MIRACULOUS MEDAL

1.5" HIGH X 1" WIDE

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ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CATHOLIC MEDALS ACROSS THE WORLD

A MEDAL DESIGNED BY OUR LADY HERSELF

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THE STORY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

Excerpts from "Recent Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary" by Stephen Breen, 1952, The Scapular Press.

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On July 18-19, 1830, in Paris, an apparition of Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure. Mary gave her a message for the world. Our Lady's words to St. Catherine, full of hidden meaning are perhaps most comprehensively translated by Lady Cecil Kerr in "The Miraculous Medal":

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" 'My child, I have a mission to entrust to you. You will have to suffer much in the performance of it, but the thought that it will be for the glory of God will enable you to overcome all your trials. You will be opposed but do not be afraid. Grace will be given you. Tell all that takes place within you with simplicity and confidence. You will see certain things, you will receive inspirations in prayer. Give an account of everything to him who has charge of your soul.' "I then asked the Blessed Virgin what was the meaning of certain things which had been shown me. She answered: 'My child, the times are evil and misfortunes are about to overwhelm France. The throne will be destroyed and the whole world convulsed by all sorts of calamities.' The Blessed Virgin looked very sad as she said this. 'But,' she added, 'come to the foot of this altar. Here graces will be poured out on all who ask for them, great or small. Our Lady continued: 'My child, the cross will be despised and trodden underfoot. Our Lord's side will be pierced anew; the streets will run with blood, and the whole world will be in sorrow.'"

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The Paris Commune - the first Communist revolution - took place in France in 1871. Mary was coming to crush the head of Communism long before it inundated the world from Russia, and she closed with the germ of Fatima: "My eyes are always watching you, I shall grant you many graces. Special graces will be given to all who ask for them, but people must pray." Saturday afternoon, November 27, 1830. In her hands she held a smaller ball, a golden one surmounted by a Cross, which represented the world. Our Lady was offering this to God, looking toward Heaven and praying for its acceptance by the Almighty. On her fingers were many rings, filled with jewels and precious stones, from which shining rays of light descended. Our Lady said to Sister Laboure: "This ball which you see is the world, France in particular, and each person individually. I am praying for it and for everyone in the world. The rays which fall on this ball are the graces which I give to those who ask for them. But there are no rays from some of the stones. For many people fail to receive graces because they neglect to ask for them."

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After a time the small ball representing the world in Our Lady's hands vanished and she lowered her arms outstretched, and the rays glittered and glistened more brilliantly than before. Around her Queenly head appeared the luminous letters of the words: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." A frame of gold appeared around the entire vision as Our Lady said, "Have a medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces; it should be worn around the neck. Great graces will be given to those who wear it with confidence." The apparition turned, revealing the model for the obverse. This was a large "M," surmounted by a Cross on a bar. Below the "M" were two hearts, one encompassed with thorns, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the other pierced with a sword, the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Encircling the whole were twelve stars bordering the golden elliptical frame.

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The Archbishop of Paris ordered the medal struck immediately and ordered the first quantity for himself. Our Lady had opened the great drama. This was her first official herald, the Heaven-sent insignia of the modern Age of Mary. It was to be called the "Medal of the Immaculate Conception," the prayer inscribed on it honored Our Lady's unique privilege: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." It would prepare the world for the great declaration of a quarter of a century later when Pius IX would declare the great dogma of the Immaculate Conception as an article of faith, an essential element of Catholic belief.

The medals of the Immaculate Conception streamed from the presses by the millions. They overflowed France into the world beyond. Not long after there was an epidemic in France. The death rate soared and medical science was unable to cope with the crisis. People turned to the Sisters of Charity who gave them the Medal of the Immaculate Conception with the assurance that great graces would be showered upon all who would wear it with confidence, especially if it were worn around the neck. After the first cures, people demanded it excitedly. The Archbishop of Paris found it efficacious to secure the return to the Church of an archbishop nearby who repented on his deathbed. He died in the arms of his fellow prelate. So many favors, cures and conversions were effected through its instrumentality that its name and doctrinal significance were lost in the clamor; it became known simply as 'The Miraculous Medal."

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FRONT SIDE

The front of the medal represents St Mary standing on a globe as a Queen of Heaven and Earth, while crushing the head of a serpent (evil) with her foot. The figure of the Virgin is surrounded by the phrase, "Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." On the bottom, the date 1830 reminds us about the creation of the medal.

REVERSE SIDE
The reverse side of the medal represents many different symbols: 12 stars (the 12 apostles), two hearts (the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary), the letter M (Mary) and the Cross of Redemption (Christ).

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