Author: Michelle Weiler

In July 2021, Catholics around the world became aware of the victory of the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist.

But it wasn’t just the athlete’s record-setting lift of nearly 500 pounds that captured everyone’s attention. It was that alongside her Olympic gold medal for weightlifting, Hidilyn Diaz triumphantly raised the Miraculous Medal she was wearing.

Her Miraculous Medal was a gift from friends who had prayed a novena for her just before the competition. Diaz called the medal “a sign of our faith in Mama Mary and Jesus Christ.”

When Our Blessed Mother gave Saint Catherine Labouré the design of the medal in 1830, she made clear it was meant for the whole world. “Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence,” Our Lady said.

Olympic medals show how much the world values physical victories. We push ourselves to be the strongest, fastest, and most talented. But all the while, heaven is urging us on to a different triumph; it is the only win that will really matter at the end of our earthly lives — our spiritual victory over sin through faith in Christ.

Countless people of faith wear a Miraculous Medal. If you don’t already have one, I hope you will begin wearing one, too. 

To let someone know you’re praying for them is a gift of kindness, love, and friendship.

You may share your special intentions and/or request a Votive Light to burn here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Daily we lift up the needs of members to Our Lord through “Mama Mary.”

Yet how can one small Miraculous Medal make any real difference in the world? Think about Hidilyn’s story. From the simple acceptance of her friends’ gift to taking part in the novena of prayer to shouting out her thanks to God to having it all captured on camera and broadcast to millions, inspiring people of every culture and creed.

We have a beautiful reminder of how powerful heaven is, and how important every gesture of love and friendship might be.

Our Lady will keep her promise of showering God’s graces on all who put their faith and confidence in her intercession.

You may request free, blessed oxidized Miraculous Medals on a card of explanation. These are a more “basic” model and are attached to a beautiful card sharing the story of Our Lady’s appearance to Saint Catherine.

Any freewill offering you include is gratefully accepted. We will use it to spiritually strengthen others through trust-filled devotion to Our Lady.

Thank you for drawing closer to Jesus by joining the international family of the Association of the Miraculous Medal. We are here to help you “come home with the gold” — attaining by your life of faith the supreme prize of everlasting joy in God’s presence. Your friend along the journey,

Fr.Kevin McCracken, C.M.
Spiritual Director

For Christians, a radiant star is one of the most revered symbols of Our Lord. As the world’s spiritual light, Jesus dispels the darkness of sin and death.

When Saint Catherine Labouré first beheld the vision of Mary in the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, her biographer says the Blessed Virgin “shone as the morning rising.” Yet, Mary was not the source of that brilliant light. Rather, it burst forth from 12 stars revealed to Catherine — the 12 stars that Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is often depicted wearing as a crown.

Jesus is the light. Jesus shines forth through Mary and reaches us through rays of countless blessings and graces won for us by her merits.

I thank you for placing yourself in the path of this saving light through your membership in the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

Souls living in God’s light radiate confident trust in Christ, never fearing to entrust even the greatest request into heaven’s hands through Mary’s intercession.

Through you, AMM continues to offer others this gift of Jesus’ saving light by freely sharing Miraculous Medals with anyone who asks. We also join you in praying for your intentions and support the formation and ministries of the Vincentian priests and brothers.

Today, I invite you to further this mission by joining the Association’s Twelve Stars of Mary Monthly Giving Club. Accepting this commitment alongside more than 300,000 current members, your year-round gifts will illuminate the lives of others with the blessings of a deepening faith and innumerable divine favors.

You may join at any giving level. You may easily stop or change your pledge at any time.

With a monthly commitment of $15 or more, you will receive several thank-you gifts, including a blessed sterling silver Miraculous Medal on a stainless-steel chain and a book of Marian Devotions, featuring 95 pages of prayers of the Rosary, novenas, litanies, devotions, prayers to Mary, and more. You are also entitled to a 10% discount (upon request) on all religious articles offered by the Association.

As a Twelve Stars of Mary member at any level, you will help Our Lady’s Association spread the gift of faith that changes the lives of members, such as this one:     

Dear Father,    

I visited an acquaintance who had ALS. I had heard a priest on a radio program advise everyone to wear a “Miraculous Medal,” so I told my friend and he got one. I prayed for a physical miracle for him, but he received a spiritual one instead. He praised his illness publicly because it granted him a relationship with God which he never had. He became Catholic shortly before he died and brought his entire family into the Church. I’ve been wearing the Miraculous Medal and have now come closer to Mary and her Son. May God bless all who read this.

This is Our Lord at work through Our Lady, and through AMM members like you!

Together we can continue to draw more souls into the saving light of Jesus through Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Sincerely and gratefully in Christ,

Fr. Kevin McCracken, C.M.
Spiritual Director