Pieces of metal resembling coins, blessed by the Church and used to increase devotion, to commemorate some religious event, to protect the wearer, or to serve as badges of pious societies. Some bring indulgences to the user.
Their use among Christians is very ancient; many have been found in the catacombs, often marked with the Chi-Rho, the Greek monogram which is an abbreviation of the name of Christ. In the Middle Ages, when pilgrimages were made to famous shrines, medals or “tokens” were often given to the pilgrims; and c.1475 medals were made commemorating papal jubilees. Many kinds are now in use, such as
- those in honour of Our Blessed Lord, such as the Medal of the Sacred Heart, of the Holy Childhood, and of the Infant of Prague
- those in honour of the Blessed Virgin, the Mater Dolorosa, Our Lady of Victory, of Mount Carmel, of Good Counsel, of Perpetual Help, of Lourdes, and the “Miraculous Medal“
- those in honour of saints, e.g., Saint Joseph, Saint Dominic, Saint Aloysius, Saint Francis, Saint Agnes, Saint Anne, Saint Rita, the popular Medal of Saint Christopher, and also the highly indulgenced Medal of Saint Benedict
- those in honour of religious events and of devotions, e.g., First Communions, jubilees, etc., including the Scapular Medal