Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, venerated in the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Medal

Marian devotion of Merlo (Buenos Aires)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to from Castalina Labouré in 1830, in the mother house of the Daughters of Charity of San Vicente de Paul in Rue du Bac, Paris (France). These apparitions, recognized by the Church, gave rise to the design of the medal which would then be known throughout the world as "Miraculous Medal."

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to from Castalina Labouré in 1830, in the mother house of the Daughters of Charity of San Vicente de Paul in Rue du Bac, Paris (France). These apparitions, recognized by the Church, gave rise to the design of the medal which would then be known throughout the world as "Miraculous Medal."

According to the documented historythe Virgin appeared to Catherine on the night of 18 to 19 July 1830 and, in particular, the 27 November 1830, showing him the model of a medal and asking him to be coined with that image. The rapid spread of the medal and the many favors attributed to its intercession extended this devotion to Europe and America.

As regards sanctuary of Our Lady of the Miracle Medal in Merlothe available sources present it today as a very busy sanctuary, with intense sacramental and ninth life, but not included in the sources consulted (diocese, specific official page, press) a detailed historical chronicle of its foundation, not a precise date of erection as a diocesan sanctuary or specific parochia in the town of Merlo, department of Buenos Aires, Colombia; the easily accessible information refers rather to sanctuaries with this name in Merlo (Argentina and San Luis). Therefore, as regards the specific origin of this sanctuary in Colombia, does not contain a sufficient public documented history and it can only be said that it is inserted in the general expansion of devotion to the Miraculous Medal in Latin America.

The image and the sanctuary

La iconografía de Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is well defined by the apparitions of 1830: the Virgin standing on a balloon and crushing the serpent with her feet, with her arms extended and rays of light coming out of her hands, a symbol of the graces that God gives for her intercession. On the front of the medal the invocation is usually read: "O Mary, without sin conceived, pray for us that we turn to you," and on the back a "M" crowned by a cross, surrounded by twelve stars, and the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

In the case concrete of the shrine of Merlo (department of Buenos Aires, Colombia), there are no official descriptions of the material or authorship of the main image, or precise architectural details of its temple. The easily accessible sources describe in detail a "Our Lady of the Miracle Medal Sanctuary" in Merlo (province of San Luis, Argentina) as a modern Alpine-style building with roof tiles and brick in sight. Since this clearly corresponds to another country and another locality, cannot be strictly attributed to a homonymous sanctuary in Colombia. For the Colombian sanctuary: no public documented information on the type of image (size, picture, sculpture) or on the architectural characteristics of the templenor if he has any title as a minor basilica, national or diocesan sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

The devotion to the Miracle Medal is widespread and in many places parishes and sanctuaries are erected under this advocation; however, in the consulted sources no consta that Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal of Merlo (department of Buenos Aires, Colombia) has been declared official employer of the city, municipality, diocese or national level by published ecclesiastical decree.

As regards a possible canonical coronation of the image venerated in that sanctuary, the sources (including general repertories of coronations, Catholic press and easily accessible diocesan news) do not record documented canonical coronation for this advocation in Merlo (Colombia). Accordingly, according to the information available: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

La fiesta litúrgica de Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal the 27 Novemberthe date of the apparition on which the Virgin showed the medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. Various pages of spirituality and congregations linked to the Rue du Bac underline the practice of November 18-26in preparation for this solemnity, as well as the celebration of the same day 27 with special Marian devotion.

In the specific case of the sanctuary of the Miracle Medal in Merlo (Colombia), by analogy with other places of worship to this advocation and with what is indicated in universal devotion, it can be said that the main party se celebra el 27 November. However, no quantitative flow data, detailed pilgrimage programmes or descriptions of local traditions (specific processions, promises, particular offerings) have been found in official sources. Therefore, beyond pointing out that devotion to the Miraculous Medal is often characterized by Novies, solemn eucharisties, blessing and distribution of medalsand by the widespread practice of "O Mary without sin conceived..." do not contain any detailed numerical data or descriptions for this particular sanctuary.

Link to the Rosary

In the Catholic tradition, devotion to the Miraculous Medal is often accompanied by Marian practices such as novena, la crown of the Miraculous Medal and the prayer of Rosary. Some prayer guides propose the crown of the Miraculous Medal as a complement to the Rosary or as a preparatory exercise for the November 27 feast.

For the shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Merlo (Colombia), not included in the sources consulted a specific official regulation or custom that relates this advocation to a particular form of the Rosary (for example, own mysteries or promises linked to the prayer in that place). However, from a general mariological perspective, the Rosary is understood as a privileged way to meditate on the mysteries of Christ from the hand of Mary; therefore, in any Marian sanctuary - also in that of the Miraculous Medal - the Rosary accompanies devotion as a prayer of trust, intercession and contemplation of the "graces" that the Virgin, represented in the medal, implores for the faithful.