The Miraculous Medal

This Lenten season, I have been trying to prioritize spiritual reading; in particular, I’ve been reading simple books about different saints. I have several books that I used to read in my preteen/teenage years that have sat on the bookshelf for far too long, and I remembered how much they inspired me in the past to strive toward sainthood!

I recently read a book about the Miraculous Medal and two things stuck out to me. When Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure to tell her about the medal, Sister Laboure noticed that Our Lady’s fingers were glistening with rings that had stones which bright rays came from. I am sure you are familiar with the image of the Miraculous Medal, where beaming rays come from her fingertips. But Sister Laboure noticed that there were some stones that did not have any rays coming from them, and Our Lady shared that “The rays are the symbol of the graces I shed on those who ask me for them…the stones which send forth no light represent the graces for which people forget to ask me.” So often, we forget to ask Our Lady for strength in virtue and help in our spiritual life, but she is willing to be there for us if we just ask! 

Another thing that struck me was a simple prayer that St. Catherine Laboure urged her confessor to preach in his sermons about this important matter of asking Our Lady for graces. He wasn’t sure what graces to emphasize that the people ask; there are so many we could ask for! He asked Sister and, after a pause, she answered, “Why not put it this way, Father? Tell people to ask the Blessed Virgin for the grace to love God as she did when she was their age” 

I’ve heard of praying to God to help you love Him more. But how beautiful is this prayer and thought! To try our best to love God as much as Our Lady did when she was our age. To have a deep and beautiful love like she did! Father Aladel later said, “That prayer surely covers everything!” 

The more we love God and remember His Presence, the more we want to strive to always do better, to be more charitable to those who are difficult to be around, and to look toward Heaven as our goal in this life!

If you are inspired to read more about the Miraculous Medal, here is the book: The Miraculous Medal by Mary Fabyan Windeatt

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