The medal, originally designed by Saint Catherine Labouré, is called the "Medal of Our Lady of Grace".
"Our Lady of Grace" is another name for the devotion associated with the Miraculous Medal. The medal, designed by Saint Catherine Labouré after her apparitions in 1830, was originally called the "Medal of Our Lady of Grace" before gaining the more common name "Miraculous Medal" due to the many graces and miracles attributed to it.
Origin: The medal originated in 1830 when the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré and instructed her to create a medal based on the vision.
"Miraculous" name: It became widely known as the "Miraculous Medal" because of the numerous graces, blessings, and miraculous events that occurred for those who wore it with faith, such as during a cholera epidemic in Paris in 1832.
"Behold the symbol of the graces I shed upon those who ask me for them"
In the 1892 book, *The Sacramentals of the Holy Catholic Church.*,
One of the reasons the medal received its name is revealed: in the visions of Saint Catherine Labore. She saw the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1830 and wrote down what happened. An excerpt follows.
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...While occupied in contemplating this vision, the Blessed Virgin cast her eyes upon me and a voice said in the depths of my heart, "The globe that you see represents the entire world and particularly France and each person in particular." And the Blessed Virgin added, "Behold the symbol of the graces I shed upon those who ask me for them," thus making me understand how generous she is to all who implore her intercession.
Mediatrix of all graces
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira: On November 27 of that same year, Our Lady appeared to her a second time in the chapel. She held a globe in her hands upon which the word France was written. Our Lady told St. Catherine that it represented the entire world, but that she wanted to help France in particular.
Then, the vision changed and she saw Our Lady standing on a globe crushing the serpent under her feet, with rays of light streaming from her hands. These words in French surrounded the vision: “O Mary conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Then Catherine saw another picture with a capital M with a cross above it, and below it, two hearts, one thorn-crowned and the other pierced with a sword. The Virgin spoke, this time giving a direct order: "Have a medal struck as I have shown you. All who wear it will receive great graces."
In 1832 the first medals were issued and many miracles were worked because of them. In a few years the fame of the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady spread all over France and Europe.
In 1842 the Jew Alphonse Ratisbonne was visiting Rome. He was wearing the medal when he received a vision of Our Lady in the Church of St. Andrea delle Frate in Rome. This was the cause of his conversion, and later he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Sion for the conversion of the Jews. This incident contributed significantly to the dissemination of the Miraculous Medal.
A shield given to men to fight the Revolution
On one side of the Medal we have Our Lady standing atop the world, which is an affirmation of her Queenship over the entire Earth.On this side of the medal are written these words: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." A clear reference to her Immaculate Conception.
Saint Catherine Laboure was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII. Her Feast is November 27 as is the Feast of the Miraculous Medal, although in some places it is celebrated on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception because of its relation to it.
She died on December 31, 1876. Soon after her funeral miracles were worked through her intercession.
NOVENA PRAYER
O Immaculate Virgin Mary Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother penetrated with the most lively confidence in thy all powerful and never failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we thy loving and trustful children implore thee to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this Novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray. [Here mention your intentions] Thou knowest, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of thy Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory. Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where thou art the Queen of angels and of men. Amen.
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