| In the shape of a coin, religious medals are very | | | | convert as many as possible to Christianity, the early |
| common part of the Catholic persona and many | | | | church did reach out and allow these customs to be |
| Catholics own or often wear these items on chains | | | | introduced. As they continued to evolve they became |
| around their neck. The history of practice of wearing | | | | items that were used to remind folks of promised they |
| religious medals dates back to the early days of the | | | | made to others or to Christ himself. In the 1500s the |
| church. | | | | custom of blessing these medals was approved by |
| Also known as patron saint medals, the images of | | | | Pope Pius V. From that point forward, the agreement |
| Saints cut into these coins and often the words pray | | | | to bless these items was seen as an approval by the |
| for us are cut into the medals forming usual the outer | | | | catholic church to allow these items and moved them |
| edge or the back. It is a common that the wearer of | | | | from their pagan roots. |
| the patron saint medals often pick one that is in | | | | Usually on these coin type items the person of an |
| somehow are related to something they do or to | | | | famous person, event or shrine are struck to remind |
| someone that inspires them. | | | | the wearer of these past event, miracles or |
| It is possible that the wearing of medals dates back | | | | dedications. They also may request personal graces |
| into the Greek and Roman times and got carried over | | | | like the reminder of First communion or for the priests, |
| into the early church as a way to honor the early | | | | ordination. Medals showing events became very |
| martyrs of the church. Exhumed bodies, as early as | | | | common as they recalled the miracles of Jesus and |
| the 1st and 2nd centuries had the bodies wearing | | | | the apparitions of Mary |
| images of St. Paul and St. Peter embossed on a coin | | | | Some of the most popular medals are the Miraculous |
| shaped piece of metal. These early medals have | | | | medal which was struck at the request of the blessed |
| provided stories and lore of what happened to some | | | | mother to Saint Catherine Laboure in 1830. Many now |
| of the martyrs in eh early days. For example St. | | | | wear this medal believing it will bring them grace if they |
| Lawrence was believed to have been killed over an | | | | do so with piety, meaning with religious or spiritual |
| open fire. There are medals from the early first | | | | devotion. St. Catherine is in an open glass coffin where |
| century depicting him being roasted over an open fire | | | | here uncorrupted body is visible to all that go to see |
| forming picture that tells a story. | | | | her. |
| In the early church there was many crossing overs | | | | In the 20th century its common that religious gift shops |
| from pagan tradition. Things like Christmas trees and | | | | carry saint medals. But if you are looking for a wider |
| advent wreaths and even saint medals, devotional | | | | variety of Saints or an Hard to find patron saint medal, |
| medals, are believed to be having some roots into | | | | many internet websites carry full lines of Saints and |
| paganism mimicking the practice to wear items | | | | medals. |
| designed to ward off evil or disease. To reach and | | | | |