The Investiture of the Miraculous Medal will take place on Saturday, November 23, after the 5:30PM Holy Mass. Packets for the investiture are available in the Parish Office. The packet contains a novena booklet (novena for 9 days prior to the investiture is optional, but desirable … the novena begins on November 15), a Miraculous Medal threaded on a blue ribbon, and a card outlining the rules for gaining the plenary indulgence.
Please leave your name and contact information (email, telephone number, address) at the Parish Office as well.
The message of the Miraculous Medal from Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830 is the message of the Gospel for all humanity – God’s gospel of Love. As in Cana she invites us to “Do whatever He tells you.” Our Blessed Mother Mary is the evangelizer par excellence. The apparitions and its messages are not bound by time or confined to any period or place in human history. It is as relevant now as it was then for our world is just as troubled today.
She invites us to wear the medal with confidence and with humility; to be active cooperators and not just passive recipients of grace. She invites us to “come to the foot of the altar” where we can encounter our Lord in the Eucharist and become what we receive, for the effect and the fullest expression of the worthy reception of the Eucharist is service to our neighbor. Our Holy Fathers from SS. John Paul II and Paul VI emphasized this message and its call to the world, “to build a civilization based on love.” A civilization based on love, justice and respect for each individual person created in the image and likeness of God; to look beyond appearances and to discover each human person’s dignity; to open our hearts to those who are most marginalized, to listen to them and to have them listen to us. This is the mission of all baptized persons: to actively participate in bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth. She tells Sister Catherine not to fear. At the “foot of the altar” we can obtain all the graces we need to strengthen us for this mission. She wants us to be true witnesses and not just passive wearers or distributors of the medal. She gives us a very short prayer to obtain those graces: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Let us say this prayer “with confidence and fervor” in all our doubts, fears, and needs.
Holy Mary’s wish expressed in the apparition, is that all of her children wear the Miraculous Medal. To fulfill this, Pope St. Pius X approved the purposes and statutes of the International Association of the Miraculous Medal on July 8, 1909. Its purposes are to render due honor to Mary Immaculate and to sanctify members through Christian formation and involvement in works of charity, especially to the poor. The association is under the authority of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity.
Anyone can become a member of the International Association and share in its privileges. A person becomes a member by wearing a Miraculous Medal that has been blessed by a priest. It is fitting that the person wear the Medal around the neck. It is desirable, but not necessary, that a person be invested in the Medal by a priest or delegated lay person using the approved rite.
A Plenary indulgence is obtained on the day of investiture with the following conditions:
- Have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin.
- Sacramentally confess sins 20 days before or 20 days after the day of investiture (new ruling on plenary indulgence).
- Receive the Holy Eucharist.
- Pray for the intentions of the Pope (1 Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be).
You can also gain a plenary indulgence on the Feast of the Miraculous Medal, November 27, the Feast of St. Catherine Laboure on November 28, , the Anniversary of the Association on July 28, the Queenship of Mary on August 22, and the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul on September 27.
To enroll, RSVP, and for further information, please call:
- Mila C. Flores, (248) 879-8166