THE SECOND APPARITION
Mary gave her this mission during the evening meditation on November 27th 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. Our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world. The times were difficult the, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from many of the wars of the time. France was first to experience many of those trouble which eventually reached many other parts of the world and are even present today. Streaming from rings on Mary’s fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolise the grace she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on her fingers were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and graces were available but did not come because no one asked for them.
THE THIRD APPARITION AND THE MEDAL
The vision now changed to show our Lady now on a globe with her arms outstretched and with dazzling rays of light still streaming from her fingers. Framing the picture was an inscription: O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee.
The Meaning of the Front Side of the Medal
Mary is standing on a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim that Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn. 3:15). The year 1830 on the medal is the year that our Lady gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to St Catherine. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception which was proclaimed 24 years later.
The vision turned and showed the design ion the reverse side of the medal. Twelve stars encircling a large ‘M’ from which arose a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. One heart is encircled with thorns, the other is pierced by a sword.
The Meaning of the Rear Side of the Medal
The 12 stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of St John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which ‘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 twelve stars.’ The cross can symbolise Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross as a sign of earth. The ‘M’ stands for Mary, and the interweaving of the cross and the ‘M’ shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as Mother opf the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (LK2:35)
Then Mary spoke to Catherine, ‘Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.’ Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out Mary’s instructions
With the approval of the Church, the first medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her medal. The devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity followed in its wake. Before long people were calling it the ‘Miraculous’ Medal. And in 1836 a Canonical inquiry undertaken in Paris declared the apparitions to be genuine.
There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. It is not a ‘good luck charm.’ Rather it is a great testimony of faith and trusting in prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance and faith. God uses a medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an instrument in bringing to pass certain marvellous results. ‘The weak things of this earth God has chosen to confound the strong.’