Saint Leonard of Port Maurice 

Parish

The Blessed Virgin herself designed the Medal of the Immaculate Conception—popularly known as the Miraculous Medal! During several apparitions in 1830, Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours.  She saw Mary 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, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from the many wars of the time. In another vision, St. Catherine saw many rays of light streaming from gems of the rings on Mary's fingers as she held the globe. Mary explained that the rays symbolized the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. Some of the gems on the rings, however, were dark, and when St Catherine asked about them, Mary explained that although the rays and graces were available, no one had asked for them. Mary asked that the medal have an inscription: O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary's sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.
On the reverse side of the medal, there are twelve stars encircling a large "M" from which arose a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. Thorns encircle one heart and a sword pierces the other.
 
 

The twelve stars refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “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 12 stars.” The cross symbolizes Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interweaving of her initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. Then Mary spoke to St Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.” St Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out Mary’s instructions. She did not reveal that she received the Medal until soon before her death 46 years later. With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal. The devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity, followed in its wake. Before long people were calling it the “Miraculous” Medal. In 1836, a canonical inquiry undertaken at Paris declared the apparitions to be genuine.
When our Blessed Mother gave the design of the medal to Saint Catherine Labouré she said, “Now it must be given to the whole world and to every person.”