Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to Sister Catherine--First Apparition: An Angel Conducts the Sister to the Chapel--Mary Converses with Her--Second Apparition: Mary standing upon a Globe, her hands emitting Rays of Light, symbolic of Grace--Mary orders a Medal to be Struck--Third Apparition: Mary Repeats the Order. 51 CHAPTER IV. The Medal Appears--The Welcome it Receives--Canonical Investigation ordered by Mgr. de Quélen--Wonderful Circulation of the Medal. 67 CHAPTER V. Development of the Devotion to the Immaculate Conception--Mgr. de Quélen's Circular. 79 CHAPTER VI. Extraordinary Graces obtained by means of the Miraculous Medal--Graces obtained from 1832 to 1835--During the year 1835, in France, Switzerland, Savoy, Turkey--From 1836 to 1838, in France, Italy, Holland, &c.--Notre Dame des Victoires--From 1838 to 1842, in Greece, America, China, &c.--From 1843 to 1877, in France, Germany, Italy, America. 94 CHAPTER VII. Progress of the Devotion to Mary crowned by the Definition of the Immaculate Conception--Our Lady of La Salette--The Children of Mary--The Definition of the Immaculate Conception. 261 CHAPTER VIII. The Miraculous Medal and the War--The War in the East--The Italian War--The United States--War between Prussia and Austria--Souvenirs of the Commune. 289 CHAPTER IX. Recent Manifestations of the Blessed Virgin in the Church--Our Lady of Lourdes--Our Lady of Pontmain, &c.--Conclusion. Table of Engravings of the Miraculous Medal PAGE Portrait of Sister Catherine Labouré, the Daughter of Charity favored with the Vision of the Miraculous Medal in 1830. _Frontispiece_