIRARDEAU
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
---
The object of this Association is to spread and to increase devotion to Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception; and one of the most efficacious means for the accomplishment of this aim is the Medal known as Miraculous.
A brief account of the supernatural origin of this medal and of the statutes of the Association will prove of interest and help to all devout clients of our Blessed Mother.
SISTER CATHERINE
The weak and lowly does God choose to confound the strong and worldly-wise, and so in His inscrutable designs, when He would reveal to the Church the marvelous blessings of the Miraculous Medal, He chose for this great mission an humble Daughter of Charity. She was Zoe Laboure, called in community life Sister Catherine. This saintly child of God was born on May 2, 1806, at Fain-les-Moutiers, a village of the Cote-d'Or, in France.
Zoe had not reached her eighth year when death took her pious mother, and henceforth this peasant child felt that Mary, the Consoler of the Afflicted, would be her only Mother.
From the time of her First Communion at the age of twelve years, she felt an abiding desire to give herself unreservedly to her Divine Master. The choice of her vocation was decided in a remarkable manner. When she was eighteen a venerable priest appeared to her in a dream, and told her that one day she would be happy to come to him and that God had great designs on her. Sometime after she saw a picture of this holy priest, and, on inquiring, she learned he was none other than St. Vincent de Paul. After many trials and sufferings she finally succeeded in overcoming all obstacles to her vocation, and in the beginning of the year 1830 she entered as postulant the house of the Sisters of Charity at Chatillon. Her soul was happy in the thought that He who watches over our ways had brought her through storm and trouble to the calm and peace of the religious life.
On April 21, 1830, she entered the Seminary of the Daughters of Charity. During her novitiate she received many supernatural favors-- the most remarkable of which was the Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal.
In the month of January, 1831, Sister Catherine received the holy habit of a Daughter of Charity; and she was then sent to the hospital of Enghien in the faubourg Saint Antoine of Paris. For forty-six years she labored there in the most humble duties, ever faithful to the rules and leading a life hidden with Christ in God. She always manifested a great love for the poor and a wonderful devotion to our Blessed Mother. On December 31, 1876, the final summons came, and she passed from the shadows of earth to the eternal realities and joys of her Heavenly Home.
Sister Catherine was declared Venerable by Pius X on December 11, 1907.
[Note to the electronic edition: Sister Catherine was declared a Saint by Pius XII on July 27, 1947.]
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
_The First Apparition_
Sister Catherine in the simplicity of her heart had an ardent desire to see the Blessed Virgin, and she prayed earnestly that she might obtain this favor. The first apparition was vouchsafed her in the chapel of the Mother House of the Sisters in Paris on July 18, 1830. Our Blessed Mother appeared to her coming from the right side of the altar and seating herself on the left side of the sanctuary in the place usually occupied by the Director of the Sisters. Our Lady told Sister Catherine that she would be charged with a mission, that she would have many trials in fulfilling it, but that the thought of God's glory would enable her to overcome all difficulties. The Blessed Virgin foretold the evil events that would come on France, and that the whole world would be in sorrow. "But come," said our Holy Mother, "to the foot of this altar. There graces will be showered on you and on all those who shall ask for them, rich or poor."
First Apparition of Mary Immaculate to Sister Catherine Laboure July 18, 1830. Eve of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.
_The Second Apparition._
The second apparition of our Immaculate Mother to Sister Catherine took place towards the end of November in the same year. We give the narration in her own words:
"The 27th of November, 1830, which was a Saturday and eve of the first Sunday in Advent, whilst making my meditation in profound silence, at half-past five in the evening, I seemed to hear on the right hand side of the sanctuary something like the rustling of a silk dress, and glancing in that direction, I perceived the Blessed Virgin standing near St. Joseph's picture; her height was medium, and her countenance so beautiful that it would be impossible for me to describe it. She was standing, clothed in a robe the color of auroral light, with high neck and plain sleeves. Her head was covered with a white veil, which descended on each side to her feet. Her hair was smooth on the forehead, and above was a coif ornamented with a little lace and fitting close to her head. Her face was only partially covered, and her feet rested upon a globe, or rather a hemisphere (at least, I saw but half a globe). Her hands were raised about as high as her waist, and she held in a graceful attitude another globe (a figure of the universe). Her eyes were lifted up to Heaven, and her countenance was radiant as she offered the globe to our Lord."
Then Sister Catherine tells us of the rings of precious stones that covered the fingers of our Blessed Mother. From these stones darted forth the brightest rays--symbols of the graces which Mary Immaculate bestows on all who ask for them. "There now formed around the Blessed Virgin," continues Sister Catherine, "a frame slightly oval, upon which appeared in golden letters these words: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.'
"Then I heard a voice which said: 'Have a medal struck from this model; persons who wear it indulgenced will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck; graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.' Suddenly the picture seemed to turn..." The reverse of the picture bore the letter M surmounted by a cross, having a bar at its base and beneath the monogram of Mary were the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded with a crown of thorns, the other transpierced with a sword.