I wear three:
- The Medal of the Immaculate Conception (also better known as the “Miraculous Medal”) with our Lady facing outwards.
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (one side) and Pope John Paul II on the other side. I wear it with our lady facing outwards because Pope John Paul II being humble would want it that way and besides that he was totally Mary’s.
- A St. Benedict medal.
All three medals were fairly inexpensive (less than $1 each). And I wear them on a somewhat long stainless steel chain that I also bought at the Catholic book store (long because I’m big and tall). Since the medals are fairly small they don’t clank too loud. I don’t mind that they do stick together. And I generally wear them such that the Miraculous Medal is on the outside, Pope John Paul II and the St. Benedict medal beneath them all.
They aren’t too noisy at all most of the time.
I do not wear the medals because of superstition or as luck charms. I wear them as a reminder.
(1) Miraculous Medal – Because Mother Mary loves me and I wear it is as a sign that I am adopted. It was a difficult adoption with expensive legal requirements and you can tell that by looking at the back of the medal. And because the United States is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, I think it should be a patriotic duty of all American Catholics to wear this medal.
(2) Our Lady of Czestochowa / and Pope John Paul II because of incredible reasons. I first visited the National Shrine in Washington DC on August 26, 2004. This was before I started RCIA classes. I was unemployed and had not planned the trip, but I think Our Lady guided me there. And at the time I did not know August 26 was the feast day of Our Lady of Czestochowa. I briefly saw a beautiful painting of the Black Madonna that day. And a year later found out about that feast day. Pope John Paul II because he loved Mary so much and he loved the Rosary so much. I learned to love the Rosary from Pope John Paul II, and I have had physical healings several times by listening to his Rosary CD. Sometimes I have played the CD on autorepeat all night. The Rosary also got me my current job and I had been unemployed for more than a year.
- St. Benedict Medal. After my first wife left me more than 10 years ago, I was quite upset and depressed. I signed up for and went to a divorce-recovery workshop that the Benedictine Sisters had nearby. There was little else I could do (I wasn’t a Catholic and I was also unemployed at that time – so you see how desperate I was to go to something that might help). The one-day workshop was encouraging to me and I was surprised to find out that the Benedictine nuns were actually also wonderful Christians. It is quite possible that I did not kill myself at that time because I was encouraged at the workshop.
My advice is this – wear around your neck only what you deeply desire to have near your heart. Because there is a significant meaning to you. Then I think you cannot go wrong, and it will be a reminder to your heart. Be sure to have your medals blessed by a Priest (or deacon).
There are things that I cannot wear around my neck, either because I cannot presently fulfill a related vow or because it just isn’t for me at this time.
I wear inexpensive medals – still of fairly good quality, because they are easily replaced. And to help remind me to identify with the poor. Duplicates can be easily obtained.
I wear them inside my clothes. Except when I sing in the choir, only because I want to encourage people to wear the Miraculous Medal.
I am waiting for it’s replacement to come in the mail anyday. I wear it during the season when I am showing horses - St. Anne is the patron saint of equestrians and childless people, which I am both. St. Anne Pray For Us. 