St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal

Catherine Labouré's cause for Sainthood was declared upon discovering her body was incorrupt. She was canonised on July 27, 1947 by Pope Pius XII.

Catherine, a novice in the Daughters of Charity, stated that on July 19, 1830, she woke up after hearing the voice of a small, luminous child calling her to the Chapel, "The Blessed Virgin is waiting for you". It was nearly midnight. "The Blessed Virgin is coming; here she is", the child said as Catherine heard the swishing of silk. There she was, the Mother of God. This would be the first of three apparitions where Our Lady would appear to the young Catherine over the course of six months. During the second appearance, the Blessed Virgin asked her to have a medal struck of the image she displayed before her, and she began explaining the meaning of the figures to be portrayed. She heard the Virgin Mary say to her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your Spiritual Director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world".

On November 27, 1830, Catherine reported that the Blessed Mother returned to her during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe, rays of light came out of her hands in the direction of a globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a Cross, and the stylised Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary underneath. Asked why some of the rays of light did not reach the Earth, Mary reportedly replied "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask". Catherine then heard Mary ask her to take these images to her Father Confessor, telling him that they should be put on medals. "All who wear them will receive great graces, especially if they wear it suspended around the neck. Graces will be showered on all who wear it with confidence."

Catherine did so, and after two years' worth of investigation and observation of Catherine's normal daily behaviour, the Priest took the information to his Archbishop without revealing Catherine's identity. The request was approved and the design of the medals was commissioned. They proved to be exceedingly popular. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had not yet been officially promulgated, but the medal with its "conceived without sin" slogan was influential in popular approval of the idea. The Miraculous Medal is a Sacramental that uses words and images to increase our devotion to the Immaculate Queen of Heaven, and its symbols can explain the Church's teachings on the Blessed Virgin. In a way, the Miraculous Medal is an "infographic" designed by heavenly artists.