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
"Among the patients was a poor young man named William Hudson,
who for a long time refused to receive baptism. The Sisters,
however, nowise discouraged, explained to him the Sacrament
of Baptism, and instructed him in the mysteries of our holy
religion, and the Sister, under whose immediate charge he
was, hung a medal around his neck. Finally, he asked to speak
to good Father Burke; was baptized, and expired in the most
edifying dispositions, pronouncing the holy name of Mary.
Several others followed his example, and made their peace with
God before death."
* * * * *
"Mr. Huls, a man of thirty-five, though convinced of the
necessity of baptism, postponed the reception of it from day
to day. Knowing that he had but little attraction for our holy
religion, I forbore to mention the subject too frequently.
Nevertheless, seeing that death was rapidly approaching, I
placed a medal under his pillow and begged the Blessed Virgin
to take charge of his salvation. The next day, just as I was
turning away after giving him a drink, he called me and said:
'Sister, what ought I to do to prepare for the next world?' I
told him that it was necessary to repent of his sins, because
sin is the greatest of evils, and it had caused the sufferings
and death of our Lord Jesus Christ; that God's goodness and
mercy towards sinners are infinite, and that He is always ready
to pardon us, even at the last moment, if we sincerely return
to Him. I urged him to cast himself with confidence into the
arms of this merciful Father, who earnestly desired to open
for him the gates of the Eternal City, and I added that it was
absolutely necessary to be baptized. He assured me that he
believed all I had said to him; he then repeated with fervor
the acts of faith, hope, charity, contrition, and resignation
to the will of God. Seeing that he was entering into his agony,
I baptized him; the Sacraments appeared to revive his strength.
He began to pray, and made such beautiful aspirations of
love and gratitude to God, that one might have said his good
angel inspired them, particularly the act of contrition. I
remained with him to the last, praying for him, when he had not
strength to do so himself; if I paused a moment through fear of
fatiguing him: 'Go on Sister,' he would say in dying accents,
'I can still pray.'"
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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