Medjugorje, 27 November 1989
New conversation between the Virgin and Mary:
"These days, I want you to pray in a special way for the salvation of souls. Today is the feast of the Miraculous Medal, and I want that you pray, in a special way, for the salvation of those people who are carrying this Medal. I want you to spread the devotion and the carrying of this medal, so that more souls may be saved, and that you pray in a special way."
The history of the most famous Medal in the world passes through Medjugorje. Our Queen of Peace has no doubt: whoever wears the medal will be saved. And it is certainly not by chance that her request is made on the 27th November.
It is on this day, in fact, that the Virgin Mary appears for the third time to the young Novice, Catherine Labouré (known as Zoe), asking her to coin a Medal.
Yes, dear Blog readers, the most sought-after medal in the world was coined on that famous November 27th, 1830. At 5:30 in the evening on that day, during the usual evening prayers in the Mother House of the Congregation in Rue du Bac, Sister Catherine received a third visit from Our Lady.
This time, our Blessed Mother appeared standing on a globe with the intention of
crushing a snake. The scene of the vision reported by the Novice is represented on the Medal itself.
Its shape is a reference to the oval picture frame that formed around Mary, in which these words were written: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee".
Rays representing the Graces emitted from the Virgin's fingers filled with rings with precious stones.It was then that the Virgin turned to Zoe, asking her: "Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence”.
In that same moment, St Catherine saw the reverse side of the Medal: a huge letter M appeared surmounted by a cross without a crucifix with the letter I at its base. At the base were two hearts, one pierced by a sword and one surrounded by thorns. All around the Medal were twelve stars.
What do they mean?
The M, is Mary's monogram, combined with the initial I of Iesus. Both are linked to their two hearts. Mary's heart is pierced by a sword, as a seal of her sorrow as a Mother, whereas Jesus' heart is pierced by thorns, as a reminder of the Romans' mockery during His Passion. The twelve beautiful stars on the frame represent the twelve Tribes of Israel.
Through this small object, Mary reveals herself to the world. In fact, to wear the Miraculous Virgin's medal around the neck means to accept the task Mary herself entrusted Catherine with: to spread her medal over the whole world.
The first to receive the Medal was the Saint herself, who spread it even at the point of death. It is said that Catherine, while agonizing in her bed, prepared packages of miraculous medals to be offered to the poor, the sick and the people most in need so that they would obtain help from the Lady of Heaven.
Today, this task falls to us. We are called to help St Catherine in spreading a message of Faith, Hope and Charity through the use of the Medal.