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
"During the few days immediately preceding our departure from
the house, the federal national guards said to one another:
'Let us go and ask the venerable Sister Catherine for medals;
she has given some to our comrades who have shown them to us,
we would like to have them too.' 'But you, poor creatures,'
replied a Sister, 'you have no faith, no religion, what good
will the medal do you.' 'Very true, Sister,' said they, 'we
have not much faith, but we believe in the medal; it has
protected others, it will also protect us, and when we go to
battle, it will help us to die as brave soldiers.' Good Sister
Catherine gave medals to all who presented themselves, and
many, who belonged to the enemy, sent their comrades to procure
them.
"After the army had entered Paris, thirty of the wounded
insurgents, before being brought to trial, were sent to the
Hospital d'Enghien to be nursed by the Sisters. The house
was already transformed into an ambulance, and we were
obliged to take one of the dormitories of the orphans for the
newly-arrived patients. The appearance of these men were so
frightful, that Sister Eugenie who had been appointed to attend
them, had not the courage for the first two days to make any
suggestions to them concerning religion; but finally, feeling
that she must comply with her duty, and urged by the advice of
a companion, she went to Sister Catherine and asked for medals
for the insurgents. Sister gave them cheerfully, and encouraged
her to use this powerful means of inspiring these unfortunate
men with Christian sentiments. Animated by this thought, Sister
Eugenie repaired to the ward, and much affected, proposed
to say evening prayers. 'Yes, Sister,' answered some among
them. Trembling, she began; but at the _Creed_, overcome by
excitement and terror, she wept like a child, and was obliged
to pause. When she recovered her voice, it was not to continue
the prayers, but to tell the prisoners how much she felt at the
thought that on the morrow, they would be judged and perhaps
condemned; then making them a brief exhortation, inspired by
the circumstances, she offered to give each one a medal of the
Blessed Virgin, begging them to retain it about their person,
happen what might. The proposition was accepted immediately,
but Sister Eugenie was too frightened to give the medal into
their hands; in the middle of the night, when all seemed to be
asleep, she quietly placed a medal under each one's pillow.
How great was her joy next morning, to see all these poor
insurgents with the medal around their neck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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