LABOURÉ, Catherine, Saint. - B. at Fain-les-Moutiers, in Burgundy, on 2 May 1806, d. in Paris on 31 Dec. 1876. Admitted to the seminary (novitiate) of the Daughters of Charity (21 Apr. 1830), during the celebrations for the solemn transfer of the relics of St. Vincent (Apr. 1830), she saw several times the heart of the Saint, first white, then dark red, finally vermilion, while an inner voice explained its symbolism to her. Repeatedly the Lord appeared to her in the Blessed Sacrament, during Mass, in relation to the mystery of the day.
More remarkable was the manifestation of the Blessed Virgin, which gave rise to the miraculous medal. On 18 July 1830 (1st apparition), at night, awakened by an angel and invited to go down into the chapel, C. saw to the right of the altar "a Lady of extraordinary beauty," who spoke to her at length and ended with the prediction that "a mission" would be entrusted to her. Four months later, on the evening of 27 Nov. (2nd apparition), during meditation, the Virgin appeared to her again on high, at the side of the altar, standing upright upon a globe that was seen only in half, holding in her hand another, smaller globe ("virgo potens"). All at once this disappeared and her fingers were filled with rings studded with gems, from which rays issued that spread in all directions. Then the Virgin lowered her eyes toward the sister, lowered her hands as well, and a voice explained that the globe beneath her feet represented the world, and the rays the graces granted to those who ask for them. Then around the Madonna there formed an oval frame with an inscription in golden letters, which said: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." A voice enjoined her to "have a medal struck after that model," promising great graces to those who wore it "especially around the neck." The Sister confided everything to her confessor, Fr. Aladel. In Dec. of the same year 1830 (3rd apparition), Sister C. again saw the Madonna, with particulars similar to those of 27 Nov. but above the Tabernacle. The medal struck two years later spread in a surprising manner. When the novitiate was finished, Sister C. was sent to the hospice of "Enghien" in Paris itself, where for 46 years she assisted the poor old people with humility and dedication, always preserving the most absolute silence about the fact of having been Mary's privileged one. Pius XI in 1931 proclaimed the heroicity of her virtues, later beatifying her in 1933; Pius XII canonized her on 27 July 1947. Her relics are venerated in the chapel of the Apparitions (Paris, Rue de Bac 140). The feast is celebrated by the Vincentian families on 28 Nov.