Dear Mrs. Gray, I am in a dilemma... Today is of course the great feast of Thanksgiving and I do hope you will enjoy a very juicy turkey as part of your family celebration. And don’t forego the cranberry sauce, a match made in Heaven if you ask me! But it is also the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. So after debating a bit, I have decided to tell you a little about the story of this great medal which, by the way, deserves to be placed at the top of our Thanksgiving list to Almighty God. So here is a brief account of this amazingly fairy-like story – and it is totally real. Did you ever wonder how this medal, one of the world’s most powerful sacramentals, came to us? Get your Free Miraculous Medal This amazing medal came directly from heaven to Catherine Labouré, a young French novice. Catherine had a special link with the Blessed Mother. You see, when she lost her own beloved mother at the young age of nine, she took an image of Mary down from the wall in her home, and kissing it, she prayed, “Dear Lady, you will now be my mother”. …And the Blessed Mother took her under her mantle. Many years later, on the night of June 19, 1830, as a novice at the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, young Catherine lay on her convent cot. She prayed earnestly that she would be allowed to see her heavenly mother some day. …And she fell asleep with the conviction that one day she would… Close to midnight, Catherine was awakened by a brilliant light and the sound of a child’s voice calling to her. Her eyes opened wide to behold a radiant boy (could it have been her own Guardian Angel?) who said, “Come, Catherine, the Blessed Mother is waiting for you.” “But we will be found out…” whispered the novice, “Fear not, it is half past eleven and everyone is asleep,” smiled the visitor, “come…” As the angel and the novice walked through the dark corridors, they quickly approached the convent’s locked chapel door which swung open at the angel’s touch. Catherine was amazed to behold the chapel all lit up as if for Midnight Mass. Suddenly, the young girl heard the rustle of a silken dress, and behold, her dream had come true, and she saw the Blessed Mother walking across the chapel floor and sitting on a chair by the altar. A few moments later, Catherine found herself kneeling by the heavenly lady, her hands resting on Our Lady’s knees. The heavenly Mother spoke to her daughter of the dire state of France and the world, of difficult times approaching, and of much shedding of blood. She told her that people should come to the foot of the altar where help and graces would be granted, especially to those who asked. Then she told Catherine she had a mission for her but for her not to be afraid. And then there was the swish of silk again, and Our Lady faded away. As Catherine slipped back into bed, the clock struck two o’clock. …and as the young novice went about her daily convent routine, she wondered what her mission would be… On November 27, Catherine was in the chapel when she again saw Our Lady. This time the Virgin held a globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. Then the vision changed, and now Mary stood within an oval shape, with her arms and hands outstretched, light streaming from them. Framing her figure was the inscription: O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Order your Free Miraculous Medal Then the oval turned and Catherine saw the reverse of the medal. There was a large “M” topped by a cross and encircled by twelve stars. Under the “M”, were two flaming hearts, one encircled by thorns, the other pierced by a sword. Then Our Lady spoke: “Have a medal struck using this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.” With the approval of the Church, the first medals were made in 1832. The effects were immediate: blessings and graces, peace, conversions and healing showered in abundance upon those who wore it. The devotion spread like wildfire, and the medal quickly became known as “The Miraculous Medal”. There is no superstition or “magic” attached to the medal. The medal is not a “good-luck-charm”. Rather, because it was specifically coined according to the instructions of the Queen of Heaven, the Miraculous Medal is a powerful testimony of Faith in Mary’s power as special intercessor for us with her Son. By this token of good will, by trusting prayer and by the wearing of the symbols of Mother and Son, the Blessed Mother obtains great graces from her Son for those who wear it. The weak things of the world hath God Chosen, that he may confound the strong (1 Corinthians, 1:27). Get your Free Miraculous Medal I wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving and below you will also find a link to a beautiful article on this great feast day. Check it out. I remain, your friend, In Jesus and Mary, Robert E. Ritchie
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 17:28:41 +0000
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