One hundred years ago this July, the Church gave formal approval
to the Association of the Miraculous Medal, formed after St.
Catherine Labouré received visions from the Blessed Virgin Mary
to strike a medal in her honor. The medal quickly proliferated,
and has now been distributed to the furthest parts of the world.
You can read a wonderfully detailed account of the saint's life
and visions written by Fr. Joseph Dirvin here , "the full and
authoritative story on the life and works of St. Catherine."
Several months ago on our pilgrimage to Paris , one of our first
stops was the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal on 140 Rue du Bac,
in the 7th arrondissement. It's easy to miss this little grotto
in the heart of the city. The street is just as any other street
in busy Paris, and apart from this little plaque on the
entrance, there is little else to mark the site. Just inside the
entrance above the front gate is this statue of the Virgin with
St. Catherine. “I’ve been made guardian. The protection of God
is always th