On November 28, the Church honors St. Catherine Labouré, the humble Daughter of Charity to whom Mary appeared, requesting that the Miraculous Medal be stamped so that all who wear it would receive great graces. Blessed medals will be available in the narthex following the Noon Mass on her feast day at St. Elizabeth on Thursday, November 28, which is also the Federal holiday observance of Thanksgiving this year, until they are gone.

Saint Catherine Labouré was born in France on May 2, 1806. She was the ninth of 11 children. Eventually, she became a Daughter of Charity, and when she was still a novice at the age of 24, the Virgin Mary appeared to her for the first time. Later, Mary appeared once again and requested that Catherine have a medal made portraying Mary just as she appeared.

The front side of the Miraculous Medal depicts Mary Immaculate, her hands open, full of light. St. Catherine Labouré saw Our Lady appear like this and heard her say, “Have a medal made according to this model. Everyone who wears it around their neck will receive great graces.” Mary stands upon the globe as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim that Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Genesis 3:15).

The year 1830 is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design to St. Catherine. 
On the reverse side, the Cross and the letter “M” symbolize the close relationship of Mary to the suffering, passion, and death of her Son. The “M” signifies “Mary” and “Mother.” The interweaving of Mary’s initial and the cross represents Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world.

Beneath the Cross, bar, and the M are two hearts side‐by‐side: the Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced by a sword. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us.

The twelve stars signify the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.”

St. Catherine died on December 31, 1876 and was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII. Her incorrupt body lies in the crypt of the Daughters of Charity shrine in Paris, France.