Entering the Daughters of Charity
In 1830, at the age of 24, Catherine Labouré joined the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity, founded by Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac. The congregation, which was dedicated to the poor and the sick, was renowned for its works of charity and its mission to help the most disadvantaged. Catherine was sent to the novitiate in Paris, rue du Bac, in the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity. It was here that she would spend most of her religious life and have mystical experiences that would change her destiny and that of many believers.
The Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
In 1830, a few months after her arrival, Catherine experienced three apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the chapel on Rue du Bac.
The first apparition took place on the night of 18 July 1830. Catherine, then at prayer, saw a child (whom she interpreted as her guardian angel) who guided her to the chapel. There she met the Virgin Mary, seated on a chair near the altar. Mary speaks tenderly to Catherine, foretelling difficult times ahead for France and the Church. This intimate conversation between the Virgin and Catherine is imbued with gentleness and comfort.
On 27 November of the same year, the Virgin appeared to Catherine again, this time with a specific message: she asked her to have a medal struck according to a precise model, promising that "all who wear it with confidence will receive great graces." The vision of the medal shows the Virgin Mary standing with her arms open and rays of light streaming from her hands, surrounded by the inscription: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you." The back of the medal features a cross over the letter "M" and two hearts, representing those of Jesus and Mary. This medal would later become the Miraculous Medal, worn by millions of believers around the world.
A final apparition, brief and silent, took place in December 1830, reinforcing Catherine's call to Marian devotion and the mission to have the medal struck. From then on, she committed herself to spreading the Virgin's message.
A Life of Humility and Service
Despite her mystical experiences, Catherine Labouré led a simple and discreet life. She chose never to reveal that she was the visionary of the Miraculous Medal. Even within her own congregation, her sisters knew nothing of her role in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Only her confessor, Father Jean-Marie Aladel, and a few superiors were aware of her secret. Catherine became a devoted nun, serving the sick and poor in the hospices of the Paris region.
Her humility and discretion led her to avoid honours and recognition. To the end of her life, she remained an ordinary nun, praying and serving in silence.
Last Years and Canonisation
Catherine Labouré spent the last 46 years of her life in the house of the Daughters of Charity in Enghien-Reuilly, Paris, where she continued to care for the elderly and the sick with compassion. She is known for her devotion and generosity, but never for the Marian apparitions she witnessed.
She died on 31 December 1876, aged 70, leaving behind a powerful devotion to the Virgin Mary and a spiritual legacy embodied in the Miraculous Medal.
Canonisation and Recognition
The cause for the beatification of Catherine Labouré was opened in 1895. In 1933, after a thorough investigation into her life and virtues, Pope Pius XI beatified her, officially recognising her role in the spread of the Miraculous Medal and her exemplarity as a nun. In 1947, she was canonised by Pope Pius XII, becoming Saint Catherine Labouré.
Heritage and Importance of Saint Catherine Labouré
Saint Catherine Labouré is venerated as the saint of the Miraculous Medal. Her legacy lives on through the millions of people who continue to wear this medal and who find in Marian devotion a source of comfort and protection. The chapel on the Rue du Bac, where she appeared, is now a place of pilgrimage where thousands of believers go every year to pray and reflect. Her body, which remained incorrupt, is displayed in this chapel, a sign of veneration and faith for pilgrims.
The life of Saint Catherine Labouré is one of simple faith, unwavering humility and a deep love for the Virgin Mary. Through her role in the creation of the Miraculous Medal, she left a powerful testimony of Marian devotion and intercession, inspiring generations of believers. Her life is a reminder that even the most discreet souls can achieve great things in the service of God, and that faith and trust in Marian protection can offer comfort and inner peace.
