Catherine Labouré

Sainte Catherine Labouré (May 2nd 1806 - December 31st 1876) is holy Catholic church which was pilot appearances of the Virgin Mary Rue of the Vat to Paris, and at the origin of the diffusion of the miraculous medal, carried today by million catholics.

Born with Fain-lès-Moutiers in Burgundy, 8th of the 10 children of the farmer Pierre Plowed, it lost her mother in 1815 and was dealt with by her aunt.

She entered the congregation of the Filles of Charity, rested by saint Vincent of Paul. Very pious, prone to visions or premonitions (it would have chosen the girls of Charity following a dream on Saint-Vincent), it developed a particular affection for the Virgin Mary, having lost her very young mother.

Catherine told that the night of the July 19th 1830, feastday of Saint-Vincent-of-Paul, it was awaked by a small child who says to him: “ My sister, everyone sleeps well; come to the vault; the Blessed Virgin awaits you. ”. Believer to dream, Catherine rise, get dressed and follow the child. Arrived at the vault, Catherine hears soon the froufrou of a silk dress. The Blessed Virgin is, resplendent there, and speaks to him during two hours, entrusting to him that God has a difficult mission for it.

The November 27th 1830, Catherine reported that the Blessed Virgin returned at the time of the meditation of the evening. The Virgin was held upright on a sphere, trampling a snake and carrying rings of various colors from where rays of light spouted out on the sphere. Around the words “ O Marie, designed without sin appeared, request for we who have resort to you ”, and the Virgin known as: “ It is the image of the graces which I spread on the people who ask them to me ”, and to explain the rings which do not project rays, it added: “ It is the image of the graces which one forgets to ask me ”. Then the table appeared to be turned over. It is the other side of the coin: a great M, initial of Marie, surmounted of a cross. Below, two hearts: that of Jesus, crowned spines, and that of Marie, bored by the sword, twelve stars surrounding this table.

Catherine intended Marie then to ask him to carry these images to her confessor, while saying to him to strike them medals because “ all those which will carry it will receive these graces ”.

After two years of investigation and observation of the control of Catherine, the priest informed the archbishop of Paris without him to reveal the identity of Catherine. The request was approved and the medals were struck and became extremely popular. The doctrines of the Immaculate Conception were not yet official, but the medal with the words “conceived without sin” influenced the pope Pie IX to proclaim, the December 8th 1854, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Catherine died 46 years after the appearances without never to have revealed her secrecy with others that with her director.

Exhumed in 1933, its body was found perfectly preserved, and to lie now in a coffin of glass in the Vault of the miraculous medal to the 140 of the Rue of the Vat, with Paris. The body of holy Louise de Marillac puts back also street of the Vat.

Catherine was canonized the July 27th 1947 by the pope Pie XII. She is celebrated the November 25th.

External bonds

Vault of Notre Dame of the Miraculous Medal, 140 rue du Bac, Paris
international Web site of the Girls of Charity

Association of the Miraculous Medal

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