The Feast of the Miraculous Medal

one

November 27 is the Feast of the Miraculous Medal.

On this day in 1830, Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in a small chapel in Paris. Our Lady was clothed all in white. She was standing on the earth. Under one of her feet was the head of a green serpent, representing Satan whom she was crushing with her heel.

In her hands, she held a golden ball surmounted by a cross, which represented the world and she seemed to be offering it to God (a sign of her universal intercession). Her eyes were at times raised to heaven and then lowered to the golden ball representing the earth. Catherine relates, “All at once I saw rings on her fingers, three rings to each finger. Each ring set with gems which emitted rays. Mary said, ‘This ball that you see represents the whole world, especially France, and each person in particular.’ Referring to the rays coming from the gems Our Lady said, ‘They are the symbols of the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which souls forget to ask.’”

“The golden ball disappeared in the brilliance of the sheaves of light bursting from all sides; Mary’s hands turned out and the arms were bent down under the weight of the treasure of grace obtained. Then the voice said: ‘Have a medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for those who wear it with confidence.”

Catherine related the vision to her bishop. He gave orders for the medal to be cast and they began to distribute it among the people under the title of the Medal of the Immaculate Conception.  However, so many miracles occurred for those who wore the medal around their neck with faith and prayer that it took on new name – the Miraculous Medal.

two

The Coming Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

It was revealed to St. Catherine Laboure there would come a time in the future when Mary would be accepted around the world as the Queen of the Universe and through her Jesus would become the King of all Hearts.

She said: “Oh, how wonderful it will be to hear Mary proclaimed by all people as Queen of the Universe... It will be a time of peace, joy, and good fortune that will last long; She will be carried like a banner, and She will make a tour of the world."

This is similar to what Mary promised on July 13, 1917 at Fatima, when she said, “In the end, my Immaculate heart will triumph…and an era of peace will be granted to mankind.”

According to the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 Mary has the God given role to crush the head of the serpent, to overcome the pride of Satan. But before this time of the Triumph, there will a time of great trial.

Now we are witnessing the time of the great revolt of Satan against Our Lord and Our Lady. However, Mary has her foot on Satan’s head. His time is short, but he seeks to sweep as many souls into hell by his tail before his time is over.  

That is why God and Our Lady call us to wake up to the spiritual battle and help them save as many souls as possible by means of the Rosary, by offering sacrifice, by friendship and by the Miraculous Medal.

three

The Miraculous Medal has brought the grace of many conversions

Alphonse Ratisbonne grew up in a family of Jewish bankers in France in the early 1800s. In 1842 he became engaged to a young woman but before they were married he took a pleasure trip to Rome where he stayed with a Catholic family who were business partners with his father. While staying in their home, the Catholic husband and wife began to speak with him about faith in Jesus. Alphonse, being very worldly minded, wanted nothing to do with God. Finally, the couple promised they would not bring up the subject again if he would agree to wear a Miraculous Medal around his neck and say the words on the medal “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee,” every day for one week. To shut them up, he consented.

Shortly after, on a cold winter day in January, the 20th to be exact,  the Catholic businessman and Alphonse were passing by the Church of St Andrew of the Woods in a carriage when he informed Alphonse he needed to stop in the Church to attend a funeral wake. Since it cold, Alphonse decided to wait in the back of the Church in a side chapel. And there Mary appeared to Alphonse, showing him the dire state of his soul, that he was headed to hell for his unbelief, pride and selfishness. He was cut to the heart, recognized the truth and experienced a profound conversion. He immediately asked to become Catholic. Ultimately he became a Jesuit priest and then founded a Religious Order, Notre Dame de Sion, (Our Lady of Zion) which operates many schools around the world.

four

St Maximilian Kolbe was ordained in the same chapel in which Mary appeared to Alphonse Ratisbonne.

Kolbe made the wearing of the Miraculous Medal an essential part of his Militia Immaculata, which he gave to everyone he met,  calling it the silver bullet to bring down the enemy of souls - Satan.

St. Maximilian writes: Because conversion and sanctification are divine graces, the Miraculous Medal will be the best means for reaching our purpose. For that reason, it constitutes a first-rate weapon of the Knights of the Immaculata; it is the bullet with which a faithful soldier cuts down the enemy, that is, evil, and thus rescues souls. Let us contribute all our strength in bringing about what was already foreseen by St. Catherine Laboure…that the Immaculata be queen of the whole world and of each soul in particular as soon as possible.

five

I wear a big blue miraculous medal and I always carry a few extra. Finally reaching the head of a long line at a coffee shop in Laguardia airport, with many people still behind me, the young barista noticed my medal and asked “What is that?” I brushed aside her question because I just wanted my coffee, but she insisted. So right there in front of everyone I did. Then she begged, “Where can I get one for myself?” Well, I had one in my backpack and then I turned to my friend in line with me and asked for the chain off her neck and gave it with the medal to the barista, and she put it on, with tears in her eyes.

So what is our takeaway, our resolution? The purpose of  sacramentals like crucifixes and medals is to help us live in reality. Jesus and Mary and the saints are not distant. They are with us to help us. So stop living in your own head and start talking to them throughout the day, asking for their counsel protection and help. I offer this decade for that young barista. Wherever she is.