The Rue du Bac Apparitions (I)

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1830 to Saint Catherine Laboure (1806-76), a young French novice of the Daughters of Charity. This visit of Mary gave rise to the devotion of the Miraculous Medal. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is located in the middle of the city of Paris. From July to December 1830, Sister Catherine received the extraordinary favor of conversing on three occasions with the Virgin Mary. The following text was told by Saint Catherine herself. "It would be impossible for me to describe what I experienced. The Blessed Virgin told me how I should conduct myself with regard to my confessor and many other things. She pointed to the foot of the altar with her left hand, and said that I should prostrate myself there and give my heart to God, adding that I would receive all the consolations I would need right there. "Then she said, 'My child, I want to charge you with a mission; you will have crosses to bear and many difficulties to overcome, but you will surmount them because of the inner certainty that all you do is for the glory of God. You will be faced with contradictions, but wonderful graces will come your way. Do not fear; tell your confessor everything that happens to you, with simplicity and trust. You will see amazing things; you will be inspired in your prayers, tell your confessor everything.'"