Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

The interior of the Chapel of Our Lady of Graces of the Miraculous Medal, in Paris, France.

Main altar of the Chapel of Our Lady of Graces of the Miraculous Medal, in Paris, France.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Graces of the Miraculous Medal, or more simply "Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal", in 140 Rue du Bac, Paris, France, is the chapel where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Catherine Labouré in 1830 and requested the creation of the medal that came to be known as the "Miraculous Medal". The chapel was part of the mother house of the religious congregation of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Catherine Labouré was a seminary sister (novice) there when she witnessed the Marian apparitions.^[1]

The chapel is more commonly referred to by its address, "140 rue du Bac", or even simply the street on which it is located, Rue du Bac, Paris.

History[]

In 1813 the construction of a chapel began in the Hôtel de Châtillon. On August 6, 1815 the solemn benediction of the chapel was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Apparitions[]

The chapel at Rue du Bac, Paris, is the site of a number of apparitions said to have been experienced by Labouré. It was here on three successive days, while praying, that Vincent de Paul showed her his heart, each time in a different colour. His heart appeared white, the colour of peace; then red, the colour of fire; and then black, an indication of the misfortunes that would befall France and Paris specifically.^[2]

Shortly after, Labouré saw Christ present in the Sacred Host, and on 6 June 1830, the Feast of the Holy Trinity, Christ appeared as a crucified king, stripped of all his adornments.^[2]

In 1830 Labouré, then 24 years old, received three visits from the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the first visit, the night of 18 July, she received a request that a Confraternity of the Children of Mary be established.^[2] Later Mary requested the creation of a medal with the following invocation: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." From May 1832 onwards the medal, which was extraordinarily disseminated and is said to convert, protect, and perform miracles, was called "miraculous" by the faithful.

In 1849 the chapel was expanded and thereafter other modifications were executed. Since 1930, the date of its complete renovation, the chapel is as it is known today.

Today[]

Only the tabernacle, which dates to the seventeenth or eighteenth century, is unchanged since 1815; it comes from the building allocated in 1800 to the Daughters of Charity. It was then to be found in the chapel of the Sisters of Mercy installed there before the French Revolution. Labouré said that it was in front of the tabernacle that the Blessed Virgin Mary prostrated herself in the night of 18 to 19 July 1830 and that she was above it during the third apparition in December 1830. In 1850 an ivory crucifix was placed on top of this tabernacle.

Pilgrimage[]

Tomb with the incorrupt body of Catherine Labouré.

Tomb with the effigy of Louise de Marillac.

The chapel, as a site of Marian apparition, is a Marian shrine and hence a site of Catholic pilgrimage.^[3]

The wax effigy containing the bones of Louise de Marillac and the heart of Vincent de Paul, founders of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, are kept there. The incorrupt body of Catherine Labouré, member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and famous Marian visionary, also lies in a glass coffin at the side altar of the chapel.^[3]