An estimated 684 visitors came to the National Shrine Sunday, May 4, to take part in the Association’s largest public event of the year. Devotional services, singing, and recitation of the Rosary took place. Member petitions are now resting near Our Lady’s Altar inside the National Shrine Church. To add your special intentions for remembrance throughout the remainder of May, click here.
Author: Michelle Weiler
Enroll a Loved One as a Perpetual Member of AMM
Many members of the Association of the Miraculous Medal received their enrollment as a gift from a family member or friend.
Enrolling a loved one as a Perpetual Member of the Association gives them a share of belonging in our spiritual family. Membership makes a wonderful gift for a birth, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, graduation, wedding or anniversary, or in sympathy.
A keepsake enrollment certificate shares with your recipient the perpetual benefits of membership. Each will share in a treasury of Masses and prayers as well as monthly novena of Masses held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville for their intentions. In addition, members are remembered in all of the Masses and prayers of the Vincentian community here at Saint Mary’s of the Barrens.
The suggested offering for Perpetual Membership starts at $15 for an individual or $25 for a couple. The keepsake enrollment certificate will be mailed to your recipient(s) or their family. Premium and Deluxe Individual Perpetual Membership certificate options are available, as well as a Family Perpetual Membership enrollment.
Donations for Perpetual Membership enrollments and added offerings support AMM’s mission to draw souls to Jesus through devotion to Our Blessed Mother. They also help form tomorrow’s Vincentian priests and maintain the beautiful grounds and church at the historic National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal here in Perryville, Missouri.
Father Clay’s letter tells more. Go here to learn more and enroll a loved one today.
A Lasting Gift For Someone You Love
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
For many members of the Association of the Miraculous Medal, being part of this spiritual family is a gift that has been passed on from generation to generation. A devoted AMM member who recently passed away at the age of 101, wrote to us:
“My parents enrolled me as a member, and I carried on that tradition later with my own children. I tell you that when I pray to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for her intercession with her Son, it’s very seldom that my prayers aren’t answered.”
When we consider giving a religious gift, we often first think of items like a rosary, Bible, crucifix on a chain, or a prayer book. And yes, these earthly presents can bring a loved one much spiritual enrichment!
But Perpetual Membership in the Association of the Miraculous Medal offers something more, something eternal, something with value that will never wear out, go missing, be put in a drawer or forgotten about.
You are holding the invitation to give such a gift to someone. Enrolling a loved one, living or deceased, as a Perpetual Member of the Association gives them a priceless gift of prayerful remembrance in:
- —Daily Mass for as long as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal exists,
- —Thirty individual Masses each month for all members
- —Three novenas of Masses offered each month
Many AMM members were originally gifted Perpetual Membership upon their birth, Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, graduation, wedding, or anniversary. Others were enrolled following their passing from this life to the next, with their closest relatives informed of this spiritual gift. Some members were gifted a membership “just because.” (We don’t have to wait for a special occasion to show our love!)
Who in your life could benefit from prayerful, perpetual remembrance at the National Shrine? I invite you to order a certificate to send to someone who could benefit from this gift of prayer. The suggested offering for Perpetual Membership is $15 for each person or $25 for a couple.
There are additional options here. One option, for an suggested gift of $25 is the deluxe, engraved membership certificate that we’ll send to your enrollee(s) or their family. Another option is to enroll an entire family. A suggested donation of $50 is requested for this Family Perpetual Membership. Call us at 1-800-264-MARY (6279) or go online at www.amm.org to request these options.
Your membership donation, and any additional offering you choose to make, supports AMM’s mission to draw souls to Jesus through devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Your gift also supports Vincentian formation and ministries and helps maintain the historic Miraculous Medal Shrine here in Perryville, Missouri.
Thank you for your devoted support of our ministry. May God bless your efforts to serve him and draw you ever closer to himself.
Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,
P.S. Enrolling a loved one in AMM builds up spiritual riches that will benefit them for eternity! Living or deceased, each one will share in a prayerful remembrance offered daily for years to come –– thanks to your deep faith and gesture of selfless love.
Come to the May Procession at theNational Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
On Sunday, May 4, “pilgrims of hope” from far and near are invited to gather at the National Shrine to honor Our Blessed Mother during the annual May Procession.
Vincentian Fathers Clay Kilburn and Jim Osendorf will lead the prayerful procession from the Shrine Church to Mary’s grotto, where an artful image of a silk dogwood tree will be presented to Mary. Each of the thousands of tree petals represents a petition received from a member of the Association of the Miraculous Medal.
During the current Jubilee Year of Hope, visitors to the National Shrine Church who fulfill certain conditions may obtain the special grace of a “Plenary Indulgence” –– a remission of punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. (Learn the conditions for gaining an indulgence here)
Following the May Procession, members’ petitions are placed near Our Lady’s Shrine Altar inside the church. There, they will be remembered in the daily Mass and prayers throughout the remainder of May. To add your special intentions for remembrance this month, click here.
Join Us for This Year’s May Procession at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
The annual tradition nears! We hope to see you at the Association’s most beloved outdoor devotional service. This year’s May Procession will be held Sunday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m., CT, here in Perryville, Missouri. Joining us in person or in spirit is a wonderful way to honor Our Blessed Mother.
Supporting Mary’s Association with a charitable offering is another way to honor Mary, thank her for her intercession in your life, and expand AMM’s ministry. Your gift today will help share the good news of Our Lady’s promised blessings and favors with thousands more people each year. Contributions also assist with maintaining the beautiful National Shrine Church and grounds.
Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity as we honor Mary throughout the month of May. We look forward to seeing you here at the Shrine! You may donate here. Or, to make a gift over the phone, call us weekdays between 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT.
Place Your Needs in Mary’s Loving Hands
An especially memorable scene from the movie, The Passion of the Christ, focuses on Mary running to comfort her Son after he has fallen under the weight of the cross.
The scene flashes back to the boy Jesus tumbling onto the rocky, dirt ground near their home in Nazareth. Then, too, Mary had run. Arms and hands outstretched, nothing mattered in that moment except reaching her child in need.
“I am here,” she assured her hurting Son.
Mary’s comforting touch came through hands that had given themselves in constant service to others. The hands of a loving mother know little rest.
Our Blessed Mother, with hands and arms is eager to receive us, to comfort us, to rescue us, through her loving intercession, in whatever material or spiritual need we may be facing.
This beautiful bronze statue of Mary is on the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal here in Perryville, Missouri.
Mary is here for you, too.
On Monday, June 9 (the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church) a Mass will be offered at the National Shrine at 12:10 p.m., CT, for you and your intentions. Prior to Mass, we will literally place your petitions into the loving hands of Our Lady at this statue. This gesture will represent your spiritual presence with us and your appeal for Mary’s intercession.
Then, your prayer requests will be placed at the foot of her altar inside the Shrine Church for remembrance throughout June.
You may also request a Votive Light to burn at the National Shrine – a sign of your love and devotion to Mary.
Finally, AMM is highlighting two unique gifts you can request in return for a suggested offering.
The first is a six-inch, poly resin, bronze gold finish statue. The second gift is a Palm Cross, inlaid with a beautiful blue enamel Miraculous Medal. Both items have been blessed here at the National Shrine.
In every moment of our lives, we are under Mary’s loving and watchful eyes. She desires to receive our petitions. Place your intentions into Our Lady’s hands, that she may carry your needs to her Son on your behalf.
Thank you in advance for your loving support of AMM. May God bless your every effort to serve him and draw you ever closer to himself.
P.S. You can receive free, blessed Miraculous Medals on an explanation card to share with family, friends, co-workers, schools, etc. Call our office Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT. You may also order through our online gift shop at www.amm.org.
Let Mary’s Hands Uphold You
Recall Christ’s Passion as You Read Father Clay’s Letter
Mary’s presence along the way to Calvary assured her Son that she was there for him. It is a message for each of us, too –– especially in moments of hardship.
Read Father Clay’s reflection about Mary’s hands in his recent letter. Then, be sure to send your intentions for remembrance in our feast day Mass celebrating Mary, Mother of the Church. This Mass will be held Monday, June 9, at 12:10 p.m., CT, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Before Mass, your petitions will be placed into the hands of a bronze statue of Our Lady on the Shrine grounds, as a sign of your prayerful appeal to Jesus, presented through Mary. They will then be carried to church and placed near Our Lady’s Shrine Altar for remembrance in the daily Mass throughout June.
You may also request a Votive Light to burn signifying your love and devotion to Mary.
Finally, AMM is highlighting two unique gifts you can request in return for a suggested offering.
The first is a six-inch, poly resin, bronze gold finish statue. The second gift is a Palm Cross, inlaid with a beautiful blue enamel Miraculous Medal. Both items have been blessed here at the National Shrine.
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your Mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:27)
Send You Easter Intentions
In prayerful anticipation we await Christ’s Resurrection, the blessed hope of our salvation!
Enrich your Easter celebration by sharing your special intentions for remembrance in the Masses and prayers throughout the Easter season.
Requesting a Votive Light to burn is another wonderful way to express your love for Jesus and Mary. It is also a sign of your faith in the salvation won for you through Jesus. As we will sing joyfully in the Easter Mass Sequence, “Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!” Join AMM members united in prayerful devotion this Easter season. May the Lord who won for us eternal triumph over death be your blessed hope today, and always.
” … they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save … ” James 5:14-15
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Some ancient traditions hold that the “tree of life” in the Garden of Eden was an olive tree. Mentioned over and over in the Bible, the oil flowing from olive trees often seems to represent God’s favor, peace, mercy, power, or healing and bestowal of authority.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus sent his apostles out to preach repentance. The Lord endowed them with power over unclean spirits. “They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (Mark 6:13)
Today, many Christians continue to use blessed oil on themselves and others as a symbol of God’s empowering, strengthening, and healing power. Blessed oil is a Church-approved sacramental.
Simply put, sacramentals are prayer aids –– holy objects or ritual acts used by the faithful to outwardly express their devotion and to be open to God’s grace. A rosary is a sacramental. Making the Sign of the Cross is a sacramental. Holy water is a sacramental.
Blessed oil is one of the many sacramentals available for a suggested offering from the Association of the Miraculous Medal. You may request a half-ounce bottle for $19. Your offering covers more than the cost of the item to help AMM continue its ministry –– bringing God’s love and healing to the world through Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May the use of blessed oil bring you or someone you know closer to Our Lord.
I’d like to share a member’s story. Carol shared how she used the blessed oil to anoint her husband, who was in a memory care unit.
“Jerry was in a dementia unit for a while, and many times I used the blessed oil to anoint him. I prayed for him to have a peaceful death, and I feel like he did, thanks to the many prayers.”
Even though Carol used the blessed oil to anoint her husband, sacramentals and prayer are not substitutes for taking prescribed medicine, for seeking medical attention, or for receiving the Sacrament of the Sick by a priest during serious illness. Sacramentals are used as a sign of faith in God’s power to intervene in our lives. We can surrender in peace to the manner in which he chooses to answer our prayers.
I would also like to pray for Mary’s intercession for you and any loved ones in your life who are in need of restored physical, mental, or spiritual health. I invite you to send me these names of those you would like me to pray for.
These loved ones will be remembered in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You may also request to burn Votive Lights to burn for your needs and those of your loved ones.
May God continue to bless all our efforts to serve him and draw us ever closer to himself. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
P.S. Sacramentals like the blessed oil, when used in conjunction with prayer, can open hearts to receive the blessings God desires to bestow upon you and those you love.
Request Your Blessed Oil
In ancient times, people often used anointing oil for its healing properties. Even today, faith-filled Christians around the world use oil to bless themselves and their loved ones in an appeal to God for the grace of healing. For an offering of $19 or more, you may request a half-ounce bottle of oil blessed at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and touched to a first-class relic of Saint Catherine Labouré. Used in faith, it can open your heart to receive the manner of healing God wills to bestow upon you and those close to you. Read Father Clay’s letter about the Blessed Oil.
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters
of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him]
with oil in the name of the Lord …” James 5:14-15
Members’ Novena Begins Friday, April 4
Four ways you can join in from home!
From April 4-12, the Association of the Miraculous Medal will celebrate a Members’ Novena of Masses to pray for you and your loved ones.
Leading up to Palm Sunday, the novena provides us an opportunity to unite with fellow AMM members in nine days of powerful prayer for one another. We hope you will participate in one or more of the following ways:
— Share your special intentions. We will place your petitions near Mary’s Altar here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to be remembered in the novena of Masses.
— Request a Votive Light to burn as a symbol of your presence with us, reflecting the light of your love and devotion.
— Watch this video to learn more about the Shrine and AMM’s ministry to bring Jesus to the world by inspiring devotion to Mary.
— Recite this Miraculous Medal Prayer to join with us in spirit during the Members’ Novena, April 4-12.
Boletín de primavera 2025
Le invitamos a leer nuestro boletín de primavera, dedicado al tema de la esperanza en preparación para el Jubileo 2025: Peregrinos de la Esperanza. También puede descubrir nuestra nueva selección de artículos religiosos bendecidos en el Santuario Nacional de la Medalla Milagrosa.
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