The Guardian Angel: The Eucharist and the Miraculous Medal

Do Catholic men need to be like John the Baptist and Catholic Women need to be like Joan of Arc? I attended a conference with Father Blout and he said that we need to be like these warriors for the faith, let us first explore the Eucharistic Miracle of St. Catherine Laboure and then ponder that thought for our lives and why. Love and prayer in Christ, GregoryMary

Catherine Labouré was born on May 2, 1806 to a family of farmers. On April 21, 1830, she entered as a novitiate into the religious order, Daughters of Charity, in the motherhouse of Paris near Rue du Bac. Here in 1830, Catherine had the famous apparition of the Immaculate Mary, who told her, “Have a medal of this style coined; those who wear it around their neck will receive great graces.” During her entire stay at Rue du Bac, Catherine also had the grace of seeing Jesus in the consecrated Host, at both the moment of Holy Communion and during the Exposition of the Holy Sacrament.

Catherine herself described the moment of the apparition: “While making Eucharistic Adoration in deep silence, I seemed to hear a sound coming from the side of the tribune, like the rustle of a silk dress. I got up and looked and saw the Holy Virgin. She was of medium build and indescribably beautiful. A white veil fell from her head to her feet and rested upon a half-globe. Her hands, raised to waist level in a natural position, held another small golden globe with a gold Cross on top. Her eyes looked beseechingly towards Heaven. While I was intent on contemplating her, the Holy Virgin lowered her eyes towards me and said these words: ‘This globe that you see represents the entire world, in particular France, and every single person.’ And the Virgin added, ‘The rays symbolize the graces shed on those who petition me’, making me understand how sweet it is to pray to the Holy Virgin and how generous she is to those who invoke her.

And then an oval frame formed around the figure of the Holy Virgin, with a semi-circular border of writing in gold above the right hand of Mary spelling out: ‘OH MARY, CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE’. “At this point in the vision, the globe that Mary had offered to God disappeared; her hands, full of graces, faced the globe that she rested her feet upon, stepping on a green serpent with yellow spots. Suddenly the frame flipped and I saw the back of the medal showing the letter ‘M’ for Mary, and the Cross, and below the monogram there were two hearts; that of Jesus with the crown of thorns and that of Mary pierced by a sword. Around it, like a frame, there was a regal crown of twelve little stars. “Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Coin a medal in this style. All those who carry this will receive graces, especially if they wear the blessed medal around their neck and recite this short prayer. They will receive special protection from the Mother of God and will receive great graces. The graces will be abundant for those who wear it with great faith.’”

Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we unite ourselves to you under your title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your motherly affection for us and a constant reminder of our filial duties towards you. While wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives so that like you we may live and act according to the teaching and example of your Son. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death so that in union with you we may enjoy the happiness of heaven forever. Amen.

V: O Mary, conceived without sin, R: Pray for us who have recourse to you.