"Our Lady of Miraculous Charity"

Описание: "Our Lady of Miraculous Charity" most commonly refers to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a devotion to the Virgin Mary that originated from apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré in Paris in 1830. During these apparitions, Mary asked that a medal be created, promising great graces to those who wear it with faith and trust. The medal features an image of Mary with rays of light, and a reverse side with the letter "M" on a cross and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The apparitions and the medal's creation
Apparitions: The Virgin Mary appeared to Catherine Labouré, a sister of the Daughters of Charity, three times in 1830.
First apparition: Mary appeared and spoke of suffering but promised God's grace for those who trust in her.
Second apparition: Mary appeared holding a globe and requested that a medal be struck from the design she showed Catherine. The inscription "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee" was part of the vision.
Third apparition: The vision revealed the reverse side of the medal: a cross, the letter "M," the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Miraculous Medal and its significance
Symbolism: The rays of light from Mary's hands represent the graces she bestows on those who ask for them. The symbols on the reverse side represent the mysteries of the Christian faith.
Graces and devotion: Wearing the medal with faith is believed to bring "great graces". It has become a powerful symbol of devotion, trust in Mary's intercession, and a reminder of her maternal care.
Modern devotion: The chapel in Paris where the apparitions took place is now a popular site for pilgrimages and is still maintained by the Daughters of Charity.
Related devotion: Our Lady of Charity
Patroness of Cuba: "Our Lady of Charity" (La Caridad) is a distinct devotion with a separate origin, particularly recognized as the patroness of Cuba.
Origin: The devotion is associated with an image of the Virgin Mary found by three boys in Cuba around 1600.
Papal recognition: The image was solemnly crowned in 1936, and Pope John Paul II crowned it as queen and patron saint of Cuba in 1998.