| The Miraculous Holy Medal is worn almost as much by | | | | covered with jewels, some large and some small. |
| Catholics as the crucifix, but what you may not know | | | | Beautiful rays of light shined from the jewels. When |
| is the Blessed Virgin Mary herself designed the medal | | | | the Blessed Mother spoke she said that the globe |
| and requested its worldwide distribution. As a collector | | | | represents the entire world and the people of the |
| of antique religious medals, crosses and crucifixes, as | | | | world. As Catherine gazed at the beauty of the rays |
| well as a jewelry designer, I became fascinated by its | | | | of light exuding from Mary she said, "This is a symbol |
| origin. As I began collecting medals from all over the | | | | of the graces which I shed on those who ask me." |
| world, I soon discovered that the Miraculous Medal | | | | When Catherine wondered why some of the jewels |
| design was singularly the most frequently found medal. | | | | on Mary were not radiating light like the others, the |
| The medal is often in different shapes, in gold or silver, | | | | voice said, "Those jewels, which are in shadow, |
| but the front and back design is always the same. | | | | represent the graces which people forget to ask for |
| The story began at night on July 18, 1830 in Paris. A | | | | the grace." The apparition changed and Mary was |
| young novice named Catherine Leboure was sleeping | | | | then in a white dress, a blue mantle, and a white veil. |
| in her convent called the Motherhouse of the Sisters | | | | She was standing on the globe and had one foot on |
| of Charity. Catherine was barely twenty-four years old | | | | the head of a serpent that lay at her feet. The year |
| and as she was sleeping was woken by a five year | | | | 1830 was marked at the base of the globe. The |
| old boy. The boy was beautifully dressed in sparkling | | | | Virgin's hands were pointing downward, and cascade |
| garments and told Catherine, "Come to the chapel, the | | | | of light rays were falling from her hands onto the |
| Blessed Virgin is waiting for you." Shocked, but quietly | | | | globe. An oval then formed around Mary, and on it |
| Catherine followed the boy. As she entered the chapel | | | | were written the words in gold, "O Mary conceived |
| it was glowing and Catherine knelt to pray. | | | | without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." |
| Catherine heard the movement of silk as the beautiful | | | | The voice told Catherine to have a medal struck after |
| Virgin Mary appeared and sat down in the chair next | | | | this model. Those who wear it will have abundant |
| to her. Her dress was ivory with a blue mantle and a | | | | graces. As the voice faded, the oval turned and |
| white veil covering her head and draping over her | | | | Catherine saw what was on the reverse side of the |
| shoulders. Her hands radiated beams of light that was | | | | medal. The letter M was surmounted by a bar and a |
| said to be the color of jewels. Catherine knelt in front | | | | cross. Beneath the M were the hearts of Jesus and |
| of her looking into her eyes. When the Virgin Mary | | | | Mary. One heart was crowned with thorns, and the |
| spoke she told Catherine that God would like to | | | | other pierced with a sword. Encircling these symbols |
| entrust her with a mission. It will be the cause of much | | | | were twelve stars. |
| suffering to you, but you will have the grace to bear it. | | | | Over the next year Catherine saw this vision six times. |
| Do not fear. Know that your mission is for the glory of | | | | She had very little contact with the outside world but |
| God. She said you will see certain things. Give an | | | | she felt called to fulfill this mission. She told her spiritual |
| account of them. You will be inspired in your prayers. | | | | director, Father John Marie Aladel about the Virgin's |
| Tell with confidence and simplicity all that you see. | | | | mandate. Her spiritual director did not believe her, just |
| The Virgin ended the conversation that night by saying, | | | | as Mary had predicted. As Catherine persisted with |
| "Come to the foot of the altar. There graces will be | | | | Father Aladel they continued to have many heated |
| poured on all those that ask for them with confidence | | | | disagreements about her mission. At a loss for what |
| and fervor." The Virgin Mary then disappeared. | | | | to do with Catherine, he requested that she write a |
| Catherine did not see Mary again until November 27, | | | | detailed report of what had happened in these visions. |
| 1830. This was Saturday before the first Sunday of | | | | Father Aladel visited the archbishop of Paris in 1832 |
| Advent. All the nuns were praying in the chapel, but | | | | and told Catherine's story. The archbishop had a |
| Catherine was the only one who saw the apparition. | | | | special devotion to the Virgin Mary and immediately |
| During the silent meditation, Catherine heard again the | | | | granted permission to create the medal. In June 1832, |
| rustling sound of silk. When she looked for the Blessed | | | | fifteen hundred copies of the medal then know as the |
| Virgin, she appeared standing on a globe. She could | | | | Medal of the Immaculate Conception was created. By |
| only see half of the globe. | | | | 1836 more than two million medals had been produced. |
| The Virgin Mary was wearing a white robe of silk. In | | | | Many stories of cures, healings, wonders and |
| her hands, she held a smaller globe. Her eyes were | | | | deathbed conversions were attributed to these |
| raised toward heaven and her face was beautiful and | | | | medals. As these happened the medal gradually |
| indescribable. Catherine also saw rings on her fingers, | | | | became known as the Miraculous Medal. |