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The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (La Chapelle Notre
Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse) is a chapel in Paris that is revered by
Catholics as the site of three apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1830.
St. Catherine soon reported three apparitions of Mary that would lead to a
popular new devotion throughout the Catholic Church. The apparitions began
on the night of July 18, 1830, just a few months into her monastic life.
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The young nun was awakened at 11:30pm by a small child who told her to
"Come to the Chapel, the Blessed Virgin is waiting for you." Catherine
dressed and did so, and found the chapel fully lit.
She prayed in silence at the altar for about a half an hour, and the child said,
"Look, the Blessed Virgin, she is here." The Virgin Mary then spoke to
Catherine, saying that at the foot of that altar, graces would be poured out
on those who ask with confidence.
The Virgin Mary instructed St. Catherine, "have a medal struck on this model.
All those who carry this will receive Grace in abundance, especially if they
wear the medal around their neck and say this prayer confidently, they will
receive special protection from the Mother of God and abundant graces."
The third apparition occurred on December 30, 1830. St. Catherine was
meditating in the chapel when she had a vision of the medal behind the altar
and heard, "These rays are the symbol of the graces that the Blessed Virgin
obtains for those who ask them of her."
Catherine told the story to her confessor, who at first did not believe her.
Later, at her insistence, he took the information to the Archbishop of Paris
who in May of 1832 authorized the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, as it
was originally known. Many miracles were reported in connection with the
medal and some 10 million medals were sold during the first 5 years.
In February 1831, Sister Catherine left the Daughters of Charity for the
Hospice of Enghien, located in a poverty-stricken area of eastern Paris. She
served the poor there for the remaining 46 years of her life.
Sister Catherine wished to keep her connection with the apparitions a secret,
and only in the months close to her death on Dec. 31, 1876, did it become
generally known.
When her body was exhumed in 1933, it was found miraculously preserved.
Her incorrupt body now lies on display in the chapel in a glass case. Pope
Pius XII named her a Saint on July 27, 1947.
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was enlarged after the
apparitions to accommodate all those who wished to pray at the altar, and
the chapel was further renovated for its centenary in 1930.
Today's visitors and pilgrims to the chapel can see the altar at which the
Virgin Mary promised prayers will be answered, and the incorrupt body of St.
Catherine, on display in a glass case. The walls are beautifully decorated with
mosaics and murals.
A white marble statue of Mary, sculpted in 1850, stands over the altar. She is
crowned with 12 stars and rays of graces lead from her outstretched palms
to the floor.