Do you want to save souls? So did St. Maximillian Kolbe and to accomplish this weighty task he used spiritual “bullets” to take down any walls that separated a soul from embracing God with their whole heart. What were his bullets? Miraculous Medals.
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Here is a brief history of the famous medal and why they are so powerful:
The devotion commonly known as that of the Miraculous Medal owes its origin to [Saint Catherine Labouré], a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul… to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared three separate times in the year 1830, at the mother-house of the community at Paris. The first of these apparitions occurred 18 July, the second 27 November, and the third a short time later. On the second occasion, Sister Catherine records that the Blessed Virgin appeared as if standing on a globe, and bearing a globe in her hands. As if from rings set with precious stones dazzling rays of light were emitted from her fingers. These, she said, were symbols of the graces which would be bestowed on all who asked for them. Sister Catherine adds that around the figure appeared an oval frame bearing in golden letters the words “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”; on the back appeared the letter M, surmounted by a cross, with a crossbar beneath it, and under all the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the former surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the latter pierced by a sword.
At the second and third of these visions a command was given to have a medal struck after the model revealed, and a promise of great graces was made to those who wear it when blessed. (Catholic Encyclopedia, emphasis added)
Just like any sacramental it must be worn with devotion and piety, yet if a door is open, our Blessed Mother will use it. An example of this is the famous conversion of a Jew, Alphonse Ratisbonne. Here is a description of what happened:
[Ratisbonne] had resisted the appeals of a friend to enter the Church. [He] consented, somewhat reluctantly, to wear the medal, and being in Rome, he entered, by chance, the church of Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte and beheld in a vision the Blessed Virgin exactly as she is represented on the medal; his conversion speedily followed. This fact has received ecclesiastical sanction, and is recorded in the office of the feast of the Miraculous Medal. (Ibid)
This particular story inspired Saint Maximilian Kolbe (whose feast we celebrate on August 14) to adopt the Miraculous Medal for a new congregation he founded that was devoted to the Blessed Mother. After hearing the story, he prayed and meditated on the Miraculous Medal for nine months before deciding to make it the emblem of his new Militia Immaculatae (Knights of the Immaculate).
For the rest of his life he would carry a pocketful of these medals, which he would call “bullets.” After meeting someone and exhorting them to live as a faithful Christian, he would hand them a Miraculous Medal and let the Blessed Mother take care of the rest. Throughout his life many souls were brought back to Christ through the handing out of these “bullets.”
One could say that Saint Maximilian prepared the soul by opening a window through his exhortation and then the Blessed Mother would find her way through that window into the person’s heart.
Saint Maximilian also saw the medal as a means of expressing the Total Consecration of his followers to the Blessed Mother and was a means of safeguarding it. He added his own prayer to be said by those in the MI:
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to thee, and for all who do
not have recourse to thee, especially the enemies
of the Church and those recommended to thee.
In the end, the Miraculous Medal is a powerful tool and a constant reminder of the Blessed Mother’s role in our lives. It reminds us of her “fiat” and encourages us to be faithful to God in all things. It can be a conduit of many graces if we allow her to penetrate our hearts. It is a beautiful devotion, one worth possessing and handing out to win more souls for Christ.
To conclude today’s reflection, let us pray this prayer:
Mary, this medal is a sign and a guarantee of your presence. You are present because your power is present, your voice is present and your love is present. Therefore, O wonderful Sinless Woman and our Mystical Mother, we call on you now to fulfill your guarantee. Bring us the great graces you promised to those who carry this medal, especially to those who wear it around their neck. Make us perceive our presence now and always. Make us consciously experience your power, your love and your guidance, that in their strength we may begin to share in your perfect response to God and to each of his creatures, and join in your war with the ancient Serpent. Help us utterly abandon our self-centered feelings and preoccupations. Help us hear and understand you. Teach us to listen and learn. Help us respond to you today and always; that made one with you we might more fully respond with the rest of the Church to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, participating in their life and unity. (EWTN)