"The 27th of November, 1830, which was a Saturday and eve of the first Sunday in Advent, whilst making my meditation in profound silence, at half-past five in the evening, I seemed to hear on the right hand side of the sanctuary something like the rustling of a silk dress, and glancing in that direction, I perceived the Blessed Virgin standing near St. Joseph's picture; her height was medium, and her countenance so beautiful that it would be impossible for me to describe it. She was standing, clothed in a robe the color of auroral light, with high neck and plain sleeves. Her head was covered with a white veil, which descended on each side to her feet. Her hair was smooth on the forehead, and above was a coif ornamented with a little lace and fitting close to her head. Her face was only partially covered, and her feet rested upon a globe, or rather a hemisphere (at least, I saw but half a globe). Her hands were raised about as high as her waist, and she held in a graceful attitude another globe (a figure of the universe). Her eyes were lifted up to Heaven, and her countenance was radiant as she offered the globe to our Lord." Then Sister Catherine tells us of the rings of precious stones that covered the fingers of our Blessed Mother. From these stones darted forth the brightest rays--symbols of the graces which Mary Immaculate bestows on all who ask for them. "There now formed around the Blessed Virgin," continues Sister Catherine, "a frame slightly oval, upon which appeared in golden letters these words: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.' "Then I heard a voice which said: 'Have a medal struck from this model; persons who wear it indulgenced will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck; graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.' Suddenly the picture seemed to turn..." The reverse of the picture bore the letter M surmounted by a cross, having a bar at its base and beneath the monogram of Mary were the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded with a crown of thorns, the other transpierced with a sword. [Illustration: The Second Apparition] Second Apparition November 27th, 1830. _The Third Apparition._ Father Aladel, C. M., her director, treated these relations of Sister Catherine with coldness and severity, and he even forbade her to believe in them. She made every effort to obey, but nothing could efface the consoling memory of these visitations. In December she again had an apparition of our Blessed Mother, the same as that of November 27, except that in this third manifestation the Blessed Virgin did not remain near the picture of St. Joseph, but passed before it and stood to the rear of the Tabernacle, a little above it. Again Sister Catherine was told to have a medal struck according to this model. [Illustration: The Third Apparition.] Third Apparition. Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine.