On July 18, 1830, the eve of the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Sister Superior spoke to the novices about the virtues of their Holy Founder and gave each of them a piece of cloth from his surplice. Catherine earnestly prayed to Saint Vincent that she might see the Mother of God with her own eyes.

She was convinced that she would see the Blessed Virgin Mary that very night. In her conviction, Catherine fell asleep. Before long, a brilliant light and the voice of a child awakened her. “Sister Labouré, come to the chapel; the Blessed Virgin awaits you.”

Catherine replied, “We shall be discovered.”

The little child smiled, “Do not be uneasy; it is half past eleven, everyone is asleep… come, I am waiting for you.” She rose quickly and dressed. The hall lights were burning. The locked chapel door swung open at the child’s touch.

Amazed, Catherine found the chapel ablaze with lights as if prepared for Midnight Mass. Quickly she knelt at the director’s chair, and suddenly, she heard the rustle of a silk dress… the Blessed Virgin, in a blaze of glory, sat in the director’s chair. The child whispered, “This is the Blessed Virgin.”

Catherine threw herself at Our Lady’s knee and rested her hands in Our Lady’s lap. Mary said, “My child, the good 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.”

A pain crossed the Virgin’s face.

“Come to the foot of the altar. There, graces will be shed upon all, great and little, especially on those who ask for them. You will have the protection of God and Saint Vincent. I always will have my eyes upon you. There will be much persecution. The cross will be treated with contempt. It will be hurled to the ground and blood will flow.” Then after speaking for some time, The Lady like a fading shadow was gone.

Led by the child, Catherine left the chapel, marched up the corridor, and returned to her place in the dormitory. The child disappeared and as Catherine went to bed, she heard the clock strike two in the morning.

Mary gave her this mission in a vision during evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. “The ball which you see represents the whole world, especially France, and each person in particular.”

The times were difficult in France, especially for the poor. France was first to experience many of those troubles which ultimately reached other parts of the world. Streaming from rings on Mary’s fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. “These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which souls foget to ask.”

The vision then changed to show Our Lady standing on a globe with her arms now 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 thee.”

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 Our 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 vision turned and showed the design on the reverse side of the medal. Twelve stars encircled a large “M” from which arose a cross. Below it were two hearts with flames arising from them. Thorns encircle the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a sword pierces the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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 the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with 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 interweaving 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)

Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces, they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.” Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out Mary’s instructions. She did not reveal that she received the Medal until soon before her death 46 years later.

With approval of the Church, the first medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately, the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her medal. The devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace, health, peace and prosperity, followed in its wake. Before long people were calling it the “Miraculous” Medal. In 1836, a canonical inquiry undertaken in Paris declared that the medal was of supernatural origin, and that the wonders worked through it were genuine.

There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal is not a “good-luck charm.” Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its 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 bringing to pass certain marvelous results. “The weak things of this earth hath God chosen to confound the strong.”

When Our Blessed Mother 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.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri, carries out Our Lady’s request in many ways, including offering you a free Miraculous Medal.