Miraculous medal

"All who wear it will receive great graces" - Blessed Mother

"On the night of July 18, 1830, St. Catherine Laboure, a novice of the Daughters of Charity, was awakened from her sleep by a little child of extraordinary beauty and radiance whom Catherine recognized to be her guardian angel. He led her to the chapel sanctuary. After a few minutes Catherine saw a Lady descend the altar steps and proceed to seat herself in the Director's chair in the sanctuary. Catherine threw herself at the Lady's knees, conversed with her. The Lady told her that God wished to entrust her with a mission. The vision predicted the troubles which would come to France both in the near and distant future, but she gave words of confidence to Catherine. She gave the remedy 'Come to the foot of the altar . . . There graces will be shed upon all, great and little, who ask for them. Graces will especially be shed upon those who ask for them.'

It was a November 27 of the same year that the Medal itself was given. In the same sanctuary Our Lady reappeared, a dazzling vision of light in which she held a globe in her hands which she told St. Catherine 'represented the whole world, France especially, each person in particular'. On each finger there were three rings studded with gems, from the gems came rays which 'symbolize the graces I give to those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the  graces for which souls forget to ask'. At this point the golden ball vanished from Mary's hands, her arms swept wide in a gesture of motherly compassion, from her jeweled fingers the rays of light streamed upon the white globe at her feet. On the globe was a serpent crushed beneath Our Lady's feet. An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, and within it in letters of gold Catherine read the words: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.'

The voice spoke again: 'Have a medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces: they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.' The tableau revolved, and Catherine beheld the reverse of the medal she was to have made. It contained a large M surmounted by a cross. Beneath the M were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pierced with a sword. Twelve stars encircled the whole. The vision then disappeared. Later at the request of her confessor, who was charged with having the medal struck, Catherine asked the Virgin in prayer if there should be words on the back to balance those on the front, and she received the verbatim reply: 'The M and two hearts express enough'.