"All who wear the Miraculous Medal will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence." Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure
When one is looking to obtain a Miraculous Medal it is important that it is cast with the special characteristics and symbols as revealed by Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure. Many medals are cast with the image of Our Lady of Grace on the front, but they do not have the symbols on the back (
a Cross intertwined an "M." the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, both surmounted by flames of love, one having a crown of thorns, and other pierced with a sword. Encircling all of this are twelve stars around the oval frame.) If we want to obtain the benefits of this medal, that heaven has sent to us, we must have all aspects of the medal in place as Our Lady described.
I have made this particular necklace to showcase this gorgeous antique reproduction Miraculous Medal. (Available in my
Graceful Rosaries shop) It is fully detailed on the front and back. I have chosen many blue gemstones in varying shades of blue, the color of Our Lady. The gemstones include Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Angelite, and Iolite.
The History of the Miraculous Medal:
The Mission of making and distributing the Miraculous medal was first made manifest to St Catherine Laboure in a series of visions that began on November 27, 1830. That day was the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent. The Sisters were gathered in the chapel as usual for prayers at five-thirty in the afternoon. Suddenly Our Lady appeared to Catherine.
At first Mary appeared standing on a globe and dressed in white having with a long white veil which fell to her feet. The Virgin held in her hands, at the height of her shoulders, a golden ball which she seemed to be offering to God as she raised her eyes to heaven. Her fingers were covered with rings whose precious jewels sparkled brilliantly and showered down innumerable rays of light on the globe beneath her feet, almost obscuring the view of her feet. Mary lowered her eyes and looked directly at Catherine. Mary said nothing, but Catherine heard this message, "The ball which you see represents the world, especially France, and each person in particular. These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The jewels which give no rays symbolize the graces that are not given because they are not asked for." Then the apparition changed.
Our Lady appeared with a white dress, a blue mantle, and a white veil which draped back over her shoulders. She was still standing on the globe, and had one foot on the head of a serpent which lay at her feet. The 1830 was marked on the globe. The Virgin had her arms and hands pointed downwards, and a cascade of rays was falling down from both hands onto the globe. An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, and written around within it, in letters of gold, was the beautiful prayer, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you." This was the front side of the medal that was to be made.
Then the vision revolved to show the reverse side of the medal. Catherine saw a Cross with a bar at its feet with which was intertwined an "M." Beneath the "M" were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, both surmounted by flames of love, one having a crown of thorns, and other pierced with a sword. Encircling all of this were twelve stars around the oval frame.
(From an article entitled St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal by Rev. Robert J. Billett, C.M.F)
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