Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 26, 2024
The design of Mary engraved on the Miraculous Medal symbolizes key elements of the Catholic faith, known to Catholics around the world as the " Miraculous Medal ." Since Mary commissioned Catherine to make the medal, devotion to the Miraculous Medal has spread throughout the world, with the image attaining iconic stature.
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, let us turn our hearts to the Blessed Mother. She always wants to bring us closer to her divine Son, the Savior Jesus Christ. Through her prayers and example, Mary, full of grace and conceived without sin, guides us on the path to holiness. But what does the medal mean and, above all, what value does it have for Catholic Christians? We invite you to read a few passages from this article to learn more about the Meaning of the Miraculous Medal .
Today, these religious medals are worn by millions of Christians around the world to show their faith and connection to the Blessed Mother. The Blessed Mother also said: All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around their necks. Graces will abound for those who wear it with confidence. Every Christian who would like to wear a Miraculous Medal will receive the graces of the Blessed Virgin Mary .
Miraculous Medal Meaning
A. Why do many Christians wear a Miraculous Medal?
The more you know about the meaning of the Miraculous Medal , the more you will understand the importance of this jewelry. Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of the Miraculous Medal to better understand the relevance of this jewelry option. The main meaning of this religious jewelry is the belief that wearing it will bring special graces from the Virgin Mary . The medal is often worn to help strengthen a person’s faith in the Catholic tradition. But it can be worn by anyone with a Christian affiliation and respect for the Blessed Mother. The medal is also worn by those who are looking to get closer to their faith or who are going through difficult times in their personal lives.
Religious medals are extremely popular Christian jewelry, especially among those of the Catholic faith. Each medal relates to one of the saints establishing a certain message. The Miraculous Medal is most certainly the most commonly worn religious medal .
Its origins date back to the visions of Saint Catherine Labouré who is said to have received instructions for its manufacture from the Virgin Mary herself. Mary is then said to Catherine: " Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck ." The medal is supposed to bring special graces through the intercession of Mary for those who wear it with devotion. It is commonly accepted that praying with the Miraculous Medal allows one to obtain the intervention of the Virgin for one's cause.
The Miraculous Medal represents a testimony of faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance and faith.
B. Side of Mary engraved on the Miraculous Medal
The front of the Miraculous Medal is depicted as Mary standing on a globe. Around the oval-shaped medal is the signature " O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee ." Mary stands on a globe, crushing a serpent under her feet .
The words of the vision are inscribed in an oval-shaped frame around Mary engraved on the medal . Her open arms, the recourse we have in her: Immaculate "conceived without sin", Assumed into heaven with the rays of her hands symbolizing the "graces". 🤲
C. Side of the 12 stars engraved on the Miraculous Medal
On the reverse, 12 stars surround a large " M ", from which a cross emerges. Below the "M", the medal features two flaming hearts . The "M" is an abbreviation of "Mary". The T-shaped cross represents Jesus' sacrifice for the deliverance of sins. The bar under the cross is a symbol representing the earth. The 12 stars can symbolize the 12 apostles who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. The left heart surrounded by thorns, represents Jesus. The other heart pierced by a sword and located on the right, symbolizes Mary. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us.
Some Catholics attribute another meaning to the 12 stars, according to the book of Revelation 12:1: And there appeared a great sign in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. By analyzing this supposition, we can see how the reverse design contains great symbolism reflecting the main tenets of the Catholic faith .
D. Miraculous Medal: definition of each element
On the front of the Miraculous Medal, Mary stands on a globe, representing the earth with a serpent crushed under her feet. This image represents Mary's role as " Queen of Heaven and Earth ." The serpent is likely Satan disguised and defeated by the authority of the Virgin Mary. The rays coming from her hands symbolize the graces that Mary gives to those who ask her . The year 1830 commemorates the apparition of the Blessed Mother to Saint Catherine Labouré .
E. The Miracles of the Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal is a popular devotional object and is associated with miracles . Given the presence of this medal around the world, it is not surprising that millions of devotees have shared the incredible blessings they have received. Originally, the name of the medal was the “Medal of the Immaculate Conception.” But stories of miracles related to the medal were reported almost immediately and the medal came to be called the “Miraculous Medal.” Here are some amazing miracles of the Miraculous Medal :
- In Paris, an 8-year-old girl was the only one in her class not wearing a medal and the only one who had caught cholera. She received a medal and returned to school the next day.
- A pregnant woman contracted cholera and was thought to be near death. After receiving the medal, she had an uneventful delivery and both mother and baby were considered healthy.
- A child who could not walk was healed by wearing the medal on the first day of a novena.
There are many other miracles that the medal has performed in the lives of people who wear it regularly. With these few examples, you have been able to have a small glimpse of the great divine power of the miraculous medal .
F. Miraculous Medal among Catholics
This oval pendant is a famous jewel in the Catholic Church because of the phenomenal and almost fervent influence it exerts on Christian people. If the person who wears this medal is sure that he will receive the protection and graces of the Virgin Mary, he can expect his prayers and faith to be heard. 😇 In the Catholic Church, religious medals have an exceptional tradition and benefits. The Miraculous Medal, is loved by many people around the world and is without a doubt, the medal most used by Catholic Christians .
A religious medal such as the Miraculous Medal can commemorate religious sites . For example: shrines, spiritual events in a person's life such as First Communion or an important historical event such as an apparition of the Holy Mother. We usually wear religious pendants around our necks or attach them to a rosary or keychain so that we can keep them wherever we go.
History of the Miraculous Medal: Sister Catherine
The history of the Miraculous Medal was born from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Catherine Laboure, a novice at the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris at 140 rue du Bac. Saint Catherine (1806-1876, canonized in 1947) was the daughter of a farmer. At the age of eight, Saint Catherine lost her mother. From a very young age, Saint Catherine showed a special love for the Blessed Mother.
A. The childhood of Saint Catherine Laboure
Saint Catherine Laboure was born on May 2, 1806. In her youth, she was affectionately called Zoe, after the patron saint whose feast day was celebrated on the day of her birth. Catherine's parents were both farmers in France, in Burgundy in the village of Fain-lès-moutiers. Catherine was one of 17 children and was the second daughter. Her mother died when Catherine was barely nine years old. From that point on, Catherine adopted Mary as her mother. Her first communion took place at the age of 12.
From then on, she was determined to pursue a vocation to religious life, like her older sister, Marie Louise, who joined the Sisters of Charity. At age 22, Catherine asked her father for permission to begin a vocation, but he refused. It was not until January 22, 1830, at the age of 24, that she finally entered religious life at the Hospice de la Charité in Châtillon-sur-Seine . After a postulancy of only three months, she was sent to the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity in Paris.
B. First meeting with the Virgin Mayor
By what intervention did the Holy Mother transmit the design of this medal? The extraordinary story begins on the night of July 18, 1830, when a mysterious child (perhaps her guardian angel) awakens Sister Catherine Laboure. Catherine had only been at the mother house for six months when the Holy Mother appeared to her. On July 18, 1830, at 11:30 p.m. , Catherine is awakened by the voice of the child speaking to her. She saw a little boy with blue eyes and golden hair whom she recognized as her guardian angel. He led her to the chapel where Our Lady appeared.
At her angel's urging, Catherine ran to Mary and knelt beside her . 🙇♀️ She rested her head on Mary's lap and looked into her eyes as she listened to her speak. Mary told Catherine that God had a special task for her, and also warned her that a great period of upheaval was soon to come to France.
C. The last apparitions of Mary
Catherine went to confide in the confessor, Father Jean Marie Aladel, what had happened. He told her that the apparition was only a dream that she should try to forget. In the late afternoon of November 27, 1830, while she was in prayer with the other Sisters of Charity, the Virgin Mary appeared to Catherine again . In this second apparition, she appeared for the first time in a pure white dress with a white veil. In her hands, she held a golden ball surmounted by a cross. Her appearance quickly changed when she revealed to Catherine the image of the medal she wanted to make.
At the end of her visit, Our Lady asked Catherine to keep the apparitions a secret from everyone except the community confessor, Father Aladel. Mary then asked Catherine to have lots of medals made with her image on them . This was so that those who wore it around their necks would receive great graces. Catherine did as she was told and took the images to her confessor. However, when Catherine went to see him a second time, he again told her that she had too much imagination. In December 1830, Our Lady appeared to Catherine for the last time . This visit was similar to the one in November, but this time Mary said: You will not see me anymore, but you will hear my voice during your prayers. 🙏
D. The Appearance of Mary according to Catherine
St. Catherine described what she saw as follows : The Virgin was standing. She was of medium height and was dressed in white. Her dress was the whiteness of dawn, made in the style called the Virgin, that is, with a high collar and plain sleeves. A white veil covered her head and fell on each side of her feet. Under the veil, her hair was rolled up and tied with a net decorated with lace about three centimeters high, without folds, and resting lightly on the hair.
Her face was sufficiently exposed, even very well exposed, and so beautiful that it seemed impossible for her to express its ravishing beauty. Her feet rested on a white globe, that is, half a world, or at least she saw only half of it. There was also a green snake with yellow spots. The hands were raised to the height of the belly and held a golden ball surmounted by a small golden cross, which represented the world. Her face was of such beauty that Catherine could not describe it with certainty. The rays bursting from all sides flooded the base so that she could no longer see the feet of the Holy Virgin.
The Blessed Mother then explained to Saint Catherine the symbolism of her apparition : This ball that you see represents the whole world, especially France and each person who lives there. The dazzling rays are the symbols of the graces that I pour out on those who ask for them. The precious stones from which the rays do not fall are the graces that souls forget to ask for.
E. The first creations of the Miraculous Medal
Sister Catherine's mission was given to her by Mary who said to her, "My child, I am going to give you a mission." In the second apparition, Mary gave her this mission in a vision during an evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what appeared to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. During her evening meditation on November 27, 1830, Catherine had a vision of Mary standing in a position similar to that depicted on the medal.
Later, the vision changes to include the inscription on the front of the medal. Mary addresses Catherine and says: Have a medal made in my image . Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their necks. This is what Mary says. In the spring, she tries again to convince Father Aladel to create the medal of Our Lady, but he continues to refuse. In the fall, she makes the request for the third time, warning that the Virgin is angry because of the delays. When Father Aladel finally communicates the Virgin's request to the Archbishop of Paris, he is told that the medal must be made immediately. Unfortunately, a deadly cholera epidemic delayed the creation of the medal until May 1832. The first order was for 20,000 medals and distribution began on June 30, 1832 .
The effects of the medal were immediate. The first miraculous medals were made in 1832 and distributed throughout Paris . Our Blessed Mother also told Catherine: Now it must be given to the whole world and to every person. According to the Miraculous Medal Association, the blessings promised by Mary began to manifest themselves on the wearers of the medal.
F. The Great Secret of Sister Catherine
In May 1835, Catherine took her vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability as a Sister of Charity. For over forty years, she continued to work at the hospice, caring for the elderly men who were sick there. Despite the millions of medals that had been distributed throughout the world, no one except Father Aladel knew the name of the nun who had received the apparition of the Miraculous Medal .
When Father Aladel died in 1865, Catherine had no one to confide in. By May 1876, Catherine was aware that the end of her life was near. She had tried for many years to have a statue of the Virgin holding the golden globe built. Since Catherine could not ask Father Aladel for help, she asked Marie for advice on how to proceed. Forty-six years after the initial apparition, Marie gave Catherine permission to tell her story . ✍️
The statue was commissioned in June and Catherine died satisfied that her work was completed, on December 31, 1876. At her beatification, on May 28, 1933, her body was exhumed and found incorrupt. Catherine's body now rests in the chapel of Notre-Dame. 🙏
Learn more about the Miraculous Medal jewel
A jewel in the image of the Virgin Mary is much more than just an accessory. Known throughout the world as the " Miraculous Medal ", this jewel is as beautiful as it is very significant in the Christian religion.
What is the origin of the Miraculous Medal? What motivates Christians to wear this type of sacred jewelry? And above all, what is the true meaning of the Miraculous Medal?
All these questions that spark your curiosity deserve to be answered. And that is precisely the purpose of this content. In this article, you will discover:
- The History of the Miraculous Medal
- There creation of the first Miraculous Medals
- There meaning of the Miraculous Medal
Without further ado, let’s start reading this article.
The History of the Miraculous Medal
The history of the Miraculous Medal dates back to the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Catherine Laboure November 27, 1830, on Rue du Bac. As a reminder, Saint Catherine Laboure was a nun from a family of farmers. She was a novice at the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris 140 rue du Bac . Orphaned at the age of 8, Saint Catherine felt a special attachment to the Holy Mother from a very young age. She even adopted Mary as her mother and she received communion at the age of 12.
First apparition of the Holy Mother
The wonderful story connecting Saint Catherine Laboure to the Virgin Mary dates back to the night of July 18, 1830. That night, a mysterious child woke Sister Catherine Laboure in a house she had only occupied for six months when The Holy Mother paid her a sudden visit . At 11:30 p.m., Catherine was awakened by the voice of a child who was telling her something, but she did not understand at the time. She opened her eyes and then saw a little boy with blue eyes and golden hair whom she recognized as her guardian angel. The latter then led her to the chapel where the The Holy Mother appeared to him to entrust him with a special mission . The Virgin Mary also warned him of the great upheaval that would soon occur in France.
Second apparition of the Virgin Mary
On November 27, 1830, in the late afternoon, The Virgin Mary appeared once again to Sister Catherine . Except that unlike their first meeting, the Holy Mother appeared to her in a pure white dress with an equally white veil. In her hands, she held a gold buckle topped with a cross . As soon as she revealed to Catherine the effigy of the Miraculous Medal that she wanted to achieve, her appearance changed very quickly. At the end of her visit, Mary made a request to Catherine, that she keep her appearance secret, except for the confessor of the community who is none other than the Father Aladel . She later entrusted Catherine with the mission of having lots of medals bearing his image , a jewel that believers can wear around their neck to receive great graces.
Last apparition of the Virgin
While the confessor did not believe in Catherine's vocation, Our Lady appeared in December 1830 for the third and final time . Just like the November apparition, the Virgin Mary insisted on the same mission and ended by saying: you will no longer see me, but you will hear my voice during your prayers . 🙏
The creation of the first Miraculous Medals
Over time, Sister Catherine's visions regarding the engraving of the Miraculous Medal evolved. While the confessor Father Aladel did not believe in the apparitions of the Virgin to Catherine Laboure, the latter tried again to convince him in order to create the medal of Our Lady. It was again in vain since he refused to believe it until the fall when Catherine asked him for the third time, insisting that the Virgin was angry because of the delays. Father Aladel finally accepted and shared the request of the Virgin Mary with the Archbishop of Paris, who directly told him that the religious medal should be made as soon as possible. But unfortunately this was not the case since a deadly cholera epidemic was its appearance in the world, and thus delayed the creation of the Christian medal until May 1832. There The first order then reached 20,000 medals for distribution beginning on June 30, 1832.
The effects of wearing the Miraculous Medal were, so to speak, immediate. The first models were designed in 1832 and distributed throughout the Paris region. The Holy Mother later confided to Catherine that she should to give this jewel to the whole world and to every person . According to the Association of the Miraculous Medal, the virtues and graces promised by the Holy Mother were immediately manifested on the wearers of the sacred medal.
The Miraculous Medal: A Symbol of Faith
The Miraculous Medal is a symbol of faith in the power of the Holy Mother . Note that the more you are led to know about the true meaning of the Miraculous Medal , the more you will be aware of the true importance of this jewel. The main meaning of the Miraculous Medal is found in belief. Wearing this jewel is source of special blessings from the Virgin Mary . This type of medal is also highly valued for its ability to strengthen a given person's faith, particularly in the Catholic tradition. This does not prevent the Miraculous Medal can be worn by all people with a Christian affiliation. It marks an incredible respect for the Holy Mother.
Also highly sought after by any individual seeking a deeper connection with their faith, this type of jewelry serves as a support for people going through difficult times in their personal lives . This is why religious medals are popular jewelry. Each medal relates to one of the saints and carries a very important message. In any case, it is important to emphasize that The Miraculous Medal is undoubtedly the most worn religious jewel because of the blessing and peace he can offer to his followers .
The miraculous medal is symbolic in the Christian religion
As mentioned above, the origin of the Miraculous Medal dates back to the visions of Saint Catherine Labouré who had the privilege of honoring the visit of the Virgin Mary to receive instructions for its manufacture. From the beginning, the Miraculous Medal is supposed to bring special graces to those who wear it with devotion and conviction. It is recognized that praying with the Miraculous Medal on oneself allows one to obtain the intervention of the Virgin for one's cause .
The Miraculous Medal is also a a sign of testimony of faith as well as the power of trusting prayer . All the more so since the greatest miracles are given to those who have a sense of patience, the spirit of forgiveness, of repentance and of faith. As you will have understood, well beyond a simple accessory to enhance an outfit, the Miraculous Medal is a jewel with a symbolic meaning .
Miraculous Medal at Christian Crosses
Having the Miraculous Medal around your neck at all times is a constant reminder to pray , and as Mary promised: those who wear it will receive great graces . Heroic men and women have worn it and encouraged others to wear it. The medal is available in more metals and materials than ever before. It is available in silver-colored steel or yellow gold, sterling silver, pewter, and other metal alloys. You can even choose a copper medal that is hand-painted pink.
Why would it be so important to have the Miraculous Medal with you? Because this medallion has changed the lives of many people and strengthened their faith . Many Catholics seek this religious medal to feel protected and to offer the same feeling to their loved ones. Compared to other medals, the Miraculous Medal sells itself to be essential because of the influence behind the strong message and the rich history of the religious medal .
2 comments
La “Médaille Miraculeuse” est une médaille qui me tient énormément à coeur. Je vous remercie encore pour vos blogs !
To write a comment
Denis
Mar 5, 2024Merci beaucoup.