The principal author of this book, Father Aladel, was a member of the Congregation of the Mission founded by Saint Vincent de Paul. More importantly, he was the spiritual director and confessor of Saint Catherine Laboure. The Miraculous Medal was designed by the Mother of God and communicated by her to Sister Catherine with the instruction that this devotion be spread throughout the Church.
The inscription: O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee, anticipated the definition of the Immaculate Conception by nearly a quarter of a century. This book relates not only the heavenly visitations given to this humble saint, as well as her adventures and crosses endured for Our Lady’s cause, but also it gives the ensuing history of the medal itself with many accounts of miracles which accompanied its pious reception.
The Miraculous Medal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Sister Catherine, Daughter of Charity — Her Birth — Early Life — Vocation — Entrance into the Community — Apparition of the Blessed Virgin— The Medal — Sister Catherine is sent to d’Enghien Hospital — Her humble, hidden Life— Her Death.
CHAPTER II
Mary’s Agency in the Church — This Agency always manifest, seems to have disappeared during the Eighteenth and at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century — Mary reappears in 1830 — Motives and Importance of this Apparition — The Immaculate Conception.
CHAPTER III
Apparitions of the Blessed Yirgin to Sister Catherine— First Apparition : An Angel Conducts the Sister to the Chapel — Mary Converses with Her — Second Apparition : Mary standing upon a Globe, her hands emitting Rays of Light, symbolic of Grace — Mary orders a Medal to be Struck — Third Apparition : Mary Repeats the Order.
CHAPTER IV
The Medal Appears — The Welcome it Receives — Canonical Investigation ordered by Mgr. de Quelen— Wonderful Circulation of the Medal.
CHAPTER V
Development of the Devotion to the Immaculate Conception — Mgr. de Quelen’s Circular.
CHAPTER VI
Extraordinary Graces obtained by means of the Miraculous Medal — Graces obtained from 1832 to 1885 — During the year 1835, in France, Switzerland, Savoy, Turkey — From 1836 to 1838, in France, Italy, Holland, &c.— Notre Dame des Victoires — From 1838 to 1842, in Greece, America, China, &c.— From 1843 to 1877, in France, Germany, Italy, America.
CHAPTER VII
Progress of the Devotion to Mary crowned by the Definition of the Immaculate Conception — Our Lady of La Salette— The Children of Mary— The Definition of the Immaculate Conception.
CHAPTER VIII
The Miraculous Medal and the War — The War in the East — The Italian War— The United States— War between Prussia and Austria — Souvenirs of the Commune.
CHAPTER IX
Recent Manifestations of the Blessed Virgin in the Church — Our Lady of Lourdes — Our Lady of Pontmain, &c. — Conclusion.
