The Miraculous Medal is one of the most widely worn Marian medals in the world. It shows Mary with outstretched hands and goes back to an apparition in Paris in 1830.
The story of the Miraculous Medal
In 1830, Catherine Labouré was a young novice of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, Rue du Bac. She reported apparitions of Mary, in July and on 27 November 1830. She said she was instructed to have a medal struck. After examination by the Church, it was struck from 1832.
Catherine afterwards lived quietly as a religious sister and died on 31 December 1876. She was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1947.
Legend and tradition
The apparitions are private revelations, recognised by the Church but not binding on belief. The name “Miraculous” arose because reports of answered prayers soon spread, especially during the cholera epidemic in Paris in 1832. The medal is a sign of prayer, not a guarantee of protection or healing.
Feast day
The feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is 27 November. The feast day of St Catherine Labouré is 28 November. Regional and denominational calendars may differ.
Devotion
- Mary as refuge and intercessor
- Especially cherished by the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity
- Widespread as a christening gift and as a companion for the sick
The medal is a sign of prayer and of trust in Mary’s intercession. No guarantee of protection or healing is attached to it.
Attributes and depiction
The front shows Mary standing on the globe with open hands, with the inscription “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”. The back shows an M with a cross, twelve stars and two hearts, the Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and the Heart of Mary pierced by a sword.
A short prayer
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. This is the inscription on the medal and an old, short prayer. It can be said at any time, in times of worry as well as in thanks. Amen.
Traditional prayer, the inscription of the medal.
Customs
Many wear the Miraculous Medal as a pendant or on a chain, and it is given at christenings, First Holy Communion or Confirmation. On 27 November the Vincentians and many parishes celebrate the feast with a service and the blessing of medals. Once blessed, it is regarded as a sacramental, a sign of devotion.
Matching items at LUNEXUS
- Blue and silver Mary necklace with Miraculous Medal and velvet pouch
- Mary necklace, blue Miraculous Medal 3 cm, 60 cm – blessed
- Mary Miraculous Medal keyring, blue, 9 cm – blessed
- Light brown wooden rosary 50 cm, Miraculous Medal – blessed
- Pope Leo XIV prayer card with Miraculous Medal 9 × 5 cm
Many, but not all, of our items are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A business-card-sized certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then enclosed; whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. Shipped via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90. Returns are possible within 30 days.
More to choose from: rosaries, Madonnas as wooden statues and all patron saints. Parishes and groups will find an offer on request on the quantity discount page (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop).
Keep reading in the magazine: Christian medals and their meaning · How to pray the rosary: guide and mysteries
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of the Miraculous Medal?
On 27 November, the day of the second apparition in 1830.
Does the medal have to be blessed?
No. But a blessed medal is, in Catholic understanding, a sacramental. Many of our Marian items are blessed by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda before dispatch; this is stated with each product.
What do the twelve stars mean?
They are interpreted as a reference to Revelation (Revelation 12:1), in which a woman appears with a crown of twelve stars, and to the twelve apostles.
Sources: General Roman Calendar, Martyrologium Romanum and Church reference works. We flag legends as such; prayers are, unless stated otherwise, our own simple wording. Compiled by Denis & Belinda, as of October 2026.
