In her appearances, Our Lady of Graces entrusted us with messages that remain very current, especially in our time, marked by great social and political disorders. Therefore, it is worth knowing these messages that were significant at that historical moment, for our knowledge and, mainly, for our experience of faith, because, in these messages from Our Lady, we learn the perfect balance of a spirituality rooted and centered in Jesus Christ, at the same time, deeply Marian.
How devotion to the Miraculous Medal came about
Our Lady of Graces and the Miraculous Medal began with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the pious sister Catarina Labouré.
There were, in total, three apparitions that took place, in 1830, at the convent of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, on Rue du Bac, in Paris, France.
In the second apparition, the Blessed Virgin ordered medals to be minted, in accordance with the visions granted to Catherine. With ecclesiastical approval, the medals were made and distributed, initially in France, and then throughout the world.
Devotion to Our Lady of Graces and the Miraculous Medal, as it became popularly known among the people of God, spread quickly, as well as miracles and wonders, as promised to those people who devoutly use their medal: “All who wear it, wearing it around their neck, they will receive great graces”1.
Our Lady’s messages and the abundance of graces in difficult times
In the first apparition, which took place on the night of July 18 to 19, 1830, the date of the feast of the Founder of the Congregation, Our Lady revealed to Saint Catherine that great calamities and persecutions would happen in France.
In fact, a week later the Revolution of 1830 broke out in Paris. From this fact, “social and political disorders overthrew King Charles persecuted and mistreated”2.
After prophesying these evils, the Virgin Mary told Catherine what they should do: “Come to the foot of this altar: there graces will be poured out on all people, great and small, particularly on those who ask for them with confidence and fervor. The danger will be great, but you should not fear: God and Saint Vincent will protect this Community”3.
Four decades later, at the end of 1870, France and Germany faced each other in a bloody conflict, but the Lazarist priests and the Daughters of Charity suffered nothing, as Our Lady promised: “I myself will be with you. I have always watched over you and will grant you many graces. The moment will come when they will think everything is lost. Have confidence, I will not abandon you”4.
Read more:
Current social and political disorders in Brazil
In a way, the historical context of the apparitions of Our Lady of Rue du Bac seems to be repeated today in Brazil, with the current social and political disorders.
Faced with this desolate situation, the Virgin Mary’s message helps us find help: “Come to the foot of this altar: there graces will be poured out”. This altar, where abundant graces are poured out, symbolizes the Eucharist and devotion to Mary, which will sustain the faith of many in these .
In these apparitions, we are certain of the presence of Our Lady, who promised to always be with us, watch over us and grant us many graces. Therefore, even though everything may seem to be lost, we must have confidence, because the Virgin Mary will not abandon us.
In the following apparition, which took place on November 27, 1830, Our Lady reveals her mission to Saint Catherine Labouré.
In this second apparition, the Mother of God appeared dressed in white, with indescribable beauty, carrying in her hands a golden sphere that represented the terrestrial globe, the entire world and each person in particular, who are under her maternal care.
Suddenly, Saint Catherine sees rings on the Blessed Virgin’s fingers covered in beautiful precious stones, from which very bright rays come out. Regarding these, Our Lady explained: “These are the symbol of the graces that I pour out on people who ask for them”5.
From this image and the explanation of the Virgin Mary, Sister Labouré understood: how pleasant it is to pray to her; how generous she is towards her devotees; how many graces she grants to people who ask her; and what joy she feels in bestowing them upon us.
The graces we forgot to ask
There were rings from which no rays came out. These symbolize the graces that we forget to ask the Blessed Virgin.
At that moment, an oval frame was formed around Our Lady, which had at the top the following words: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to You”6, written in letters of gold. It was then that the nun heard a voice saying:
“Have a medal struck according to this model. Everyone who wears it, wearing it around their neck, will receive great graces. These will be abundant for those who use it with confidence”7.
Soon after, the painting turned and Catherine saw the other side of the medal, which had in the center, the monogram of the Blessed Virgin, composed of the letter “M” and a cross above, which had a bar at its base. Below, were the Heart of Jesus, crowned with thorns, and that of Mary, pierced by a sword.
According to Our Lady’s promises, abundant graces were showered on the people who wore the medal with devotion and confidence, so much so that it came to be called by the Christian people the “Miraculous Medal”.
The abundant graces that Our Lady wants to pour out
After a few days, in December 1830, Our Lady appeared to Santa Catarina for the third and final time. The seer contemplated the Queen of the Universe, again dressed in white, holding a golden globe topped by a small Cross. From her rings, richly decorated with precious stones, the same light gushed, with different intensities, as radiant as the sun.
This image of the luminous rings, which was repeated in the third apparition, helps us understand that God wants to shower abundant graces on us through devotion to Our Lady. Many graces are poured out on those people who ask for them with confidence from the Blessed Virgin. But, at the same time, the extinguished rings, from which no light came out, symbolize those people who, out of scruples, or lack of trust, or, what is worse, lack of love, stop asking for thanks.
Messages for Brazil
The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared, on August 6, 1936, to two girls, Maria da Luz and Maria da Conceição, under the title of Our Lady of Graces. The apparitions took place at the Guarda site, located in the Cimbres district, in the city of Pesqueira, in the state of Pernambuco.
In these apparitions, the Mother of God revealed to the two girls the dangers that were coming to Brazil, if the people did not pray, especially the Holy Rosary, and penance. In addition to these, the Virgin Mary made another request that helps us better understand devotion to Our Lady of Graces and the Miraculous Medal.
To find out more about the apparitions at the Guarda site, the priest appointed by the Bishop to investigate the case asked Our Lady: “What devotions should one practice to ward off these evils?” In turn, the Blessed Virgin replied: “To the heart of Jesus and to Me”8.
Almost repeating the messages of Fátima, Our Lady said that, “to avoid punishment, it is necessary to pray the Holy Rosary, do penance, have devotion to and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”9. Furthermore, let us remember that the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary appear on the back of the Miraculous Medal.
These two devotions, closely linked to each other, have extraordinary power, not only to lead us to conversion and personal salvation, but also to help many people change their lives.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus had existed since time immemorial, but it was only in the 17th century that it became better known, after it was taught by the Lord himself to Saint Margaret Mary of Alacoque.
How to live Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
This devotion consists of receiving Holy Communion, on the first Friday of the month, for nine consecutive months, in a state of grace and without bad intentions, to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and repair offenses, ingratitude and abandonment, with that This is treated by many souls.
At each communion we must renew the intention to faithfully fulfill this devotion. Over time, this became a perennial practice on the part of many people in the Church, which pleased Jesus and Mary.
Devotion to is as old as devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, it also became more popular recently, after 1917, when the apparitions of Our Lady in Fátima took place.
On June 13 of the same year, the Blessed Virgin said to little Lucia: “Jesus wants to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world.” This devotion aimed to save souls and achieve peace in the world, which was threatened by Communism.
To practice this devotion, during the first five Saturdays of five consecutive months, we must confess, take communion, pray the Rosary and meditate, for 15 minutes, on one or more mysteries of the Rosary, and do all these practices with the intention of repairing the offenses committed. against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart for the salvation of Brazil
In Cimbres, Our Lady again asks for devotion to her Immaculate Heart, but this time, for the salvation of Brazil and Brazilians in the face of Communism. In a similar way to what happened with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary also became an uninterrupted practice in the lives of many people.
Currently, devotion to Our Lady of Graces and the Miraculous Medal is present throughout the world due to the spread of devotion carried out by the Lazarist Fathers, the Daughters of Charity and the entire Vincentian Family.
Devotion to Our Lady of Graces is deeply eucharistic and, at the same time, Marian. Therefore, it helps us to live the fundamental balance between sacramental life, especially participation in the Eucharist, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
Even today, the Virgin Mary continues to shower abundant graces on people who devoutly ask her. However, let us remember that, in the second apparition, the Blessed Virgin speaks of her rings from which no rays come, which symbolize the graces that we forgot to ask her for.
This means that Our Lady no longer pours out graces on us, because we no longer turn to her. Therefore, let us propagate this devotion to the Mother of the Lord, especially under the title of Our Lady of Graces, and let us always ask for her intercession, so that more and more graces may be poured out on us, on our country, on the entire world, which is under your protection.