Miraculous Medal of Our Lady of Graces (Aluminium; 26 × 15 mm) ND

Reverse

• The large letter "M" for Mary
• Cross and bar – Jesus Christs' cross of redemption for mankind. The interlacing of the M and the cross shows Mary's close involvement with her son.
• 12 stars – the twelve apostles and the vision of Saint John in Revelation 12:1: "And 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 twelve stars."
• Left heart – the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who died for the sins of mankind
• Right heart – the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who intercedes for sinners
• Flames above both hearts – the burning love both Jesus and Mary have for all people

Script: Latin

Lettering:
M
ITALY

Edge

Plain

Comment

Catherine Labouré (May 2, 1806 – December 31, 1876) was a French member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and a Marian visionary.
Catherine Labouré stated that on 18 July 1830 she woke up after hearing the voice of a child calling her to the chapel, where she heard the Virgin Mary say to her, “God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world.”
On 27 November 1830, Catherine reported that the Virgin Mary returned during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe. She wore many rings set with gems that shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words “Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous” (“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”).
As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Asked why some of the gems did not shed light, Mary reportedly replied, “Those are the graces for which people forget to ask”. Sister Catherine then heard the Virgin Mary ask her to take these images to her confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying “All who wear them will receive great graces”.
Sister Catherine did so, and after two years of investigation and observation of Catherine's ordinary daily behavior, the priest took the information to his archbishop without revealing Catherine's identity. The request was approved and medallions were designed and produced through the goldsmith Adrien Vachette.
See:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous_Medal
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Labouré