The Miraculous Medal
A Gift From Mary Immaculate
The Miraculous Medal
Personal Consecration
St. Maximillian Kolbe, the Franciscan priest who gave his life for a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz in 1941, founded the Crusade of Mary Immaculate over eighty years ago.The Crusade promotes personal devotion to Mary, seeking her powerful help to overcome the evils of the world and asking her to bring sinners and the lapsed back to God.
The outward sign of belonging to the Crusade of Mary Immaculate is the Miraculous Medal which is worn or carried by all who have made a daily personal consecration of their lives to the Queen of Heaven and earth.
The Miraculous Medal
What Is It?
The Miraculous Medal is a gift given to us by Mary herself. The medal is a sign and a pledge of Mary's personal love and favour. It demonstrates Mary's constant desire to see Satan crushed and the forces of evil defeated so that Jesus Christ is triumphant and the Kingdom of God reigns on the face of the earth.Mary promised that all who wear this medal or carry it with them and make the short prayer associated with it will enjoy her special protection.
The Miraculous Medal
How It Began
Our Blessed Lady appeared to a young novice of the daughters of Charity called Catherine Labouré in the convent chapel at Rue de Bac in Paris. On Saturday 27th November, 1830 the Virgin Mary, who Catherine said, "is so lovely that no words can describe her beauty", told her to have a medal cast in the image of the vision that appeared before her in the chapel.Our Lady stood on a globe with a twisted serpent beneath her feet. She wore a silk dress, white like the dawn, with a silvery-blue mantle and a blue veil. From Mary's outstreched hands came rays of light, glittering with resplendent beauty. Our Lady explained that these rays of light are a symbol of the graces she obtains from heaven for the human family. "I pour out these graces on those who ask them of me", Mary said and made it clear to Catherine how pleased she is with those who pray to her and how generous she is towards those who pray to her; what precious graces she desires to offer those who ask and the joy it gives her to grant such graces. Surrounding Our Lady Catherine read the following invocation written in golden letters, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Our Lady displayed the reverse side of the medal which depicted twelve stars. In the midst of which was the letter M surmounted with a cross ans at its foot, the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The Miraculous Medal
A Powerful Shield
The Miraculous Medal is a powerful shield to protect the wearer from the damage that evil can do. St Maximillian described it as a "bullet" with which to defeat Satan. It is a strong help to convert sinners, to bring back the lapsed, to comfort the sorrowful, to aid the afflicted and to console the dying. Never underestimate its power. Wear it witth great faith and loving devotion. The Miraculous Medal is a sign of Mary's love for us and our trust and confidence in her.
Wear the Miraculous Medal.
Every Crusader wears or carries the Miraculous Medal. St Maximillian chose this powerful weapon as a sign of consecration to Mary Immaculate.
DAILY ACT OF CONSECRATION TO MARY IMMACULATE
Immaculate Mary, my Queen and Mother of the Church, I consecrate myself to you this day. Use me as you desire so that the Kingdom of God may grow on the face of the earth. I offer to God all my prayers, my deeds, my sufferings this day through your most Immaculate Heart.