The Miraculous Medal

The Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is celebrated on November 27th annually.

The Miraculous Medal is a devotional medal designed by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself and given to St. Catherine Labouré.

The Miraculous Medal's design was revealed to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830 in a series of visions in Paris, France. Mary instructed St. Catherine to have the medal struck and distributed, promising great graces for those who wear it, especially if worn around the neck. Words from the vision, form an oval frame around the image of Mary on the medal, and they say: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". When Mary spoke to St. Catherine, she said "Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

There's been many miracles and conversions, stories of healing and protection from harm that have happened in thanks to the miraculous medal and Mary's intercession with God.

The medal's unique design and the stories associated with it have made it a powerful symbol of faith and devotion to Our Lady.

The medal also contains symbolism that points towards the Marian teachings of the Catholic Church.

On the Front side of the medal:
Mary is seen standing on a globe. This symbolizes Mary bestowing graces upon the Earth and mankind, and also that she was assumed body and soul into Heaven. Mary's assumption into heaven is one of the four Marian dogmas of the catholic church.

Mary is also seen standing on the serpent. This is a reference to Genesis 3:15 where God says.... I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head,
while you strike at their heel. This also represents that Mary is engaged in the spiritual battle against evil and Satan who the serpent represents, and that she protects from evil.

She is also seen with rays of light shining forth from her hands – This symbolizes graces from Mary as Mediatrix. Mary’s title of mediatrix arises from her cooperation in the Incarnation and in the Redemption of mankind. Through Mary's “yes” (Lk 1:38), she became the Theotokos (God-bearer), and as the “New Eve,” she is “the Mother of all living.” Mary told Catherine that the rays "symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them".

Surrounding Mary and seen on the outer edge of the medal is the prayer "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". This is not only a prayer but also a reference to Mary as the Immaculate Conception. Mary was the only person to have been preserved free from all stain of original sin. Mary's Immaculate Conception is another one of the four Marian Dogmas of the Catholic Church.

On the back side of the medal:
There is a large letter "M" – The letter M symbolizes Mary.
The Cross seen above the M represents Jesus Christ's cross as an act of redemption for all mankind.
The crossbar which is connected to the bottom of the cross which is seen interlacing with the letter M represents Mary's close involvement with her Son in the mission of human salvation, and her standing at the foot of the cross during Jesus's ultimate redemptive sacrifice.

The 12 stars surrounding the cross and the letter M represent the Twelve Apostles and the Church, and the vision of John the Apostle in Revelation 12:1 where he says "And 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 twelve stars", symbolizing the Woman of Apocalypse and Queen of Heaven.

The Left heart at the bottom of the medal is the Sacred Heart of Jesus; His flaming heart of divine love for mankind, encircled by the crown of thorns.
The Right heart is the Immaculate Heart of Mary; set on fire with her maternal love for mankind, and pierced by a sword referencing Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2:35 where Simeon told Mary ... (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

So this simple medal which was designed by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself is another gift of heaven and another tool at our disposal in our ongoing struggle against sin and the demonic. By simply wearing the miraculous medal around our neck and reciting the prayer seen on the medal, we remember our Mother, her role in salvation history and we receive unwarranted and generous love from the Queen of all creation and her intercession with her Son, Jesus.

So thank you God and Mary for this generous gift.