Saint Catherine Laboure

Saint Catherine lost her mother when she was only 9 years old.  After her mother's funeral, she went home and picked up a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary declaring, "Now you will be my mother."

A few years later, St. Catherine had a dream of an old priest motioning her to care for the sick.  He said, "It is a good deed to look after the sick. God has designs on you. Do not forget it."  Years later, during a visit to the Daughters of Charity hospital, Catherine saw a picture of the old priest on the wall. She discovered it was of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul. She immediately knew she would become a member of St. Vincent's order.

Six months after entering the order, she woke up to a child's voice telling her to go to the chapel because the Blessed Virgin Mary was waiting for her.  When she entered the chapel, Our Lady was there and told her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world."

In November 1830, the Blessed Mother visited Catherine a second time. She showed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe with rays of light coming from her hands toward the globe. Around the frame were the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."  This is the image of the Miraculous Medal.  

Saint Catherine of Laboure is the patron saint of the elderly, infirmed people, and the Miraculous Medal. 
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Her feast day is November 28. 

Find more information on Saint Catherine Laboure HERE