Questions about the miraculous medal

[InJesusItrust]

I have been doing some reading up on it because I plan on getting one soon. I have reaed that on must enroll in a confraternity and wear it around the neck goldmiraculousmedal.com/miraculous-medal-stories

Can a non-Catholic be enrolled in the confraternity? Zachary King was a satanist who experienced the grace of conversion after an encounter with the miraculous medal.

Can graces be given even without wearing it around ones neck? Suppose I get a non-believer to hold it once and say a Hail Mary, will Mary still give the grace of conversion? According to the story nothing happened before the enrollment. At the risk of sounding superstitious, I am desperate here.

I will wear one regardless, but I want to try to get my father to convert by the intercession of Mary. Also I am worried that as a non-Catholic Mary may not bestow full graces upon me.

 

[R_C]

Someone who is not a formal member of the Church cannot be a formal member of a confraternity of the Church. However, as you yourself point out, the medal of the Blessed Virgin can be worn by anyone who believes in her intercession to our Lord - to Jesus through Mary.

I always wear it around the neck, though I understand that some have trouble with metals…perhaps there is a wooden version?

There is a particular prayer to be recited on the 27th of each month, possibly at 5 pm (especially on November 27, day of the private revelation to s. Catherine Labouré) - which you probably already know about - but the line I like above all else, which is why it is advisable to wear it around the neck always - is this one:

Your pierced heart, as it appears in the Medal, will always be able to rest on ours, and will beat in tandem with Your Immaculate Heart.

As for whether the Blessed Virgin will cover you with Her maternal mantle and lead you with countless graces towards Her beloved Son, if you worry that this may not be the case, it simply shows that you must meditate more on Her immaculate heart :heaven: There is a reason for which we profess (especially in the 5th Glorious Mystery of the Rosary) that she was crowned queen of heaven and earth (“At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!”), and as mother of the Lord she is mother of all people and wishes to lead all - especially those who are not yet in the Church or are sinners - near the Lord. To all, she says: “son, why have you done this to us? We have been looking for you with great anxiety”. She will lift her beautiful hand towards Christ, her divine Son, and say: “do everything He says.”.

The king stood up to greet his mother and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had another one brought in on which she sat at his right. She said, “I* have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me.*” “What is it, mother?” he asked. “I will not refuse you.”

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...03x403/482982_469521939745822_407839993_n.jpg

P.s.: I recommend you also learn more about the Scapulary of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as far as I know the most ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin (over 800 years). One day you may also want to learn about the 33-day Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

 

[fred_conty]

It should be worn around the neck. This is what Mary requested.
“Have a medal struck… All who wear it will receive GREAT graces; they should wear it
around the neck. GRACES will ABOUND for persons who wear it with CONFIDENCE.”
From the mother of Jesus spoken to sister Catherine Laboure 1830.

She also said she wanted everyone to wear one. She didn’t mention any exceptions.
You do not have to be enrolled to receive great graces from her, that is not a requirement

Mary promised Great Graces and Abundant Graces to those who wore her gift and trusted her
to bring them great and abundant graces. Trust is easy since how could Mary do otherwise than to keep her promises.

Wearing the medal is an act in her honor. Wearing is a constant action, and therefore a constant dedication to her that we are counting on her for those great graces.
This is not something we asked for but rather Mary giving us this out of the abundance of her love for us.

Her picture on the front of the medal shows her arms down and stretched out. There are rays of light comming from her hands. These rays are comming from each ring on her fingers. Each finger has 3 rings. Many rings are radiating light, but some are not. She said that those emanating light are graces that were asked for. Those that didn’t shine rays of light were graces lost because they were not asked for. So it is very important that we ask her for those great graces. And she did say great graces not just graces.

When tempted hold on to the medal and ask her for those great graces she promised. She will give them to you, and at times you will be taken back by how she responds.

It is also good for other temptations and trials in our lives as well. When the temper acts up and the urge to retaliate is strong, hold the medal in your fingers, and ask her to help you.

This gift from Mary is very powerful when believed and used actively. The devil has found clever ways to tempt, but she has found ways to calm and strengthen all the more. When in prayer and the distractions become overwhelming, hold the medal and ask Mary for protection from distractions, continue to hold the gift and pray.

This gift can be used in all sorts of ways for graces of all kinds…if asked for.

Short story of St. Catherine Laboure who was given the medal to propagate.
stcathek.org/stcath.htm

The incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure as it looks today.
traditioninaction.org/SOD/SODimages5/232_incorrupt_labourel.jpg

“Great graces are often attached to what seems trifling.” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

“The devotions we practice in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary, however trifling they be,
are very pleasing to her divine Son, …” St. Teresa of Jesus

St. Paul said that our battle is against Principalities and Powers, i.e. Demons.

It is blessed. The devil hates blessed objects. Keep it on all all times.
Wear her medal in her honor because the devil can’t stand her either.

Then say, “Mary I am asking now for great graces which you promised to those who ask and believe you.”
Trust her, it works. She is the mother of God. Would’nt she be anything else but truthfull?
She wants you to wear it. It is her gift. She promised and she will diliver.

 

[fred_conty]

In answer to your second need for your father, the green scapular is probable a good choice.
This was given to a sister in the same convent 10 years after the miraculous medal was given.

Ten years after the manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure in 1830,
the Blessed Mother entrusted the Green Scapular of the Immaculate Heart to
Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, likewise a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

Practices

1. Wear or carry the scapular
2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room)
3. Pray, at least daily: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given.
5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest
   (general blessing of sacramentals)
6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:
   “The greatest graces come from using the scapular but these graces come
   in direct proportion to the degree of confidence in me which the user has.” Mary’s own words.
   The user is the giver in this case, the trust depends on you for it to work well.

Promises/Benefits

1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith <<<===================
2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
3. Assurance of a happy death
4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular

Remind our Lady each day that she promised and you know she will make good.

Be faithful to the prayer. She didn’t say when, just that she promised it would happen.

Green scapulars do not have to be worn. You can keep it in your wallet.
To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room, wallet, purse, or all over; lamp, house,car, chair, bed).

You may get a free one by googling “Green Scapular”. Get one for yourself as well.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=620449
(From an atheist)
How did you come to embrace Catholicism?
Strangely enough, it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. That friend of mine had sneakily
snuck in a scapular under my mattress. I didn’t know until about 1 year into my
conversion. I imagine that she had something to do with it. I think it was the
green scapular.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=544742&page=3

My father, a fallen-away Catholic, passed away several years ago. When he first became ill and was hospitalized, one of the Vincentian priest pinned a Green Scapular to his pillow. I know my mother was especially worried about his salvation, as he had not awakened following emergency surgery. He did awaken many days later, and that same Vincentian asked if he wished to receive the sacraments. He was on a ventilator, so he could not speak, but he could indicate “yes” or “no”, so the priest simply asked if he was sorry for any and all sins he committed, then he was given Extreme Unction. This was 2 years to the day of my auto accident, August 3rd. He died 2 days later, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5th. There is a promise attached to the Green Scapular that Our Lady will obtain the conversion of those who have fallen away from the True Faith. I’m convinced she did so with my father, the day of his death was clearly Providential.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

There are women I know that wear a MM pinned to the strap of their bra. And my favorite MM has a pink enamal front and was a crib pin (attached to a safety pin with a pink clasp (the old fashioned kind).

 

[Bookcat]

Confraternity is a separate thing from the medal of the Immaculate Conception…

No need to enroll.

 

[Bookcat]

The medal played a roll in my coming into full Communion with the Church.