Our Lady gave the Medal to St. Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, in Paris.

On the front side of the medal, the Blessed Virgin Mary is standing upon the globe, crushing the head of the serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the world because She is the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The statement that Mary is conceived without original sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

On the back side of the medal, we find the twelve stars which represent the Apostles who surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist who wrote the Book of Revelation which states: “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. (Rev. 12: 1)” The cross symbolizes Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary.

At Our Lady Queen of Peace parish we pray the Miraculous Medal Novena every Monday morning five minutes before morning Mass, 7:55 am. Please feel free to join us!