Saint Catherine Laboure'

THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL-Saint Catherine Laboure’

Saint Catherine Laboure’

Was a sister of charity

And born in France

To a large farming family

In the 19^th century

She looked

After her widowed father

For several years

Then worked as a waitress

In her uncle’s café in Paris

She joined

The sisters of charity in 1830

And lived inconspiculously                     

For 46 years

Her superiors labeled her as:

“Matter of fact, unexcitable, insignificant,

Cold, and apathetic”

Doesn’t sound much

Like a Saint-does it

So there must have been

Something going on inside of her

Until a few months

Before her death

Hardly anyone knew

About the visions

She had as a young nun

Her most famous visions

And dialogues

Were with the Blessed Virgin

In one such vision

Mary appeared

As in a picture

Standing on a globe

With rays of light

Coming from her hands

And this inscription surrounded her,

“Mary conceived without sin

Pray for us

Who have recourse to thee”

On the reverse side

Was a capital “M”

With the cross above

And two hearts below

Catherine believed

She was to have this medal produced

And it was

In 1836

A church inquiry

Declared the vision authentic

I carry my miraculous medal

With me daily

And if you like me

Are a BELIEVER

I am sure you do too

Catherine died

On December 31^st, 1836

And her body

Remains incorrupt in Paris

Miracles have been reported

At her tomb

And she was canonized

In 1947

Her feast day is November 28^th

Robert P Wallman

1-8-13