The Miraculous Medal, the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the Miraculous Medal, is unique among all medals. The Blessed Virgin gave it to Catherine Laboure on November 27th, 1830. The apparition appeared in the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, in Paris France. Catherine saw Our Lady standing on a globe with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the figure was the inscription O Mary conceived without sin , pray for us who have recourse to thee
Mary then spoke to Catherine, “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck.”The vision then rotated showing the reverse side of the medal: the letter M surmounted by a cross with a bar at its base. Below this monogram, the Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Today, millions of Catholics show their love of Christ by honoring his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, by wearing this Medal.
Our Lady Miraculous Medal 2p SMC 8.5 x 11 R1R 20221011O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. O Mary, this was the prayer that you gave to Saint Catherine Laboure in the Chapel of the Apparitions, more than one hundred and fifty years ago;
This invocation, engraved on the Miraculous Medal, is not worn and repeated by the faithful throughout the world.
Blessed are you among women! You are intimately associated with the work of our redemption, associated with the cross of our Savior, your heart has been pierced, next to his heart. And now, in the glory of your Son, you never cease to intercede for us, poor sinners.
You watch over the Church for you are its mother. You watch over each of your Children. From God, you obtain for us, all the graces that are symbolized by the rays of light which radiate from your open hands, and the only condition that you demand of us is that we approach with the confidence, the hardiness, and the simplicity of a child. And it is thus that you bring before us your Divine Son.
The Miraculous Medal Perpetual Novena
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you 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 privately form your petitions.)
You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your 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 you are the Queen of angels and of men.
Amen.
An Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever.
Amen.
(Repeat 3 times)
Priest: O Mary, conceived without sin.
People: Pray for us who have recourse to you.
Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
First Day
During the night of July 18-19, 1830, the Most Holy Virgin appeared for the first time to Saint Catherine Labouré, who had been awakened and led from the dormitory to the chapel by her guardian angel.
In the sanctuary, Saint Catherine later wrote:
“I heard something like the rustling of a silk dress, coming from the side of the tribune, close to Saint Joseph’s picture. She alighted on the steps of the altar on the Gospel side, in an arm chair like Saint Anne’s… As I looked up at Our Lady I flung myself close to her, falling on my knees on the altar steps, my hands resting in her knees. That was the sweetest moment of my life.”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my mother, look on my soul with mercy, obtain for me a spirit of prayer that leads me always to have recourse to thee. Obtain for me the graces that I implore of thee and, above all, inspire me to pray for the graces that thou most want to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Second Day
“The times are very evil, misfortunes are going to befall France, the throne will be overthrown, the whole world will be overwhelmed with misfortunes of every kind.” The Holy Virgin looked very distressed as she said this.
“But come to the foot of this altar. Here graces will be bestowed on anyone, great or small, who asks for them with confidence and fervour… A moment will come of such great danger that all will seem lost. But I shall be with you.”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my mother, amidst the great desolation in the world and the Church, obtain for me the graces I ask of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most want to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Third Day
“The Cross will be despised and hurled to the ground, blood will run in the streets, the Side of Our Lord will be opened again. The archbishop will be stripped of his garments.” Here the Holy Virgin, her face filled with sadness, could no longer speak. “My child, the whole world will be plunged in sorrow,” she said to me.
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my mother, obtain for me the grace to live in union with thee, with thy Divine Son and the Church at this crucial moment in history, as tragic as the Passion, when all humanity is about to choose sides for or against Christ! Obtain for me the graces I implore, especially the grace of requesting that which thou most want to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Fourth Day
At 5:30 on the evening of November 27, 1830, as Saint Catherine was praying in the chapel, the Holy Virgin appeared to her for the second time, standing as high as Saint Joseph’s picture to the right of the main altar.
“Her face was so beautiful that it would be impossible for me to describe it. Her robe was white as the glow of dawn… Her head was covered with a white veil that extended to her feet which rested on a half sphere, with her heel crushing the head of a serpent.”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, be my protection against the assaults of the infernal enemy. Obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and, above all, inspire me to request the graces that thou most want to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Fifth Day
The Holy Virgin holds a globe in her hands representing the whole world, and each person in particular, and offers it to God, imploring His mercy.
She wears rings on her fingers, bearing precious stones that shed rays, one more beautiful than the next, symbolizing the graces that the Holy Virgin pours out on those who ask for them.
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Sixth Day
During the second apparition, Our Blessed Mother explained to Saint Catherine “how pleased she is when people pray to her and how generous she is with them; how she gives special graces to those who ask; and what a great joy she takes in granting them.”
At that point “a frame formed around Our Lady, like an oval, bearing the following words in gold letters: ‘O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.’”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Seventh Day
Then a voice was heard, saying, “Have a medal struck after this model. Those who wear it, blessed, around their neck will receive great graces. The graces will be abundant for those who wear it with confidence.”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces that I ask of thee and inspire me, above all, to pray for the graces that thou most wants to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Eighth Day
After contemplating the picture on the medal, Saint Catherine saw it turn to display the back.
There she saw an “M,” the monogram of Mary, surmounted by a small cross and, below it, the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded with thorns and the latter pierced with a sword.
Twelve stars surrounded the hearts and the monogram.
Let Us Pray
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, make my heart like unto thine. Obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and, above all, inspire me to ask of thee the graces thou most wants to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Ninth Day
Queen of the Universe Confirming the predictions of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Saint Catherine says that the Most Holy Virgin will be proclaimed Queen of the Universe:
“Oh! how beautiful it will be to hear: Mary is the Queen of the Universe. The children and everyone will cry with joy and rapture. That will be a lasting era of peace and happiness. She will be displayed on standards and paraded all over the world.”
Let Us Pray
O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to pray for the graces that thou most wants to grant me.
Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.
O Mary, this was the prayer that you gave to Saint Catherine Laboure in the Chapel of the Apparitions, more than one hundred and fifty years ago;
This invocation, engraved on the Miraculous Medal, is not worn and repeated by the faithful throughout the world. Blessed are you among women!
You are intimately associated with the work of our redemption, associated with the cross of our Savior, your heart has been pierced, next to his heart.
And now, in the glory of your Son, you never cease to intercede for us, poor sinners.
You watch over the Church for you are its mother. You watch over each of your Children.
From God, you obtain for us, all the graces that are symbolized by the rays of light which radiate from your open hands, and the only condition that you demand of us is that we approach with the confidence, the hardiness, and the simplicity of a child. And it is thus that you bring before us your Divine Son.
Blessed Pope John Paul II (1980)
on the occasion of the Pope’s visit to the rue du Bac
