The Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal / A Brief Account of Its History and of the Establishment of the Association
Date: 2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

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Title: The Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal

Author: Association of the Miraculous Medal

Release date: February 24, 2012 [eBook #38966]
Most recently updated: January 8, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Michael Gray (Diocese of San Jose)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MANIFESTATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL ***

The Manifestation of
the Miraculous Medal

A Brief Account of Its History and of the Establishment of the Association

O Mary Conceived Without Sin
Pray for Us Who Have Recourse to Thee

Published by
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, Mo.

IMPRIMI POTEST

(Die 18, Junii 1918)

THOMAS FINNEY, C. M.
Visitator Prov. Occidentalis.

NIHIL OBSTAT

S. Ludovici, die 20 Junii 1918.

F. G. HOLWECK,
Censor Theol.

IMPRIMATUR

S. Ludovici, die 21 Junii 1918.

JOANNES JOSEPHUS,
Archiepiscopus S. Ludovici.

His Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop of St. Louis, in a letter to the Director, has heartily approved of the establishment of the Association of the Miraculous Medal at St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, Mo.

MISSOURIAN PRINTING & STY CO., CAPE GIRARDEAU

THE ASSOCIATION
OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
IN HONOR OF
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The object of this Association is to spread and to increase devotion to Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception; and one of the most efficacious means for the accomplishment of this aim is the Medal known as Miraculous.

A brief account of the supernatural origin of this medal and of the statutes of the Association will prove of interest and help to all devout clients of our Blessed Mother.

SISTER CATHERINE

The weak and lowly does God choose to confound the strong and worldly-wise, and so in His inscrutable designs, when He would reveal to the Church the marvelous blessings of the Miraculous Medal, He chose for this great mission an humble Daughter of Charity. She was Zoe Laboure, called in community life Sister Catherine. This saintly child of God was born on May 2, 1806, at Fain-les-Moutiers, a village of the Cote-d'Or, in France.

Zoe had not reached her eighth year when death took her pious mother, and henceforth this peasant child felt that Mary, the Consoler of the Afflicted, would be her only Mother.

From the time of her First Communion at the age of twelve years, she felt an abiding desire to give herself unreservedly to her Divine Master. The choice of her vocation was decided in a remarkable manner. When she was eighteen a venerable priest appeared to her in a dream, and told her that one day she would be happy to come to him and that God had great designs on her. Sometime after she saw a picture of this holy priest, and, on inquiring, she learned he was none other than St. Vincent de Paul. After many trials and sufferings she finally succeeded in overcoming all obstacles to her vocation, and in the beginning of the year 1830 she entered as postulant the house of the Sisters of Charity at Chatillon. Her soul was happy in the thought that He who watches over our ways had brought her through storm and trouble to the calm and peace of the religious life.

On April 21, 1830, she entered the Seminary of the Daughters of Charity. During her novitiate she received many supernatural favors—the most remarkable of which was the Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal.

In the month of January, 1831, Sister Catherine received the holy habit of a Daughter of Charity; and she was then sent to the hospital of Enghien in the faubourg Saint Antoine of Paris. For forty-six years she labored there in the most humble duties, ever faithful to the rules and leading a life hidden with Christ in God. She always manifested a great love for the poor and a wonderful devotion to our Blessed Mother. On December 31, 1876, the final summons came, and she passed from the shadows of earth to the eternal realities and joys of her Heavenly Home.

Sister Catherine was declared Venerable by Pius X on December 11, 1907.

[Note to the electronic edition: Sister Catherine was declared a Saint by Pius XII on July 27, 1947.]

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The First Apparition

Sister Catherine in the simplicity of her heart had an ardent desire to see the Blessed Virgin, and she prayed earnestly that she might obtain this favor. The first apparition was vouchsafed her in the chapel of the Mother House of the Sisters in Paris on July 18, 1830. Our Blessed Mother appeared to her coming from the right side of the altar and seating herself on the left side of the sanctuary in the place usually occupied by the Director of the Sisters. Our Lady told Sister Catherine that she would be charged with a mission, that she would have many trials in fulfilling it, but that the thought of God's glory would enable her to overcome all difficulties. The Blessed Virgin foretold the evil events that would come on France, and that the whole world would be in sorrow. "But come," said our Holy Mother, "to the foot of this altar. There graces will be showered on you and on all those who shall ask for them, rich or poor."

First Apparition of Mary Immaculate to Sister Catherine Laboure

July 18, 1830. Eve of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Second Apparition.

The second apparition of our Immaculate Mother to Sister Catherine took place towards the end of November in the same year. We give the narration in her own words:

"The 27th of November, 1830, which was a Saturday and eve of the first Sunday in Advent, whilst making my meditation in profound silence, at half-past five in the evening, I seemed to hear on the right hand side of the sanctuary something like the rustling of a silk dress, and glancing in that direction, I perceived the Blessed Virgin standing near St. Joseph's picture; her height was medium, and her countenance so beautiful that it would be impossible for me to describe it. She was standing, clothed in a robe the color of auroral light, with high neck and plain sleeves. Her head was covered with a white veil, which descended on each side to her feet. Her hair was smooth on the forehead, and above was a coif ornamented with a little lace and fitting close to her head. Her face was only partially covered, and her feet rested upon a globe, or rather a hemisphere (at least, I saw but half a globe). 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."

Then Sister Catherine tells us of the rings of precious stones that covered the fingers of our Blessed Mother. From these stones darted forth the brightest rays—symbols of the graces which Mary Immaculate bestows on all who ask for them. "There now formed around the Blessed Virgin," continues Sister Catherine, "a frame slightly oval, upon which appeared in golden letters these words: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.'

"Then I heard a voice which said: 'Have a medal struck from this model; persons who wear it indulgenced will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck; graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.' Suddenly the picture seemed to turn . . . " The reverse of the picture bore the letter M surmounted by a cross, having a bar at its base and beneath the monogram of Mary were the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded with a crown of thorns, the other transpierced with a sword.

Second Apparition

November 27th, 1830.

The Third Apparition.

Father Aladel, C. M., her director, treated these relations of Sister Catherine with coldness and severity, and he even forbade her to believe in them. She made every effort to obey, but nothing could efface the consoling memory of these visitations. In December she again had an apparition of our Blessed Mother, the same as that of November 27, except that in this third manifestation the Blessed Virgin did not remain near the picture of St. Joseph, but passed before it and stood to the rear of the Tabernacle, a little above it. Again Sister Catherine was told to have a medal struck according to this model.

Third Apparition.

Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine.

THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

Sister Catherine was most anxious to carry out the command of her heavenly Visitant, but she met with many difficulties, because her prudent director feared to be precipitate, and he wished to take every precaution in so important a matter. Finally, with the approval of Mgr. de Quelen, Archbishop of Paris, the first medals were struck on June 30, 1832. When it came to details of the medal, difficulty arose as to how our Blessed Mother should be represented, as she had not always appeared in the same attitude. After serious deliberation it was decided to adopt the existing model of Mary Immaculate with her hands extended.

The medal soon spread throughout France, and then throughout the world by reason of the miraculous cures both of soul and body that were wrought through it. In Paris and Lyons nearly eighty million of these medals had been struck by 1879.

At the request of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity, Leo XIII granted to the two Communities a feast with special Mass and Office in honor of Mary Immaculate under the title of the Miraculous Medal. This feast is yearly celebrated on November 27.

CONVERSION OF ALPHONSE RATISBONNE

One of the most noteworthy conversions brought about by means of the medal was that of Alphonse Ratisbonne a staunch believer in Judaism and much opposed to the Catholic church. On his way to the East he visited Rome, where he became acquainted with Baron deBussiere, himself a convert to the faith. The latter used every argument to bring Ratisbonne to the true faith, but his efforts were in vain.

He succeeded however in getting Ratisbonne to wear a medal, which the latter accepted reluctantly enough. A few days later they happened to enter the church of S. Andrea delle Frate, and while deBussiere paid a short visit to the nearby monastery Ratisbonne was left alone to look about the church. Suddenly he was seized with an indescribable emotion, and raising his eyes to the chapel of St. Michael where the light seemed to be concentrated, there in the midst of the light the Blessed Virgin appeared full of majesty and sweetness—just as she is represented on the medal. At the same time an irresistible force drew him towards her. She made a sign with her hand that he should kneel, and seemed to say to him, "All is well." In that instant he understood all, and rose a changed man. He had entered the church a devotee of Judaism he left it an humble follower of Him who came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This apparition took place on January 20, 1842. Several years later Ratisbonne became a priest and devoted his life to the conversion of his former compatriots in Palestine.

THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The center of this Association is established at the Mother-House of the Daughters of Charity, Paris.

In the Acta Apostolicae Sedis the following statutes were approved July 8, 1909, by Pius X.

STATUTES

Article 1

The Association of the Holy Medal in Honor of the Immaculate Conception has been established as a living and perpetual memorial of the apparition of Mary Immaculate, which took place (at the Chapel of the Daughters of Charity, Rue du Bac, Paris) in the year 1830, the feast of which is celebrated on November 27. At this apparition the Blessed Virgin herself clearly indicated the design of the commemorative medal that was to be struck. The medal spread and wrought wonders, and thus received from the faithful the title "Miraculous."

Article 2

The end or aim of the Association is to render due honor to Mary Immaculate, first by sanctifying ourselves, and second by contributing to the sanctification of our neighbor by means of the Miraculous Medal. The medal is an efficacious symbol of this double sanctification, by virtue of the promises attached to it by Mary herself.

Article 3

The Association canonically erected in each diocese is governed, according to its own laws and usages, by diocesan directors, appointed by their respective bishops, but under the authority of one director general.

Article 4

By virtue of a rescript of His Holiness Pius X (June 3, 1905), the same privileges and indulgences granted to the Association of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception (blue scapular) have been extended to the Association of the Holy Medal of the Immaculate Conception (Miraculous Medal).

Article 5

All the faithful of both sexes may become members of this Association and sharers in its privileges. The only condition is that they wear the medal suspended from the neck on the breast, when the medal has been blessed and imposed by a priest delegated to do so according to the rite approved by Leo XIII (April 19, 1895).

Article 6

The principal feast of the Association is November 27,—Feast of the Apparition of the Immaculate Virgin of the Miraculous Medal.

Article 7

The associates incur no new obligation. They are recommended to repeat frequently the invocation inscribed on the medal: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

The Director General of the Association is the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity.

According to article 4 of the Statutes, the Indulgences and Privileges of the Association of the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception (blue scapular) have been extended to the Association of the Miraculous Medal by a Rescript of Our Holy Father, Pius X, June 3, 1905.

The following is a summary of these Indulgences and Privileges:

Plenary Indulgences

1. On the day of reception.

2. A member elevated to the priesthood on the day of his first Mass.

3. At the hour of death.

4. During exercises of retreat, once a year.

5. On the first Sunday of each month.

6. All the Saturdays of Lent.

7. On Passion Sunday and on following Friday.

8. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

9. On the feast of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost.

10. On feast of Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Purification, Annunciation and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

11. On the principal Theatine feasts; St. Cajetan, August 7; Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14; St. Andrew Avelino, November 10; St. Joseph, March 19; Blessed Joseph Mary Thomas, March 24; Finding of the Holy Cross, May 3: Blessed Paul Buralis (Theatine), June 17; St. John the Baptist, June 24; St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29; Last Sunday of July; Our Lady of Angels of Portiuncula, August 2; St. Augustine, August 28; St. Michael the Archangel, September 29; Guardian Angels, October 2; St. Teresa, October 15; All Saints, November 1; and Blessed John Maronius (Theatine) , December 13.

12. On several other days of the year: on first and last days of Christmas novena; once a year during the Forty Hours; on April 12, Canonization of St. Cajetan; once a year on a day appointed by the Director General.

13. The indulgences of the Roman Stations on days specified in Roman Missal on condition that one visit a church containing an altar of Our Blessed Mother and pray for the ordinary intentions. (If the Theatines have a church in the place, that church is to be visited.—Pius IX, December 3, 1847).

14. The indulgences of the seven Roman Basilicas twice a month (conditions same as last above).

15. Twice a month the indulgences granted those who visit the Holy Land and the Holy Sepulcher (conditions as in 13).

16. All the indulgences granted those who visit the seven Roman Basilicas, the Portiuncula Indulgence and the Jerusalem and Compostella indulgences, on condition that one recite six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys and six Glorias in honor of the adorable Trinity and of the Immaculate Mother of God, to obtain the exaltation of the Church, the extirpation of heresies and peace and union among Christian princes. By a decree of the Congregation of Indulgences (March 31, 1859), the indulgences of the seven Roman Basilicas, of the Portiuncula, of Jerusalem and of St. James of Compostella may be gained every time (toties quoties) that a member of the Association of the Miraculous Medal recites six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys and six Glorias, anywhere, without adding any other prayers and even without receiving the Sacraments (the state of grace, of course, supposed). All these indulgences are applicable to the souls in Purgatory. This decree of the Congregation was confirmed by Pius IX, April 14, 1856.

Partial Indulgences.

1. Sixty years for those who make half an hour's meditation.

2. Twenty years for visiting the sick, aiding them spiritually or corporally, or (if the visit be impossible) for reciting for the intention of the sick five Our Fathers, five Hail Marys and five Glorias.

3. Twenty years may be gained on the feasts of Our Lord, and on the feasts of the Saints of the Augustinian, Dominican, Carmelite, Trinitarian and Servite Orders.

4. Seven years and seven quarantines on the minor feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And when one goes to confession and Communion, when one accompanies the Viaticum, when one recites seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and seven Glorias for the sick who received holy Communion. The same indulgences is gained on all the feasts to which a plenary indulgence is attached by a visit to a church containing an altar dedicated to our blessed Mother. Confession and Communion are not prescribed for this indulgence. The same, for the recitation of the "Hail, Holy Queen," at vespers, when one prays for the needs of the Church. The same, daily from Septuagesima to Palm Sunday on condition that one receive Holy Communion and recite seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and seven Glorias for the needs of the Church. The same on the feasts of the Invention and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, if an alms be given. The same on three Fridays of each month by receiving Holy Communion. The same on the nine days of novena before Christmas. The same on every Monday, if one visit the Blessed Sacrament.

5. Five years and five quarantines daily, if a visit be made to any church and five Our Fathers, five Hail Marys and five Glorias be said. An indulgence of three hundred days daily during the Octave of Pentecost, two hundred days each time that one is present at a sermon, sixty days for each pious work, fifty days for piously invoking the holy names of Jesus and Mary, or when one recites an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Gloria in any church for the living and the dead.

6. Mass said at any altar for a deceased person who had been rightly enrolled in and wore the Miraculous Medal enjoys the spiritual advantage of a Mass said at a privileged altar.

(Vide Rescripta Authentica S. Cong. Ind., p. 574-579.)

THE ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF THE VINCENTIANS

As may be seen from the Statutes, the object of the Association is the personal sanctification of its members and the sanctification of the neighbor by means of the medal. In order to cooperate in this holy and noble work, the Vincentians, or the Priests of the Congregation of the Mission, with the approval of the Most Reverend Archbishop of St. Louis, have established this Association at their Central House in the Western Province.

The only condition necessary to become a member of the Association is "to wear the medal suspended from the neck, on the breast. The medal must be blessed and imposed by a priest delegated to do so according to the rite approved by Leo XIII." This faculty will be granted to any priest for the asking. Application should be made to the Reverend Visitor, or the Reverend Director of the Association, St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, Mo. In the Eastern Province of the United States, address Reverend Visitor, or Reverend Director of the Association, St. Vincent's Seminary, Germantown, Pa.

UNION OF MASSES

In connection with the Association we have established a Union of Masses. Three monthly Novenas of Masses are offered for all members belonging to the Union of Masses, one in our Seminary Church at Perryville, Mo., the second in St. Vincent's Church, Chicago, and the third in the Chapel of the Apparition at Paris. The names of deceased relatives and friends may be enrolled as members for the Union of Masses.

This booklet together with the miraculous medal, will be sent to each living member.

The offering for membership is twenty-five cents a year. This offering goes to defray the expenses of the Association, and whatever remains over and above the expenses is devoted to pious and charitable purposes.

The Novena of Masses offered at Perryville each month is as follows:

January: Espousal of Mary, 15th to 23rd.

February: Our Lady of Lourdes, 3rd to 11th;

March: Annunciation of Mary, 17th to 25th;

April: Mother of Good Counsel, 18th to 26th;

May: Help of Christians, 16th to 24th;

June: Mother of Divine Grace, 12th to 20th;

July: Visitation of Mary, 2nd to 10th;

August: Assumption of Mary, 7th to 15th;

September: Seven Dolors of Mary, 7th to 15th;

October: Rosary of Mary, 7th to 15th;

November: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 19th to 27th;

December: Immaculate Conception of Mary, 8th to 16th.

Persons may also enter their names as life members or perpetual members.

A life member shares during life, and a perpetual member not only during life but also after death in the monthly novena of Masses said in perpetuity in the chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Whole families may be enrolled in perpetuity in the Association.

They also share in the other special Novenas of the Association whenever these Novenas are offered for its members.

PROMOTERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Since the chief aim of the Association is devotion to our Immaculate Mother, we urge all members to strive to spread this devotion among their friends and acquaintances; in other words, to become Promoters of the Association. They should endeavor to form bands of twelve, symbolic of the twelve stars on the Miraculous Medal. Any member maybe a Promoter, and the same Promoter may form many bands of members. Promoters will receive suitable premiums, and will participate in three special Novenas of Masses offered each year. One in the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, at Perryville, Missouri, the other in the Mother House of Paris where the Blessed Virgin appeared to Sister Catherine. The third Novena is offered up in the Church of St. Andrea in Rome, on the altar where our Blessed Lady appeared to and converted Alphonse Ratisbonne, a prejudiced Jew.

In all matters connected with our Association address:

The Reverend Director,
St. Mary's Seminary,
Perryville, Mo.

DEVOTION TO MARY IMMACULATE

We would urge our members to have a constant and ever-increasing devotion to our Blessed Mother. No new obligation is contracted by members, but they are requested to say frequently the invocation inscribed on the medal: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." We would also be pleased to receive from members an account of the special favors and graces they may receive through Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, for such statements tend to make her powerful intercession better known and to spread devotion to her.

You are well aware that your great work in life, the one thing necessary is your personal sanctification. The one thing we need in life is greater love for Jesus. Day by day our life moves on towards eternity, and day by day we feel that we must be busy about life's supreme work, its greatest good,—the growing like unto Jesus. Who is to assist us in our task, in our daily efforts? Mary, our Mother. She is the "Gate of Heaven," the "Morning Star" of our life. No one has ever called upon her and been left unaided.

In joy and sorrow, in peace and trouble, in life's unceasing struggle, when temptations gather and the burden grows heavy, call upon Mary Immaculate, and you will find peace and rest to your soul. Strive to bring others to know her. Tell them of her beauty and her glory, of the marvelous sanctity wherewith God has clothed her. To know her is to love her; and they that find her shall find life and shall have salvation from the Lord.

She is the protectress and guide of youth, the help and strength of advancing years, and the consolation and sweetness of old age.

Through Mary we shall find Jesus, and to find Jesus is life's hope fulfilled,—the completion of our joy, the crown and palm of victory.

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- The Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal

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