ST CATHERINE LABOURE AND THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL; 27th NOVEMBER
ST CATHERINE LABOURE AND THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
27th NOVEMBER
Today is commemorated the Feast of the Miraculous Medal, where Our Lady appeared to Catherine Laboure, (whose Feast day, in the calendar of her order, is tomorrow - 28th November).
Catherine Laboure was a young novice in the order of the Sisters of Charity, (the Company of the Daughters of Charity), which was founded under the patronage of St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac, a French noblewoman, for Apostolic life for women within the Church. Its members make annual vows and are free to leave without ecclesiastical permission.
They were founded in 1633, their charism directed to serving the poor through the performance of the spiritual acts of mercy. They live in community so as to develop their spiritual life and so to carry out their mission of service more effectively. They set up soup kitchens, organized community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, organized job training, educated children in literacy and improved prison conditions.
Their habit, which used to feature the distinctive “aeroplane” head covering, was the traditional attire of the peasant women of the time. Convents were cloistered and the Daughters of Charity were formed by St Vincent de Paul with the charism of active charity - they therefore did not take on the traditional habits and dressed in what was, effectively, the customary peasant or active dress of the area.
They were founded in Rue du Bac, in Paris, and the Chapel and convent is still there, with daily Mass. The body of St Catherine Laboure is preserved in an incorrupt state at the front of the chapel.
During the French Revolution the Convent of the Daughters of Charity and indeed, all convents, were compelled to close, the community forced to disband in 1793. Sisters Marie-Anne Vaillot and Odile Baumgarten were executed. In 1794 Sister Marguerite Rutan was guillotined at Royanne Place, in Paris. Sisters Marie-Madeleine Fontaine, Marie-Francoise Lanel, Therese Fantou and Jeanne Gerard from the House of Charity in Arras were guillotined: Waiting for the cart to take them to the guillotine, the guards took their chaplets and, not knowing what to do, placed them on their heads like crowns. They were guillotined on 26 June 1794.
The order was restored in 1801, many former sisters returning. In 1830, at a time when the Catholic Church was again under attack, the young Catherine Laboure had three visions of the Blessed Virgin;
"The first vision occurred on the night of July 18-19, 1830. A child, (perhaps her guardian angel), awakened her and summoned her to the chapel. There she met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours. During the conversation, Mary said to her, “My child, I am going to give you a mission.”
Our Lady gave her the mission in a second vision during evening meditation on November 27, 1830. Catherine Laboure saw the Blessed Virgin "standing on what seemed to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. On the globe was the word “France,” and our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world, but especially France. The times were difficult in France. France was first to experience many of those troubles which ultimately reached other parts of the world and are present today. Streaming from rings on Mary's fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolize the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on the rings were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and graces were available but did not come because no one had asked for them."
"Her beauty was indescribable. She was standing on a globe and rays of light shone forth from her hands on which were precious gems, symbolizing the graces which are bestowed upon us by her. Catherine saw an oval frame around her with the words, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
A voice said to her:
“Have a medal struck after this model. Persons who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.”
Two things come to mind: First, the troubles besetting France prefigured many of the forces at work in our society. Secondly, the light representing the "graces that are not requested" reveals the extent of the reality of our free will; we are free to gain graces, as long as we make the effort, both to define our needs and to request them. We are also free to refuse those graces. We are even completely free to damn ourselves. Our free will is absolute and complete.
The image gained approval and a medal was struck in 1832, originally called “the Medal of the Immaculate Conception”. So many miracles were reported, however, that it began to be called, popularly, the “Miraculous Medal”, becoming one of the most popular Catholic sacramentals. The medal is to the design of Our Blessed Mother herself. On this feast day, we must remember to pray with much devotion and faith, to use the prayers and sacramentals she has given us and to request of our Blessed Mother her intercession.
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