Devotion to the Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception - popularly known as the Miraculous Medal - was designed by the Blessed Virgin herself! No wonder, then, that it wins extraordinary graces for those who wear it and pray for Mary's intercession and help.
The first appearance

The story begins on the night between 18 and 19 July 1830. A child (perhaps his guardian angel) awakened Sister (now holy) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, and summoned her to the chapel. There he met the Virgin Mary and talked with her for several hours. During the conversation, Mary told her, "My child, I am going to give you a mission."

The second appearance

Mary gave her this mission in a vision during the evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what appeared to be a half globe and holding a golden globe as if offering it to heaven. On the globe there was the word "France" and Our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world, but in particular France. Times were difficult in France, particularly for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from the many wars of the time. France was the first to experience many of those problems that eventually reached many other parts of the world and are even present today. Flowing from the rings onto Maria's fingers while holding the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolize the graces she gets for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on the rings were dark,

The third appearance and the miraculous medal

The vision changed to show Our Lady standing on a globe with her arms outstretched and with the dazzling rays of light still streaming from her fingers. Framing the figure was an inscription: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

The meaning of the front
of the miraculous medal
Mary stands on a globe, crushing a snake's head under her foot. She is found on the globe as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all her followers are powerless before her (Gen 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year in which the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception - not to be confused with the virginal birth of Jesus, and referring to the innocence of Mary, "full of grace" and "blessed among women" (Luke 1 : 28) - which was proclaimed 24 years later, in 1854.
The vision transformed and showed the design on the back of the medal. Twelve stars surrounded a large "M" from which a cross rose. Below are two hearts with flames rising from them. One heart is surrounded by thorns and the other is pierced by a sword.
Back of the miraculous medal

The meaning of the back
of the miraculous medal
The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the whole Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of St. John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12: 1), in which "a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars. “The cross can symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross an earth sign. The "M" stands for Mary, and the interlacing between her initial and the cross shows Mary's close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this we see Mary's part in our salvation and her role as mother of the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (See also Lk 2:35).
Then Maria spoke to Catherine: “To have a medal hit by this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck. “Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked him to carry out Mary's instructions. He did not disclose that he received the Medal until shortly before his death, 47 years later. 3rd apparition

With the approval of the Church, the first medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings Mary had promised began to rain down on those who wore her Medal. The devotion spread like a fire. Wonders of grace and health, peace and prosperity, which follow in its wake. Before long, people called it the "Miraculous" medal. And in 1836, a canonical investigation undertaken in Paris declared the apparitions authentic.

There is no superstition, nothing magical, connected with the Miraculous Medal. The miraculous medal is not a "lucky charm". Rather, it is a great testimony of faith and the power to trust in prayer. His greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance and faith. God uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an instrument, in achieving certain wonderful results. "The weak things of this earth have chosen God to confuse the strong".

When Our Lady gave the design of the medal to Saint Catherine Labouré, she said: “Now it must be given to the whole world and to every person”.

To spread devotion to Mary as the Medal of Our Lady of the Miraculous, an association was formed shortly after the distribution of the first medals. The Association was founded in the mother house of the Congregation of the Mission in Paris. (On appearing to Saint Catherine, Daughter of Charity, Mary entrusted the Daughters of Charity and the priests of the Congregation of the Mission with the work of spreading this devotion to her through her medal.)

Gradually, other associations have been established in other parts of the world. Pope Pius X recognized these associations in 1905 and approved a charter in 1909.