“One must see God in everyone.”
Catherine was born on May 2, 1806, in the Burgundy region of France, to Pierre and Madeleine Laboure. She was the 9th of 11 children. Her baptismal name was Zoe but the family rarely used the name.
When she was 9 years old, her mother passed away and in her sorrow, she stood on her tiptoes in her home to see the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and tearfully said, “Now, dear Blessed Mother, you will be my mother.”
She was very quiet and practical as a child and assumed the responsibilities of the household. Her father, wishing to deter her from the religious vocation, sent her to Paris to work in his brother’s eating establishment for poor workers. There she observed their suffering, and continued to desire a life as a nurse.
On several occasions she came across an unknown elderly priest who called for her, but instead, out of fear she would turn and run. She then experienced a dream of him motioning her to a room of sick people and stated, “It is good to care for the sick. For now, you flee from me, but one day you will be glad to approach me. God has plans for you. Don’t forget it!” She was more frightened then ever. Years later, during a visit to the Daughters of Charity Hospital, she saw a picture of the old priest on the wall and discovered it was their founder, Saint Vincent de Paul.
At the age of 23, she joined the Daughters of Charity, and while she was still a novice, on the eve of the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, she woke from her sleep after hearing a child’s voice calling her to the chapel. The Blessed Virgin Mary was waiting for her.
As she had approached the chapel, the door swung open, revealing a brilliant light. She was told she would be given a mission with all the graces necessary to complete it. Our Lady said, “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. Times are evil in France and in the world.”
Mary visited Catherine a 2nd time during evening meditations and 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.” When she asked why some of the rays of light did not reach the earth, Mary replied, “Those are the graces for which people forget to ask.”
Mary asked Catherine to take the images to her father confessor, telling him they should be placed on medallions. “All who wear them will receive great graces.”
At 1st she was not believed, but after 2 years, her story was brought to the Archbishop who ordered 2,000 medals struck. They were dispersed rapidly and effectively.
Catherine spent the next 40 years of her life caring for the elderly, sick, and disabled. On December 31, 1876, she passed away at the age of 70.
The Miraculous Medal played an important role in the proclamation by Pope Pius IX of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1854 as the dogma of the Immaculate Conception had note yet been officially promulgated.
She is the patron saint of the elderly, infirmed people, and the Miraculous Medal.
Her feast day is November 28.
“God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.”
For God’s Glory.
