The Miraculous Medal

(Sharing at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 16 Mar 2013)

•    The Year of Faith is a command to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world (Benedict XVI, 2011, Porta Fidei, #6).

•    We, the Church, have the mission to faithfully proclaim the mystery of our Lord until it is finally manifested in full light.

•    The call to conversion is not new. The mystery of our salvation has been filled with God’s seeking out mankind who often strayed, calling him to return to the Creator in heart and mind.

The Miraculous Medal

•    The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Catherine (Zoe Labore) three times in 1830 at the Mother House of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in Paris. On the second occasion, 27 November 1830, Sister Catherine records that the Blessed Virgin appeared as if standing on a globe, and bearing a globe in her hands. As if from rings set with precious stones dazzling rays of light were emitted from her fingers. These, she said, were symbols of the graces which would be bestowed on all who asked for them. 

•    Around the figure appeared an oval frame bearing in golden letters the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee"; on the back appeared the letter M, surmounted by a cross, with a crossbar beneath it and, under all, the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the former surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the latter pierced by a sword. (Catholic Tradition webpage, n.d.)

•    In the image of Her Immaculate Heart pierced by a sword, we see the heart of the Blessed Virgin stabbed for all of those who have lived – and died – by the sword, and by sin. 

•    Jesus said, “Put your sword back, for all who have lived by the sword, die by the sword.” (Mt 26:52)

•    At the second and third of these visions a command was given to have a medal struck after the model revealed, and a promise of great graces was made to those who wear it when blessed. After careful investigation, M. Aladel, the spiritual director of Sister Catherine, obtained the approval of Mgr. de Quelen, Archbishop of Paris. Sister Catherine Laboure was canonized by Pope Pius XII on 27 November 1947. (Catholic Tradition webpage, n.d.)

•    The Miraculous Medal is a sacramental, a physical manifestation of the gift of grace that perpetually exudes from Our Lady. It was originally called the Medal of the Immaculate Conception but because so many miracles were reported by those wearing it, the sacramental became known as the Miraculous Medal. (Catholic Tradition webpage, n.d.)

•    Marie-Alphonsus Ratisbonne, who had resisted the calling to the Church, wore the medal and prayed a simple prayer to Mary out of respect for his friend. Our Lady appeared to him and brought about his conversion. He later became a priest and, together with his converted priest brother, founded the Institute of Our Lady of Sion. The Pope inaugurated the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on 27 November.

•    In this Year of Faith, let us like trustful children place our faith in our Blessed Mother’s guidance to prayer, sacrifice and penance so that we, too, would be conveying to the world the mystery of our Lord. Then, we would have fulfilled the command of the Holy Father for this grace-filled Year. 

•    Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we unite ourselves to you under your title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

May this medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your motherly affection for us and a constant reminder of our filial duties towards you.

While wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son.

Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Saviour, keep us close to you every moment of our lives so that like you, we may live and act according to the teaching and example of your Son.

Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death so that in union with you we may enjoy the happiness of heaven forever. Amen.

References:

•    Benedict XVI. (11 October 2011). Porta Fidei.

•    Catholic Tradition webpage. (n.d.). The Miraculous Medal. Retrieved from http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/miraculous-medal.htm

St Rita of Cascia (1381-1457)

Feast day:- May 22

Patron Saint for Impossible Cases and Hopeless Causes

St Rita was born as Margarita in Roccaporena near Spoleto in Italy. At the age of 12, she married a nobleman named Paolo Mancini. Rita remained loyal to her spouse for the entire 18 years of their marriage. She was also a devoted mother of two boys.

Rita’s religious and spiritual convictions so frustrated and angered her husband that he often flew off into a fit of rage. Sixteen years into their marriage, her consistency and persistence finally paid off; she converted her husband from a life of debauchery and vendetta to her way of life but 2 years later he was murdered in what was believed to be a politically motivated assassination.  Knowing this, Rita’s two teenage boys immediately began to scheme to avenge their father’s murder with the influence of their uncle Bernardo Mancini.

Rita exhausted all efforts to convince her boys not to go forward with their plans but she did not succeed.  Fearing for her boys’ souls, as a last resort, she prayed to God asking Him to bring her children to forsake their misguided path. One day while in deep prayer, she became certain with a new and penetrating awareness that her desire for her sons’ welfare could not be greater than that of God Himself whose sons they also were. She therefore entrusted them completely to His wisdom and providence; thereby putting aside her own plans.

Less than a year later, a deadly disease afflicted Roccaporena.  Among its many victims were Rita’s sons Paolo Maria and Giangiacomo.

After losing the entire family, Rita asked to join the local convent in Cascia but she was rejected simply because she was a widow and the nuns were afraid of being associated with her due to the scandal of her husband’s violent death; even though she was acknowledged to be of good character and deeply admired by the entire community for her gentle and religious spirit and held in even greater esteem ever since the triple tragedy in Rita’s family. St Rita felt the call of God was too strong after the first refusal. She requested two more times to enter the convent but was denied.

Rita did not give up but persisted in her prayers especially to St John the Baptist, St Augustine of Hippo and Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino for whom she had a very strong devotion. Eventually they came and visited her in answer to her petitions and showed her the way through the barred doors of the convent. She was to share the gift of peace that she has received from God freely to all. With the help of God and her three Patrons, one of whom who was about to be canonized; she was able to resolve the conflicts and enmity and reconcile her husband’s family with the family of her husband’s murderers. 

St Rita was thirty six years old when she finally entered the convent.  As a first test of her obedience, her superior ordered her to water the dead trunk of a barren vine.  St Rita complied faithfully day after day until finally to everyone’s amazement especially her superior’s, the vine began to flower and bear fruit. St Rita remained at the convent living by the Augustinian Rule.  She is well known as the Patron Saint of impossible or hopeless causes/cases due to the many miracles and impossible events that happened as a result of her intercession.

During the remaining years of her life, St Rita prayed to join with Jesus in His suffering and was given the stigmata gift of a thorn in her forehead.  The thorn was not visible to anyone except her but the wound was.  The wound festered and exuded a horrible stench which remained with her for the rest of her life and made her a recluse within the convent. 

In the year 1446, Friar Nicholas of Tolentino was to be canonized a Saint. As he had been one of St Rita’s special patrons for much of her life, she wanted very much to make the pilgrimage to Rome for this happy and solemn event. Her superior did not allow her initially because of the wound but it healed inexplicably. St Rita was able to go and on her return to Cascia , the wound reappeared.

On one occasion, several months before she died, St Rita was visited by a cousin from Roccaporena. Upon leaving, the cousin asked St Rita whether she could do something for her. St Rita requested her to bring a rose from the garden of her former home in Roccaporena. Thinking it would be impossible to find even a single stalk of rose during the height of winter in January but to the cousin’s astonishment, she saw a single fresh rose on an otherwise dry and barren bush in the snow covered garden. She immediately returned to the convent with the rose.  St Rita received the rose with quiet and grateful assurance understanding it to be a sign from God that through her prayers her family members were brought to eternal life. 

At the time of her death in 1457, the revolting smell that emanated from her wound became a sweet pleasant odour and a bright light filled the room.

St Rita is also known to be a patroness for abused wives and mourning women.

Excerpts taken from:-

    1)  www.catholic.org/saints

    2)  www.etwn.org

    3)  The Precious Pearl (the Story of St Rita of Cascia) by Michael Di Gregorio, OSR