Beyond the Medal: How Our Lady’s Gift holds more than just a Promise of Miracles
Date Posted: November 27, 2024 at 08:37 AM
As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, we give honor to the Blessed Mother’s maternal intercessory power to our lives, physically manifested in a sacramental that serves as a reminder of Mary’s loving presence to the world.
When Catherine Labouré received the mission from the Blessed Mary through a vision, she was given specific instructions to create a medal that reflected Mary’s appearance: standing upon the globe with outstretched hands radiating dazzling rays, and her feet crushing the serpent's head. Surrounding her image are the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
The medal is commonly just a few centimeters long and without ornamentation — yet, it holds profound significance and has touched countless lives.
The Blessed Mother promised abundant graces to those who wear the medal with faith. Those who seek her intercession are granted guidance and protection. Hence, many believe the Medal brings miraculous relief, especially in times of despair.
As part of their daily lives, people feel emboldened, confident that no obstacle is insurmountable. But what happens when misfortune still strikes, even with unwavering trust in the Medal?
This Medal is a physical manifestation of devotion to Mary, honoring her faithfulness and obedience to God in accepting her role as the Mother of Jesus. Through her apparitions, she calls us to love Jesus as she did. Her message is clear: God bestows blessings upon those who remain faithful to His will.
Hence, her Medal serves as a reminder to people that we can always seek strength through God. It is not a direct performer of miraculous solutions and spiritual graces. It is God who provides as we draw ourselves closer to His divine will, through the medal that facilitates our connection to Him.
Of Divine Promises and Miracles
The promises of Mary offer powerful support to believers who wear the Miraculous Medal with confidence and strong faith. However, miracles do not happen instantly; they require both devotion and effort.
“God will do the rest, God is there. God will help you, but you also have to exert effort,” said Fr. Rolando “Choi” Limjoco, Jr., CM, Director of the Miraculous Medal Apostolate.
In the same way, the Miraculous Medal helps the faithful make wise decisions by guiding them through life’s challenges. Fr. Choi explains that Mary leads people to their true vocation, strengthening their focus and courage, enabling them to approach decisions with clarity and peace, while trusting that their efforts are supported by God’s grace.
Meanwhile, for some, using devotional items such as the Miraculous Medal serves as a means to cultivate spiritual fulfillment and peace while navigating the demands of daily life.
“Before ako mag-exam, before ako magsagot ng quiz, I always pray “O, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,’’ shared Alessandra Dimaranan, a freshman Computer Engineering student.
Sandra had attributed her admission in Adamson University to her devotion. She sees it as a divine blessing bestowed to her for committing herself deeply to a life serving Marian titles including Our Lady.
For her, wearing the Miraculous Medal has transformed many aspects of her life, bringing graces of guidance and comfort, in addition to spiritual interventions. She consistently turns to prayer for focus and tranquility, and through her closeness to the Blessed Mother’s maternal intercession, her path and goals as a student have become clearer.
Faith and Persistence
In Filipino culture, there are practices where individuals develop faith in objects for their desire of reassurance and hope. These could be family heirlooms, gemstones, and other items believed to carry out miracles, good fortune or “luck” towards the bearer.
However, what sets the Miraculous Medal and many other sacramentals in the Catholic faith apart is that they do not rely on cultural beliefs and superstitions, but clearly on the mercy of God. More importantly, the persistence to change courses in life must be manifested in concrete actions.
“Siyempre, hindi lang prayers. Magre-review din, and ugali ko na yung habang nagre-review ako, nagpplay ako ng Marian songs kasi nakaka-comfort siya, eh, habang nagre-review ako, knowing na ang Medalya Milagrosa ang nag-help sa’kin na makapasok dito sa university,” said Sandra, reflecting on her practices and inspiration.
“Hindi ko siya bibiguin. Kailangan kong mag-aral [nang] mabuti kasi siya yung tumulong sakin. Doon pa lang sa simula na ‘yun, na pinapasok niya ako sa university na ‘to, tinulungan niya na ako na makausad sa life — na maging isang college student.”
Sandra firmly believes that not receiving things exactly as she prayed for does not mean Mary has declined her devotion and prayer. She faced challenges in making decisions about her path and college plans, but Our Lady has constantly offered reassurance that the difficulties in her life serve a deeper purpose.
After several attempts to apply to universities, Adamson University opened the door to a meaningful new beginning. Her devotion to Mary deepened, providing her with an opportunity to share her faith in a community that fosters a Christ-centered life. With her faith strengthened, she now understands that rejections are often redirections and holds her Medal with trust and confidence, knowing that the Blessed Mother continually intercedes for her.
In the Catholic faith, wearing the Miraculous Medal signifies a commitment to serve the community with humility and compassion, inspiring others to integrate faith into all aspects of their lives, just as Jesus and the Blessed Mother did.
The practice of keeping sacramentals like the Miraculous Medal, rosaries, and crucifixes holds a deeper meaning beyond visibly expressing devotion to Christ. Accepting God’s presence in one’s daily lives involves acting in accordance with a divine purpose.
“‘Yung totoong milagro ng pagde-debosyon kay Maria ay yung Mary will always lead us to our true calling. Mary will always lead us to our true vocation. Unti-unti din tayo nababago nito, mas nagiging maunawain sa kapwa, mas nagiging mapagpasensya, at mas nagiging matulungin, mapagpatawad, mapagmahal,” Fr. Choi said, explaining the true meaning of miracle in Marian devotion.
He further emphasized that living a life without a purpose of meaningfully engaging with others and embracing the values taught by Jesus lacks true significance. The purpose of wearing the Miraculous Medal, he explained, is to live faithfully with a deeper awareness of Christian living, nurturing each individual’s spiritual journey, and recognize life’s blessings with a grateful heart, rather than solely seeking miraculous solutions to problems.
The Miraculous Medal is not a tool for expecting instant miracles, but a tangible reminder of one’s growth in sanctity, practicing Christ’s values, and extending compassion to our communities, serving as an outward symbol of inward graces and representing a physical manifestation of accepting God’s sacred presence and the Blessed Mother in the hearts of the faithful.
