The Miraculous Medal is the most popular item of Catholic jewellery and millions of medals are worn around the world. Miraculous medals are also popularly known as the medal of the Immaculate Conception. 

Miraculous Medals
 

The History of the Miraculous Medal

On the evening of July 18, 1830 at her convent in Paris, a young Nun had a vision of Our Lady. This Nun was called Sister Catherine Laboure, who later became Saint Catherine Laboure. This vision was followed by other apparitions, most notably on November 27, 1830, when Our Lady manifested the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure and asked her to create the medal.

Catherine saw Our Lady standing on a globe, with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the figure was an inscription: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Then Mary spoke to Catherine: "Have a medal struck in this model, those who wear it will receive special graces. Those who wear one should do so around the neck, special graces will be received by those who wear it with faith and devotion".

Miraculous medals have the Blessed Virgin Mary in the center and the lights coming from her hands, which are said to grant the special graces. When Our Lady was asked by Saint Catherine Laboure why all her rings did not shed these lights, she responded "These lights represent the graces which people forget to ask for".

With the approval of the Church, the first medals were made in 1832 and Pope Leo XIII created a Feast for the Congregation of the Mission, to celebrate the medal. Since then millions of Catholics now wear one of these medals to display their faith and show their devotion to Mary and Jesus.