Introduction

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Introduction

The Church of God, like every other living body, has her ups and downs, her seasons of prosperity and adversity . At one time the flame of faith burns high, fanned, maybe, by the storms of persecution; at another she is swept by a burst of missionary zeal; or, unfortunately, she passes through a barren age when fervour wanes and saints are few . One such bleak and dreary period was the eighteenth century, chilled as it was by the blight of Jansenism and the cold teachings of the rationalists . Even apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary stopped for the space of a century; but she had not forgotten her children . And, as proof of her affection, she offered them a token - a medal, with the promise that those who wore it would receive a shower of graces . So generously were her promises fulfilled that the medal quickly won the title of “Miraculous” .

The 27th day of November 1930 marked the centenary of this precious gift, and 28th May 1933 saw the solemn beatification of Sister Catherine Labouré to whom the medal was entrusted by Our Lady . Two decades later, on 27th July 1947, Sister Catherine was canonised with all due solemnity . Now, almost two hundred years after the first appearance of the Miraculous Medal, it may not be inopportune to retell its history, for, much as it is loved by Catholics, few, perhaps, know much about its origin .