We are accustomed to ending the year by remembering Saint Sylvester; instead, we would like to introduce you to another radiant figure - the recipient of the vision of the Miraculous Medal - who is also celebrated on December 31: Saint Catherine Labouré.
Her story is fascinating and connected to the apparitions of the Miraculous Medal, and there are many resources that can help deepen your knowledge of it:
• The Miraculous Medal and Catherine Labouré
• The Miraculous Medal
• A Month with the Miraculous Medal
Also available is the story of Alfonso Ratisbonne and Our Lady of the Miracle, intended for children and written in a humorous comic-book style:
Our Lady of the Miracle and Alfonso
“Now You Are My Mother”
Born on May 2, 1806, in Fain-les-Moutiers in Burgundy (France), to prosperous farmers and the ninth of 11 children, she received a deep Christian education but never attended school; only later did she learn to write. Her mother died when she was 9. A few days later, a housemaid saw her climb onto a chair to embrace a statue of Our Lady placed on a small altar, as if saying to her: “Now You Are My Mother.” As a young woman, she rejected several marriage proposals, determined to embrace religious life despite her father’s opposition. He sent her to Paris to stay with her brother, who ran a tavern, and then to a sister-in-law in Châtillon-sur-Seine.
After moving to a hospice run by the Daughters of Charity (founded by Saint Vincent de Paul), she received her father’s permission after a few months and entered the seminary on Rue du Bac in Paris on April 21, 1830. During her novitiate, she frequently saw visions of the Lord and the Virgin Mary.
On the night of July 18-19, 1830, Catherine was led by an angel to the large chapel of the Mother House, where she spoke with Our Lady for more than two hours. Our Lady foretold further encounters, which indeed took place at short intervals from one another: in September, on November 27, and in December of that same year.
The Apparition of the Miraculous Medal
The best-known and most distinctive of the apparitions was the one that took place on November 27, which can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, Our Lady appeared to Catherine standing on a globe entwined by the coils of a serpent, offering God another small golden globe, symbolizing the world and every soul, which she held at heart level. Two rays of light streamed from Our Lady’s hands onto the lower globe. In the second phase, as the small golden globe disappeared, the Virgin’s hands lowered, still radiating luminous rays, symbolizing the graces obtained from God through her intercession. Then, as if forming a halo around Our Lady’s head, the words of the ejaculation appeared in golden letters: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.” Then the image seemed to be viewed from the back: the figure of Our Lady disappeared, and at the center stood the brilliantly luminous letter M, above which appeared the cross and below which were the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary, while twelve brilliantly shining stars formed a crown.
Have a Medal Minted
The Virgin told Catherine to have a medal minted reproducing the vision, saying to her, “Those who wear it will receive great graces!” The nun accepted the mission of having the Medal minted, but it was not until June 30, 1832, that the first 1,500 copies were minted. The medal soon became known as “miraculous,” and among the miracles attributed to it was the conversion of the Jew Alfonso Ratisbonne (January 20, 1842).
No one except her superiors ever knew of the heavenly favors granted to Catherine. She lived in the greatest humility and absolute silence and served the poor at the Enghien hospice in Paris for forty-six years. She died on December 31, 1876.
When her body was exhumed, the hands that had touched Our Lady and the eyes that had seen her appeared extraordinarily well preserved. She was beatified by Pius XI on May 28, 1933, and canonized by Pius XII on July 27, 1947; her relics rest in the chapel where she experienced the apparitions.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal continues even today to watch over all humanity and to fulfill the promise of love contained in her Message: “I myself will always be with you... have confidence... do not be discouraged.” Taking inspiration from the words of Saint Catherine Labouré “O Mary, inspire us with what we should ask of you for our happiness and that of the whole world,” we entrust the year 2021, which is about to begin, to Mary’s maternal protection. She never ceases to promise us “great graces” if only we place our trust in her!
Immaculate Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal,
who promised your help and special protection to those who pray to you with confidence,
look upon our spiritual and material needs and have mercy on us.
Through your Medal, continue to shower upon us the treasures of your graces.
May love and forgiveness always triumph in us and in everyone, and may peace reign.
We ask this of you, our gentle Mother, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
If you would like to begin the new year under the special protection of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, visit our website www.editriceshalom.it to discover all the versions in which the Medal is available!
You can also choose an “alternative way” to wear the Miraculous Medal: the scarf made of Modal fabric, available in 2 sizes and 4 colors.
You may also be interested in:
“Have a Medal Minted...”; November 27, 2020 - Blessed Virgin Mary of the Miraculous Medal
