THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL Sister Catherine was most anxious to carry out the command of her heavenly Visitant, but she met with many difficulties, because her prudent director feared to be precipitate, and he wished to take every precaution in so important a matter. Finally, with the approval of Mgr. de Quelen, Archbishop of Paris, the first medals were struck on June 30, 1832. When it came to details of the medal, difficulty arose as to how our Blessed Mother should be represented, as she had not always appeared in the same attitude. After serious deliberation it was decided to adopt the existing model of Mary Immaculate with her hands extended. The medal soon spread throughout France, and then throughout the world by reason of the miraculous cures both of soul and body that were wrought through it. In Paris and Lyons nearly eighty million of these medals had been struck by 1879. At the request of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity, Leo XIII granted to the two Communities a feast with special Mass and Office in honor of Mary Immaculate under the title of the Miraculous Medal. This feast is yearly celebrated on November 27. CONVERSION OF ALPHONSE RATISBONNE One of the most noteworthy conversions brought about by means of the medal was that of Alphonse Ratisbonne a staunch believer in Judaism and much opposed to the Catholic church. On his way to the East he visited Rome, where he became acquainted with Baron deBussiere, himself a convert to the faith. The latter used every argument to bring Ratisbonne to the true faith, but his efforts were in vain. He succeeded however in getting Ratisbonne to wear a medal, which the latter accepted reluctantly enough. A few days later they happened to enter the church of S. Andrea delle Frate, and while deBussiere paid a short visit to the nearby monastery Ratisbonne was left alone to look about the church. Suddenly he was seized with an indescribable emotion, and raising his eyes to the chapel of St. Michael where the light seemed to be concentrated, there in the midst of the light the Blessed Virgin appeared full of majesty and sweetness--just as she is represented on the medal. At the same time an irresistible force drew him towards her. She made a sign with her hand that he should kneel, and seemed to say to him, "All is well." In that instant he understood all, and rose a changed man. He had entered the church a devotee of Judaism he left it an humble follower of Him who came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This apparition took place on January 20, 1842. Several years later Ratisbonne became a priest and devoted his life to the conversion of his former compatriots in Palestine. THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL The center of this Association is established at the Mother-House of the Daughters of Charity, Paris. In the Acta Apostolicae Sedis the following statutes were approved July 8, 1909, by Pius X. STATUTES