CATHERINE LABOURÉ, Saint. — Born at Fain-les-Moutiers, in Burgundy, on 2 May 1806; died in Paris on 31 December 1876. Admitted to the seminary (novitiate) of the Daughters of Charity (21 April 1830), during the festivities for the solemn translation of the relics of St Vincent (April 1830), she several times saw the Saint’s heart, first white, then dark red, finally scarlet, while an interior voice explained to her the symbolism. Repeatedly the Lord appeared to her in the Blessed Sacrament during Mass, in relation to the mystery of the day.
More notable was the manifestation of the Blessed Virgin, which gave rise to the Miraculous Medal. On 18 July 1830 (first apparition), at night, awakened by an angel and invited to go down to the chapel, C. saw to the right of the altar “a Lady of extraordinary beauty,” who spoke to her at length and ended by foretelling that she would be entrusted “with a mission.” Four months later, on the evening of 27 November (second apparition), during meditation, the Virgin appeared to her again, high up at the side of the altar, standing on a globe half visible (“virgo potens”). Suddenly the globe vanished and her fingers were filled with rings set with gems, from which rays spread in all directions. Then the Virgin lowered her eyes to the nun, and lowered her hands as well, and a voice explained that the globe under her feet represented the world, and the rays the graces granted to those who ask for them. Around the Madonna there then formed an oval frame with a golden inscription which read: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” A voice bade her “to have a medal struck on this model,” promising great graces to those who wore it “especially around the neck.” The nun confided all this to her confessor, Fr Aladel. In December of the same year 1830 (third apparition), Sr C. saw the Madonna again, with features similar to those of 27 November but above the Tabernacle. The medal, struck two years later, spread in a surprising manner. After completing her novitiate, Sr C. was sent to the hospice of “Enghien” in Paris itself, where for 46 years she served the poor elderly with humility and dedication, always preserving the strictest silence about having been the favoured one of Mary. Pius XI in 1931 declared the heroicity of her virtues, beatifying her in 1933; Pius XII canonized her on 27 July 1947. Her relics are venerated in the chapel of the Apparitions (Paris, 140 Rue du Bac). The feast is celebrated by the Vincentian families on 28 November.