The following true story, is one I listened to at one of Father John Hardon's men's retreats. Afterwards he enrolled me in the miraculous medal, which I have worn since. How the Miraculous Medal Changed My Life – By Fr. John Hardon Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. Below is from a talk Fr. Hardon has given various times. One of the most memorable experiences that I ever had was with the Miraculous Medal! It changed my life. In the fall of 1948, the year after my ordination, I was in what we call the Tertianship. This is a third year of Novitiate before taking final vows. In October of that year, a Vincentian priest came to speak to us young Jesuit priests. He encouraged us to obtain faculties, as they are called, to enroll people in the Confraternity of the Miraculous Medal. Among other things, he said, “Fathers, the Miraculous Medal works. Miracles have been performed by Our Lady through the Miraculous Medal.” I was not impressed by what the Vincentian priest was telling. I was not the medal-wearing kind of person and I certainly did not have a Miraculous Medal. But I thought to myself, “It does not cost anything.” So I put my name down to get a four page leaflet from the Vincentians, with the then-Latin formula for blessing Miraculous Medals and enrolling people in the Confraternity of the Miraculous Medal. About two weeks later, I got the leaflet for blessing and enrollment, put it into my office book and forgot about it. In February of the next year, I was sent to assist the chaplain of St. Alexis Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. I was to be there helping the regular chaplain for two weeks. Each morning I received a list of all the patients admitted into the hospital that day. There were so many Catholics admitted that I could not visit them all as soon as they came. Among the patients admitted was a boy about nine years old. He had been sled-riding down hill, lost control of the sled and ran into a tree head-on. He fractured his skull and X-rays showed he had suffered severe brain damage. When I finally got to visit his room at the hospital, he had been in a coma for ten days, no speech, no voluntary movements of the body. His condition was such that the only question was whether he would live. There was no question of recovering from what was diagnosed as permanent and inoperble brain damage. After blessing the boy and consoling his parents, I was about to leave his hospital room. But then a thought came to me. “That Vincentian priest. He said, ‘The Miraculous Medal works.’ Now this will be a test of its alleged miraculous powers!” I didn’t have a Miraculous Medal of my own. And everyone I asked at the hospital also did not have one. But I persisted, and finally one of the nursing sisters on night duty found a Miraculous Medal. What I found out was that you don’t just bless the medal, you have to put it around a person’s neck on a chain or ribbon. So the sister-nurse found a blue ribbon for the medal, which made me feel silly. What was I doing with medals and blue ribbons. However, I blessed the medal and had the father hold the leaflet for investing a person in the Confraternity of the Miraculous Medal. I proceeded to recite the words of investiture. No sooner did I finish the prayer of enrolling the boy in the Confraternity than he opened his eyes for the first time in two weeks. He saw his mother and said, “Ma, I want some ice cream.” He had been given only intravenous feeding. This Experience Changed My Life Then he proceeded to talk to his father and mother. After a few minutes of stunned silence, a doctor was called. The doctor examined the boy and told the parents they could give him something to eat. The next day began a series of tests on the boy’s condition. X-rays showed the brain damage was gone. Then still more tests. After three days, when all examinations showed there was complete restoration to health, the boy was released from the hospital. This experience so changed my life that I have not been the same since. My faith in God, faith in His power to work miracles, was strengthened beyond description. Since then, of course, I have been promoting devotion to Our Lady and the use of the Miraculous Medal. The wonders she performs, provided we believe, are extraordinary.
St. Catherine Laboure & The Miraculous Medal Fr Richard Heilman November 27, 2016 The Story of the Catholic Miraculous Medal St. Catherine Laboure’s Feast Day is November 28. The story of the Catholic Miraculous Medal traces back to 1806, when a poor farmer’s daughter by the name of Zoe Laboure was born. At the young age of 24, she entered the Sisters of Charity and changed her name to Catherine. On July 18 of the same year, she saw a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who came to her in the Chapel. Catherine and Mary supposedly spoke for more than two hours. On November 27, 1830, Mary revisited Sister Catherine and presented a beautiful picture of herself. Catherine confessed this vision, which after investigation was deemed authentic by Catholic authorities. Sister Catherine had one final vision of Mary, during which she received even more detailed descriptions about Mary’s miraculous medal. Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.” Two years after Sister Catherine first had these visions, the church minted and distributed medals throughout Paris. Thanks to the story of devotion surrounding the medal’s creation, the phenomenon swept across Paris. It became widely reported that the medal graced those who wore it with prosperity, health, and faith. Soon, people took to calling the medal “Miraculous.” In 1836, six years after Sister Catherine first witnessed Mary in the Chapel, the Catholic Church launched a canonical inquiry into the legitimacy of the apparitions. This inquiry concluded that Sister Catherine’s visions were indeed genuine. Today, hundreds of thousands of Catholics the world over wear Miraculous medals as testimonies of repentance, prayer, and faith. The Meaning of the Front Side of the Miraculous Medal Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year 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 the Immaculate Conception of Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary’s sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854. The Meaning of the Back Side of the Miraculous Medal The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint 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 a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of 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).
Does anyone know what you need to do to get the graces promised from the Miraculous Medal? I was just looking online and it seems confusing. I have always worn one but only found out recently that it requires more than just wearing the medal. You seem to need to be invested and/or enrolled. I am not sure of the difference. Also do you need to get re-invested annually?
Here is another amazing true story about the power of the miraculous medal! http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2011/12/miraculous-story-of-claude-newman-his.html
All I am sure about is that one should wear it about the neck if possible. It must be blessed by a priest. And the greatest benefits will come to those who wear it with confidence. I am enrolled in it. Like enrollment in any Confraternity it adds indulgences which members can obtain.Members should recite the prayer on the medal daily. 'O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee'. And for those enrolled in the Militia Immaculata ... “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee, and for all those who do not have recourse to Thee, especially for the Masons and for all those who are commended to Thee.”
Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, PA and the Association of the Miraculous Medal, Perryville, MO both have great websites As I understand the history, the Association in Philadelphia was the first one in the US, and then the one in Missouri began as a kind of mission. There is info about the medal, what benefits are derived, and there are Novenas of Masses you can enroll in and they will pray for your intentions. I am what is called a promoter. Mac, I am not familiar with the Militia Immaculata very much. I am glad that you posted about it. Does that have something to do with St. Maximillian Kolbe? The feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is November 27. Wonderful thread. thanks to all
View attachment 5741 Here is an option for anyone interested in a miraculous medal ring. A great Christmas gift for your loved ones. This is just one link....there are others. Walmart has a less expensive version. http://www.catholicshop.com/Sterlin...2mqEgl_i8ufTuHqKA4kIeyPFkxQt7UXS30aApsE8P8HAQ
Yes , Fr Kolbe .....https://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/MILITIMM.TXT Origin of the MI 1917 was the year of the October Revolution in Russia, but also the year of the appearances of Our Lady in Fatima! In Rome Freemasonry was celebrating their 200th anniversary. Everywhere you looked you could see flags and posters depicting St. Michael the Archangel being conquered and trampled underfoot by Lucifer. Long processions winded their way through the Eternal City toward St. Peter’s Square. The marchers sang blasphemous songs and carried banners with slogans such as: “Satan will reign in the Vatican and the Pope will be his servant.” At that same time a young Polish Franciscan happened to be in Rome also: Brother Maximilian Maria Kolbe, a theology student at the Gregorian University. He was compelled to witness these menacing demonstrations. “Is it possible,” he asked himself, “that our enemies should make such a display of force in order to defeat is. while we fold our hands in our laps and do nothing? After all, do we not have much more powerful weapons; can we not count on all of heaven, and especially on the Immaculata?” The young religious brother meditated on Sacred Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, the teachings of the great Marian saints, for example, those of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort; he also pondered the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the meaning of the appearances of Our Lady in Lourdes. Indeed, all of these truths and mysteries not only have spiritual significance but also are extremely practical because of their social relevance. “The spotless Virgin, vanquisher of all heresies, will not retreat before the enemy who raises his head against Her. When She finds faithful servants who obey Her command, She will win new victories, greater than we can ever imagine.” In 1917 Rome was celebrating another anniversary, however, a day of victory for the Immaculata: the instantaneous conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne, a Jew, in the year 1842, thanks to graces obtained through the Miraculous Medal. This coincidence gave Br. Maximilian the idea of founding a Knighthood of the Immaculata. Its emblem would be the Miraculous Medal. Three days after the miracle of the sun in Fatima, on October 16, 1917, Br. Maximilian, with permission from his superior, founded together with six confreres the Militia Immaculatae while kneeling before Our Lady’s altar in the chapel of the Seraphic College in Rome.
I'm planning on asking for one of these for Christmas: Triple Threat WW I Military Battle Beads They're based on the original "Service Rosaries" that were produced and distributed upon request by the US Government to its service personnel. This version contains the "Triple Threat Pardon Crucifix". You can read more on the Pardon Crucifix here. What I like about this version is that the Pardon Crucifix also contains the Miraculous Medal and the St. Benedict Medal -- Triple Threat! I like it because I'm not fond of having medals attached to my rosaries -- they come off too easily or snag my clothing or aid in breaking the rosary -- and I think I could wear this around my neck and under my shirt more easily than a rosary and two medals. (I currently wear the MM.)
Thank you Mac, for the link and the info. I like St. Kolbe a lot. Now I know why. Muzhik, I bought one of those rosaries for my son for his birthday and had the priest bless it. It is awesome. I hope you get one.
Anyone one who loves the Miraculous Medal just HAS TO READ Renee Laurentin's book on St Catherine Laboure. I think heaven itself must have guided his hand: https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Laboure-Visionary-Miraculous-Medal/dp/0819815780
Thanks Padraig, I may have to order this. I love the miacalous medal. I give them to everyone because they are so powerful....the graces promised by our dear Mother Mary.
Our priest has been to the chapel in Rue de Bac and said Mass a couple of times. He tells me about it sometimes. (where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure) I think Our Lady gave him a privilege to do that.
Hi HH I was in Rue du Bac two years ago for mass. A very special place indeed. (And the chocolate shop along the road is very special too.) My mum has a first class relic of St Catherine which dates back to when she was still blessed which she says she will give to me. My Medal was a birthday gift from mum for my 40th when we were in Lourdes on Pligrimage. It was bought in a gift shop opposite Le Cabot where St Bernadette lived. Lucky me. It stays on my neck beside my scapular.
I have read hundreds of the lives of the saints, no one ever did it as well ae Fr Laurentin, he is a genius and a great story teller.
Padraig, why don't you send off an email to the folks at the Catholic Shop and ask them the dimesnions of the ring, and if it is sized for men and women? I find the Catholic folks are always glad to help. I always want some odd color rosary
I think they make them for women and men...ill look for the link. I bought my sister one with Our Lady in blue enamel...it is beautiful! I have one too...I bought mine on eBay. It was used...but it was sterling silver so it was made well.
