Does the Mircaculous Medal really create miracles?

[Madaglan]

I bought a Miraculous Medal back in July, 2004, and had it blessed by my parish priest. I had read, before purchasing the medal, that Mary promised whomever wore it that she would give him or her great blessings. I also read that, shortly after the medal was distributed among the public, numerous miracles were reported.

So, I’ve been having certain problems for a while now; and I’ve been praying the Rosary and the prayer on the medal, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” However I have yet to experience any healing–neither spiritual nor physical.

Next Wednesday, Dec. 8, is the feast day for The Immaculate Conception. I would hope that she bestows on me some of the graces which she has been given. Otherwise I’m going to begin to wonder if Mary was indeed the creator of the medal, and if Marian appearances in general are only the result of deranged minds and/or demonic activity.

Anyhow, I was hoping that people who wear the a Miraculous Medal can say whether or not it has worked miracles for them, and possibly relate some stories.

 

[puzzleannie]

the medal itself is utterly worthless, it is a metal trinket, the blessing it carries has value, and the promises of the Virgin Mary have value, because they were made in the name of her Son. It is not a good luck charm, or an amulet, or some kind of voodoo object. You do not “earn” miracles, healings and blessings by carrying out ritual actions. If you are using this, or any other object or devotional practice with the attitude of manipulating God into giving you what you demand, you could use some serious, immediate spiritual direction. God’s blessings are gifts, given on His terms and He alone knows what we need. Our part is to thank Him for His many gifts, praise Him, express to Him our sorrow for our sins, ask Him for what we need and to give His blessings to others. He is not Santa Claus, we don’t give Him a wish list. We pray. There is a huge difference

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Quoted by puzzleannie:

the medal itself is utterly worthless, it is a metal trinket, the blessing it carries has value, and the promises of the Virgin Mary have value, because they were made in the name of her Son. It is not a good luck charm, or an amulet, or some kind of voodoo object. You do not “earn” miracles, healings and blessings by carrying out ritual actions. If you are using this, or any other object or devotional practice with the attitude of manipulating God into giving you what you demand, you could use some serious, immediate spiritual direction. God’s blessings are gifts, given on His terms and He alone knows what we need. Our part is to thank Him for His many gifts, praise Him, express to Him our sorrow for our sins, ask Him for what we need and to give His blessings to others. He is not Santa Claus, we don’t give Him a wish list. We pray. There is a huge difference

Yeppers to that. I think that one can ask God to heal us though, and any particular problems we might be having. The people in the New Testament did this, in addition of course, to doing all the important things you mentioned: praising, thanksgiving, submission, etc.

I wasn’t implying that I’m trying to manipulate God into healing me. I’m just going through a certain really bad problem that deeply affects my spiritual life. And I’m asking God to help me with that; and I feel like I’m only going further away, even after much prayer. So, I am kinda disturbed since I have had great hope in Mary’s promise. Actually, I suppose I can’t say that I haven’t received any graces, but when I read about the great (visible) miracles in the beginning and then see how little improvement there is with myself, it makes me sad; and I wonder if I really have the Holy Spirit working in me, and if God really cares about me. All I often pray for is just to be able to communicate with God. Lots of people say they can talk with God in the silence of their hearts. I’ve tried that, but I hear nothing from God, neither by ear or deep inside myself (which is more likely). So I suppose I’m mostly frustrated in not ever experiencing the Holy Spirit speaking inside me.

 

[tcraig]

It’s hard, isn’t it, when God doesn’t seem to cut us a break? Miracles and blessings happen to others, but we never seem to draw the winning ticket. When prayers continually go unanswered, your faith does gets a bit wobbly at times. Yes, I know this because I’ve been there, more times than I’d care to imagine.

It takes a conscious act of will to continue on. This is easier some days than others. Sometimes I will simply say “God, I believe; help thou my disbelief”. I want Him to know that I’m trying as hard as I can, even when I’m feeling a bit low. I also sometimes take the time to consciously list all the good things that are in my life.

I’m a former Protestant, so one thing that does help me quite a bit is to realize that what I *feel *has no bearing on what actually is.

I have had one particular prayer request that I have been praying for daily for many years now. It hasn’t yet been granted. Maybe it never will be. But … I feel that I have at least gained the gift of perseverance. I’m sure that counts for something in the long run.

[As for the Miraculous Medal, I did wear one for a time (I stopped because I have long hair, and it was continually getting knotted up in the chain). I found that wearing it made me more conscious of Our Lady. I would stroke my medal, think of her, and say a Hail Mary. I would also frequently repeat the prayer on the medal. No, I didn’t receive any actual miracles or direct answers to any prayers, but my “religious radar” was in the On mode during the day, rather than the Sleep that it usually is without my medal. If wearing your medal has caused you to be more aware, and to pray more, then that is a wonderful grace bestowed by Our Lady!]

 

[Meggie]

Mary has been my protector since I was a small girl.
Wearing the Miraculous medal is my way to show her that I am greatful for her protection. Some would say she didn’t do a good job, but I thank her everyday for my life.

 

[misericordie]

puzzleannie:

the medal itself is utterly worthless, it is a metal trinket, the blessing it carries has value, and the promises of the Virgin Mary have value, because they were made in the name of her Son. It is not a good luck charm, or an amulet, or some kind of voodoo object. You do not “earn” miracles, healings and blessings by carrying out ritual actions. If you are using this, or any other object or devotional practice with the attitude of manipulating God into giving you what you demand, you could use some serious, immediate spiritual direction. God’s blessings are gifts, given on His terms and He alone knows what we need. Our part is to thank Him for His many gifts, praise Him, express to Him our sorrow for our sins, ask Him for what we need and to give His blessings to others. He is not Santa Claus, we don’t give Him a wish list. We pray. There is a huge difference

to say that the Medal itself is a “trinket” is very disrespectful and anti-Catholic. I suggest you start doing a little homework on the actual history of the medal and this may be found at the National Association of the Miracoulous Medal run by the VINCENTIAN Fathers of the Missouri province. Please KNOW your Catholic history before you offer advice as this one and confuse the few catholics who are not very well read.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Quoted by miseriecordie:

to say that the Medal itself is a “trinket” is very disrespectful and anti-Catholic. I suggest you start doing a little homework on the actual history of the medal and this may be found at the National Association of the Miracoulous Medal run by the VINCENTIAN Fathers of the Missouri province. Please KNOW your Catholic history before you offer advice as this one and confuse the few catholics who are not very well read.

Calling the Miraculous Medal a “trinket” is disrespectul. However, I think what she is trying to say is that the medal itself values little, except that it has its source in Mary and her promises. It is because of this that the medal has greater value. Actually, this brings up the problem between the material object and the spiritual object. This problem has resulted in Dualism in some cases, and idolatry in others. I think I’ll start a post on this.

 

[space_ghost]

for those that don’t believe, there is no explanation. For those that do believe, no explanation is necessary…

medjugorjeusa.org/medal.htm

 

[puzzleannie]

I am well aware of the history of the Miraculous Medal devotion and I have worn won for years. I certainly believe the promises of Mary attached to the medal and the devotion it promotes are efficacious, but not due to a piece of metal on a chain, but due to the blessings attached to the medal and devotion, through the merits of Jesus Christ and the intercession of His Mother.

 

[jrabs]

Madaglan:

So I suppose I’m mostly frustrated in not ever experiencing the Holy Spirit speaking inside me.

Sometimes we are expecting God or the Holy Spirit to answer us or bless us in a certain way - in a way that makes sense to us.

Unfortuantely, God doesn’t work that way - probably because we as humans are so finite. He knows what is best, what will work in our lives and more importantly, HOW to get us where we need to be.

Most of us do not even notice the little daily blessings that got us thus far. While you may be looking for God to bless you with XYZ, He instead blessed you by introducing you to the Miraculous Medal. He blessed you by having you discover this forum in whatever way you did. A place where you can ask questions about your faith, seek prayers, advice and info about things like the Miraculous Medal.

He is working in your life but they are often presented in tiny , baby steps - which God uses as building blocks to progress you to the very next step ( a bigger blessing). We are often very blind to blessings of the small nature.

One hinderance that may often slow our progress or prevent us from further blessings is when we do not listen to those tiny proddings and do not have faith and patience.

The Miraculous Medal does work - but is only as good as the faith you put into it. As Puzzleannie described, the power is NOT in the medal - it is in the FAITH.

Trust, believe, pray, wait. You will get there through God’s abundant blessings.

 

[Sola]

puzzleannie:

the medal itself is utterly worthless, it is a metal trinket, the blessing it carries has value, and the promises of the Virgin Mary have value, because they were made in the name of her Son. It is not a good luck charm, or an amulet, or some kind of voodoo object. You do not “earn” miracles, healings and blessings by carrying out ritual actions. If you are using this, or any other object or devotional practice with the attitude of manipulating God into giving you what you demand, you could use some serious, immediate spiritual direction. God’s blessings are gifts, given on His terms and He alone knows what we need. Our part is to thank Him for His many gifts, praise Him, express to Him our sorrow for our sins, ask Him for what we need and to give His blessings to others. He is not Santa Claus, we don’t give Him a wish list. We pray. There is a huge difference

Nice post, puzzleannie.

I think when it comes to miracles, and indeed just hearing the Holy Spirit or feeling God’s presence, we have to remember the necessary ingredient of faith. When you read through the Gospels, nearly every miracle is based on someone’s faith. “Because of your faith…”.

Contrast that with the time Jesus was in that one place and he could not perform any miracles because the people had no faith. (Can’t think of the Scripture off hand, am at work)

That is not to lessen the power of Jesus or God to accomplish anything, it just shows that we play a role, too.

 

[mercygate]

Madaglan,

You don’t mention the perpetual novena of the Miraculous Medal.

Personal testimony: Before I came into the Church, I began attending Saturday a.m. Mass at my parish, where the perpetual novena of the Miraculous Medal is prayed immediately afterward, followed by veneration of a first-class relic of St. Katherine Laboure.

At the time, I needed a small miracle – but didn’t even know enough to pray for it. Then it happened. It wasn’t until about a year later that I did the math. My miracle occured on the 9th consecutive Saturday of my attendance of the Miraculous Medal Novena.

 

[Jade]

Dear Madaglan,

I have worn the Miraculous Medal for almost a year, and as other posters have stated, I too think often of Mary and pray the prayer inscribed on it. I find that the mere weight of it, reminds me that ‘Mama Mary’ is always with me. I find this very comforting. If I may, please do not think of giving up the wearing of this medal. I would like to share a story with you.

When I was young, my parents consulted some Nuns about what medal they should get for me, as I had many health problems and was not expected to live. The answer was unanimus (sp?):The Miraculous Medal. Needless to say, I survived and I wore that medal daily, never taking it off, although at the time I did not understand Mary and love her to the extent that I do today (I was raised Protoestant and not taught very much on the Blessed Mother) I lost the medal at age 12 as I was swimming. It was the only time I took it off, I put it safely in my shoe but it was gone when I looked for it. I was so saddened! Since then I had searched everywhere for one just like the one my parents gave me, but to no avail. Even though I did not know Mary very well, I desired to get to know her and love her. ( I am ashamed to say, that I left it at that for many years and never gave it a second thought)
A few years ago, I had the blessing of going to Rome one summer and while touring the great city, I wandered through the back streets. I rounded a corner and just as I rounded the corner, I smashed head long into a monk. We stared at each other for some time, neither of us speaking b/c of the lang. barrier, but I will always remember this man’s eyes. They were so full of joy. Only the religious have eyes like that! All of a sudden the monk dug his hand into the pocket of his robe and pressed something into my hand before nodding and grinning and waving goodbye down the street. When I uncurled by fingers, there was an exact copy of the medal I had lost. Since then, I have been blessed with the ability and desire to get to know my Mother more deeply. The medal that I recieved once again, and I believe was an answer to my prayer of so long ago has never left my neck.
While the medal itself, has no power, Mama Mary was given power by Her Son and it is through this means that She chose to grant certain graces through the medal and the image struck on it.
I implore you, Madaglan, please be patient and try not to ‘test’ Our Mother. I think that this devotion, just like all of the appericians that She has appeared to us in, She holds deep within Her Heart.
I have grown in love and much joy as I learn to walk with my Mother under the prayer: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.”

May Our Mother bless you abundantly and help you get through your difficult times.

Jade.

 

[Madaglan]

Jade,

Thank you for your story

 

[amsEM]

I just wanted to share a story.

A good friend of mine had moved with his family and was unpacking boxes, his sister got an exacto knife, (extreamly sharp double sided blade) stuck in a box while trying to cut it open, and he went to help and in pulling it out it can free and stabbed him right over the heart. He was wearing a mini Mircaculous Medal (about 1/4 inch diameter) which was what the blade of the knife struck saving him from much harm. Thank you Mary! He has also been saved from many very dangerous car accidents and this also could be due to his devotion to Mary and constant wearing the medal.

 

[jmm08]

puzzleannie:

If you are using this, or any other object or devotional practice with the attitude of manipulating God into giving you what you demand, you could use some serious, immediate spiritual direction.

I am in RCIA. I started wearing a miraculous medal every day soon after I bought it October 23 this year (an RCIA field trip).

I wear it because I am thankful to Mary.

And I wear it as an invitation for God or Mary to work in my life. I need to have contrition for any remaining sin in my life. I want to want a more complete repentance. Perhaps the medal will remind me more often of the heart of Jesus or the heart of Mary. Or remind me of Mary’s sorrows. So I hope the medal serves as a reminder to Mary or to God or to me that I want to change or that I want to be manipulated. And my desire is quite imperfect – I do not presently want all of what God wants. So with what I lack, at least I want to change and get closer to where my will can be closer to His will.

 

[Exporter]

misericordie:

to say that the Medal itself is a “trinket” is very disrespectful and anti-Catholic. I suggest you start doing a little homework on the actual history of the medal and this may be found at the National Association of the Miracoulous Medal run by the VINCENTIAN Fathers of the Missouri province. Please KNOW your Catholic history before you offer advice as this one and confuse the few catholics who are not very well read.

---

Misericordia, I disagree with you. Madagan, I disagree with you too. Both of you jumped on puzzelannie with both feet. I fear you did not understand her most Catholic and Theological statement. The post of puzzeleannie was pointing you toward God, Jesus and Our Lady, not to the properties of a piece of metal.

Pagans, American Indians and , yes some modern Americans think there is a magical power in amulets, medals good luck charms] and certain incantations (prayers). There is no magic in a religious medal. The effects called magic comes from prayer.

Does anyone think that if a Pagan carried a Rosary in his pocket that there will be some kind of magical protection or favors for him? puzzelannies point was that the medal itself can do nothing, but rather it is good that the medal may remind someone to pray.
Is there now peace in cyber land?

 

[albert_cipriani]

puzzleannie:

I certainly believe the promises of Mary attached to the medal and the devotion it promotes are efficacious, but not due to a piece of metal on a chain, but due to the blessings attached to the medal and devotion…

Then why don’t you get your priest to bless a scrap of leather or a metal slug and wear that around your neck with a chain? If the blessing alone were operative and not also the miraculous medal that received the blessing, you should have no problem wearing a blessed coin. If you do have a problem wearing a blessed coin, take back your statement that the medal’s blessing and not the medal itself is all that is operative. – Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
geocities.com/albert_cipriani/index.html

groups.yahoo.com/group/ReligiousPhilosophy/