November 27th is the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal. My parish includes a novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal during
its Saturday morning Masses (which I usually try to attend), and I've recently
begun saying those prayers on a daily basis for some special intentions. I also
wear a Miraculous Medal around my neck (along with a Crucifix and a medal and
Our Lady of LaSalette, who I wrote a book
about).
For those reasons, I thought it would be interested to share
some background on the Miraculous Medal. Our Blessed Mother appeared to St.
Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the motherhouse of the Daughters
of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in Paris.
Mary appeared standing on a globe with light streaming from
her hands. Around her was an inscription: "O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee." Mary spoke to St. Catherine:
"Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great
graces, especially if they wear it around the neck."
Mary then turned to show what should appear on the reverse
of the medal: the letter M with a cross on top. Below the M were two hearts:
the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The first medals were made in 1832. So many healings and
conversions were attributed to it that it soon began to be known as the
Miraculous Medal.
Mother Teresa is known to have had a great devotion to Our Lady
of the Miraculous Medal. She would carry many medals around with her. Rarely
would anyone leave her presence without having a Miraculous Medal pressed into
his or her hand. Her Missionaries of Charity continue to hand out Miraculous
Medals. Mother Teresa and her sisters consider the medals to be a tool for
evangelization.
For more information on Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal,
please visit The Central Association of the
Miraculous Medal.
Novena Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
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.
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