The Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

CEBU, Philippines - Paris is one of the most visited places on earth because of its heritage and culture. But for Catholics, a must visit destination in Paris is a narrow street called Rue du Bac where on July 19, 1830 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared before a young postulant named Catherine Laboure in the main altar of its chapel. This apparition preceded the more famous pilgrimage sites of Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917).

The story of Catherine Laboure is so beautiful. When she was 9 years old, her mother died and one morning, their family servant caught the little girl trying to reach the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary embracing the statue in her arms saying, “Now, dear Blessed Mother, now you will be my mother!” From the time she received her first communion, she arose early in the morning to walk many miles to attend Holy Mass.

Once in the Village Church, she saw a vision of an old priest saying Mass. This priest beckoned her to approach him, but she moved away from him. Later in this vision, she saw the same old priest helping the sick who told her, “My child, it is a good deal to look after the sick; you run away from me now, but one day you will be glad to come to me. God had designs for you. Do not forget it!”

As her sister Marie Louise joined the Sisters of Charity, she too wanted to join. But her father sent her to Paris to work and later an aunt enrolled her in a finishing school. But she always insisted that her life was promised to our Lord Jesus Christ.

One day, she went to the hospital of the Daughters of Charity and she saw a picture of a priest on the wall and asked a nun who the priest was? The nun told her that it was their Holy Founder, Saint Vicente de Paul. This was the priest of her vision. Hence, she too joined the Daughters of Charity in January 1830, right in the middle of the Reign of Terror that had swept France.

She was in her sixth month as a postulant when, on July 19, the eve of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, when she was asleep and a beautiful child woke her up saying “Sister Labouré, come to the chapel; the Blessed Virgin is waiting for you!” As she entered the chapel, the Blessed Virgin Mother appeared sitting in a chair. She approached our lady, knelt and rested her hands in the Virgin’s lap and felt the Virgin’s arms around her.

The Blessed Virgin spoke, “God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world.” The Blessed Mother added, “Come to the foot of the altar. Graces will be shed on all, great and little, especially upon those who seek them. Another community of sisters will join the Rue du Bac community. The community will become large; you will have the protection of God and Saint Vincent; I will always have my eyes upon you.” Then the Blessed Mother disappeared.

Four months later, on Nov.27, 1830 Sister Catherine Labouré was inside the chapel and again the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared near the picture of St. Joseph. Under her feet was a globe and she spoke, “This globe which you see represents the whole world, especially France, and each person in particular.” Then suddenly, an oval frame appeared with the letters in gold, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.” Then at the back of the oval frame was a huge M with two hearts, one pierced with a sword and the other crowned with thorns.

Then the Blessed Virgin spoke to her, “Have this medal struck upon this model. All those who wear it, when it is blessed, will receive great graces especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be in a special manner under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

Sister Catherine Labouré only told her spiritual director about this vision and the medal was struck and by the time she died in 1876 a billion of these medals have been spread throughout Europe and the world. It was first called the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, but now it is known simply as the Miraculous Medal due to the numerous conversions, cures and protection given by the Blessed Virgin Mary to those who wear it.

Sister Catherine Labouré became a Saint as she kept secret this apparition and spoke only to her confessor until she was already on her deathbed.

57 years after her death, her body was exhumed and found as fresh as the day it was buried. Her incorrupt body can be viewed under the altar of the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity in 140 Rue du Bac in Paris