The Miraculous Medal: Its Origin, History, Circulation, ResultsAladel, Jean-Marie
Religion
The Miraculous Medal: Its Origin, History, Circulation, Results
Aladel, Jean-Marie
Labouré, Catherine, Saint, 1806-1876; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint; Miraculous Medal
"His relations and numerous friends endeavored both by prayers
and entreaties to snatch him from perdition, but on the other
side visited daily and sustained by his old associates in
impiety, he persisted in dying as he had lived, in schism.
"In the meantime, I was obliged to be absent several days. This
period was for him one of Divine mercy. A lady of the parish
made a last attempt to recall him to God, by bringing him one
of those medals of the Immaculate Conception called miraculous.
She sent it to him with the request to wear it and put all his
confidence in the Blessed Virgin. The sick man took the medal,
kissed it respectfully, and put it under his pillow. In giving
it to him, his daughter had taken care to acquaint him with
its origin and advantages, at the same time urging him, as
usual, to make his confession. 'Leave me in peace,' was the
wretched father's reply, and she could say no more. Next day,
a neighboring curé was sent for to administer Extreme Unction
to another person in the parish. He came, and forgetting, as
it were, the one for whom he had been sent, he thought only of
the cancerous patient. 'I felt,' he afterwards told me, 'an
inexplicable and irresistible desire to visit him, I could not
have returned without seeing him.' He asks some one to announce
his arrival to the sick man; this person speaks to the latter,
and urges him to confess. 'The curé of P. is here,' she adds,
'and would like to see you, if you have no objection.' 'Well,
yes, let him come.' The curé went to him immediately; at first
there was a slight air of resistance about the patient, but it
vanished, the hour of grace had come, he confessed with every
indication of true repentance, and received Extreme Unction
with an indescribable peace and joy, that never faltered during
the four remaining days of his life. The Holy Viaticum could
not be administered because he was not able to swallow.
"At noon, on the 18th of last May, the month consecrated to
Mary, he died, aged seventy-eight.
"Except his former companions in irreligion, this conversion
was a subject of rejoicing to the parish, and doubtless it
will rejoice all the servants of Mary who hear of it. May this
example, among thousands, inspire sinners with great confidence
in the Blessed Virgin, propagate devotion to her, and multiply
the medal styled miraculous!
"I have thought it a duty to give these few details, for the
purpose of making known the truly visible effects of the
protection of the Mother of God, and the ever impenetrable
springs of grace in regard to man.
"I have the honor to be, Monsieur, with great esteem, &c."
* * * * *
CURE OF MLLE. ANTOINETTE VAN ERTRYCK (BOIS-LE-DUC).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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