Catholics wear medals as reminders to remain close to God. Medals of
the saints help recall the importance of emulating the holy lives of
these men and women. Many Catholic medals are rich with meaning and
symbolism. Below is information on some of the more popular medal
images found on the medals On This Day Designs uses in our jewelry.
Please see newadvent.org for a more detailed history of medals in the Christian Church.
The story of the miraculous medal begins in 1830 when Mary appeared
three times to Sister Catherine Laboure of the Daughters of Charity of
St. Vincent de Paul. In the third vision Mary appeared as she does on
the medal, standing on the world with her arms stretched out with rays
of light streaming from her hands with the words “O Mary, conceived
without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” framing the
vision. The vision then rotated to show the design on the back of the
medal. Mary requested Sister Catherine to cast a medal in this form
and all who wore it would receive many graces. For a more detailed
version of the medal and for an explanation of the symbolism on the
front and back of the medal please go to fisheaters.org and amm.org
This is the image which appeared on the cloak or tilma worn by Juan
Diego, an Aztec Indian whom Our Lady appeared to in 1531. To learn
about the apparition and the meaning behind the symbolism of the image
please go to maryourmother.net.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a special devotion to Jesus and is a
symbol of God’s incredible love for us. This devotion is to remind us
to make Christ’s heart our own and to be Christ-like in all we do. We
are to strive to always have the love and compassion of Jesus within
ourselves.
The heart symbolizes Jesus in His entirety. The crown of
thorns over the heart reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice, while the heart
aflamed is Jesus’ burning love for us.
Devotion
of Jesus’ heart has long been a part of the Church’s tradition. A
specific devotion to His Sacred Heart was popularized in the late
1600’s, after Jesus appeared to Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, a
Visitation nun, and she was told to honor His Sacred Heart. It became,
and still is, one of the more popular devotions among the Catholic
faithful. For a much more detailed history of the Sacred Heart, Saint
Margaret Mary’s vision and consecration to The Sacred Heart, please see
these websites: www.fisheaters.com, www.catholicherald.com, www.oblates.us.
Our Lady of the Snows is one of the oldest devotions to Mary. Legend has it that in 352 A. D.the Blessed Mother indicated in a dream to a wealthy Roman
couple that she wanted a church built in her honor. The couple would know the site for
this church because it would be covered with snow. On a hot, sultry August 5th morning, Esquiline Hill in Rome was covered with snow. All Rome proclaimed
the summer snow a miracle, and a church to honor Our Blessed Mother was built on the
hill in 358 A.D. Restored and refurbished many times, this church, now
the magnificent Basilica of St. Mary Major, still stands today as the
seat of devotion to Our Lady of the Snows.