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
An officer in the garrison at Gratz, suffered from a serious
wound in the right arm. He was brought to the general hospital,
that he might be more conveniently under the especial treatment
of M. Rzehazeh, a very eminent surgeon. The latter exhausted
all his skill, but in vain, and after a few weeks he saw the
necessity of amputation to save the officer's life. Learning
the doctor's decision, the patient was deeply grieved, and
his oppressed heart sought refuge in piety. He who had never
spoken of God, who had accepted a proffered medal only from
courtesy, now appeared to experience a genuine satisfaction
when the Sisters told him they would implore the Blessed Virgin
in his behalf. During the few days immediately preceding the
operation, he felt inspired with a great confidence in his
medal, and frequently repeated the invocation engraven upon it:
"O Mary! conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse
to thee!" The danger was now imminent, and the amputation,
which must not be delayed, was to take place on the morrow. One
of the Sisters, perceiving that the young officer's confidence
expressed itself in continual prayer, suggested that evening
that he lay the medal upon his afflicted arm, and let it remain
all night, a suggestion which was joyfully received. Next
morning she hastened to ascertain her patient's condition, and
get the medal. He had spent a quiet night, his sufferings being
less severe than usual; and the Sister, whilst attributing his
improvement to the anodynes prescribed, understood full well
that the precious medal had also been instrumental in procuring
relief, and that Mary had looked compassionately upon him;
but she did not yet realize the full extent of the blessing.
The surgeon came a few hours after, and whilst awaiting his
assistants, he carefully examined the wounded arm, he touched
it, he probed it, and to his great astonishment, perceived that
amputation was not necessary. The other doctors on arriving,
confirmed his opinion of this surprising change. The officer
was mute with happiness, and not until he found himself alone
with the chief surgeon did he impart to the latter, as a
secret, his opinion as to the cause of this wonderful change.
On leaving him, the surgeon (notwithstanding the injunction
of secrecy), could not refrain from saying to the Sister: "I
believe the Sisters of Charity have engaged the good God in
this case."
The officer's arm was entirely healed; a few weeks later he
left the hospital, taking with him the precious medal as a
memento of gratitude and love for Mary Immaculate.
* * * * *
CONVERSION OF M. N---- AT LIMA.
Letter from a Daughter of Charity in Lima (Peru), 1876:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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