Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Random Term from the Dictionary:

MIRACULOUS MEDAL

A distinctive oval medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its design was revealed in 1830 to St. Catherine Labouré (canonized in 1947), a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, in visions she had of Our Lady. On one side the medal bears an image of Mary with arms outstretched with the words "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee," and on the reverse side the letter M with a cross and twelve stars above it and the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The number of miracles attached to the wearing of this medal gave it the popular description of "miraculous." It shares popularity with the Scapular Medal. It is the badge of the Sodality of the Children of Mary. There are numerous special shrines and devotions dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and weekly devotions to her are on the agenda in thousands of Catholic churches throughout the world.