“Even though a person be the worst sort, if only he agrees to wear the medal, give it to him…and then pray for him, and at the proper moment strive to bring him closer to his Immaculate Mother, so that he have recourse to her in all difficulties and temptations.”
—St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe
Saint Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal and the Plague
While in 1832 the first Miraculous Medals were being produced, Paris was hit by a terrible cholera epidemic and claimed more than 20,000 lives.
In June, the Daughters of Charity started to distribute the first 2,000 medals, especially to infected people who filled the hospitals.
This terrible epidemic, a disease without cure, struck thousands and beleaguered many more. And yet, an exceptional phenomenon was noticed. Those who devoutly wore a certain small medal around their neck were spared or relieved from the epidemic.
The healing continued to increase, and the population of Paris began to call the medal “miraculous!”
Our Lady’s Mission
Our Lady instructed St. Catherine Labouré:
“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.”
Watch the short video below to see how Maria Kannon Mission receives its own inspiration to bring the Miraculous Medal to the people of Japan.
St. Catherine Laboure and the Revelation of the Miraculous Medal