Category: Father’s Letters

Salt is mentioned dozens of times in Scripture. It was known for its use in preserving and flavoring foods, as well as for sacrificial offerings. Jesus called his disciples the “salt of the earth.” He wanted them to understand that by taking his words to heart, living by them and sharing his teachings with others, they would season and preserve the world.     

Faithful Christians are truly the salt of the earth in a world that is full of prejudice, hatred, violence, persecution, greed, and waste.     

Blessed and exorcised salt has been approved by the Church as a sacramental for use in conjunction with prayer to deepen one’s faith and increase God’s grace in one’s life.     

In a reverent appeal for protection from harm, many Catholics sprinkle blessed salt around the perimeter of one’s home and property, the perimeter of a child’s room, inside vehicles, around hotel rooms, and vacation properties. Similarly, one might add a dash to a family meal while asking Our Lord to bring good health and blessings to those gathering at the table.     

Faithful users understand that it is not a “good luck charm” and has no power of its own, as the superstitious “throwing salt over the shoulder” might indicate. Like the Rosary or Miraculous Medal, when used during prayer, blessed salt is a visible sign of one’s invisible faith. It is a tangible substance to be used while asking for God’s intangible grace and protection.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is delighted to offer you the blessed and exorcised salt through our gift shop. I invite you to request one or more bottles of this sacramental for your family’s use and to share with loved ones.

“My Nonna (Italian grandma) used to give my siblings and me little bottles of blessed salt wrapped in a crocheted covering to keep in our rooms or cars,” one AMM member told us in a recent call. “I’m ordering 10 bottles and can’t wait to pass down this tradition to my children and grandkids!”

Each six-ounce bottle of salt has been blessed by me with the prayer of exorcism pronounced over it in accordance with the Roman Ritual.      

Request your blessed and exorcised salt. At the same time, even if you aren’t ordering right now, — I hope you will return any special intentions you would like me and my fellow Vincentian priests and brothers to remember in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine.     

The mission of the Association of the Miraculous Medal is to draw souls closer to Jesus through devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Including you. So please, let us pray with you and for you.

Additionally, you may request to burn a Votive Light for whatever pressing spiritual and temporal needs you want to lift up to Our Lord through Our Lady. Its rays will shine forth in the Shrine’s beautiful Votive Light Room near Our Lady’s Altar.     

All offerings made when requesting devotional items and Votive Lights make possible our continuing ministry from here in Perryville, Missouri. Our work is a continuation of the mission given to Sister (now Saint Catherine Labouré when Our Lady entrusted her with creating and sharing “the Medal of the Immaculate Conception” – which people soon began calling the Miraculous Medal     

It is a fascinating story unto itself, which you can learn more about at: amm.org. (You can do a lot while you’re there, including shop for other religious gifts, take a tour of the beautiful National Shrine, submit prayer intentions, enroll yourself or your loved ones as a perpetual member of AMM, and much more.)     

May God bless you for the many ways you continue to be the salt of the earth, truly making our world a better place through your faith-filled discipleship in Christ.     

I look forward to receiving your reply.                                                              

Yours in Jesus and Mary,

                                                             

P.S. When we first offered blessed and exorcised salt arrived last year, the Association was met with a truly astonishing response from around the country. We ran out quickly. Request your blessed and exorcised salt soon.       

Here are two simple prayers you may use with the blessed and exorcised salt:

With this blessed salt, may all evil be removed from this (house/object/etc.) and God’s protection overshadow it for the accomplishment of his will.  Amen.                                                              

or  

I seal this home/room and ask our all-merciful Savior to protect this dwelling and keep all who enter here safe from physical or spiritual harm, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Last year, public officials named an elementary school teacher from Rogersville, Tennessee, as the 2024 Teacher of the Year.

Missy Testerman teaches in a rural Appalachian school. The families of the students include those who have lived in the area for generations, as well as immigrants from cultures around the world. Missy sometimes saw conflict arise. She created a curriculum to help students “internalize that humans are more alike than different … to build a bridge between the cultures.”

As a Vincentian priest, I admire Missy’s attention to bringing diverse peoples together. Growing up, I did not attend Catholic schools. In fact, I was usually the only Catholic in my classes.

Being an outsider helped me grow in the virtue of respecting people from many religious traditions. That has served me well, especially in ministering to the Hopi Native people, who have held a deep resentment against Catholics that dates back for centuries. I became friends with many of these Native Americans.

If we use it well, everything that happens to us can be a valuable learning experience.

Another back to school season is approaching, and I invite you to remember all students and teachers in prayer, that all may grow in knowledge, wisdom, and respect for those different from themselves.

Please send me the names of those you would like remembered in the daily Mass and prayers offered here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal from September through May. Order your Back-to-School Votive Light cards to send to a particular student, educator, or family, letting them know you are thinking of them. 

You may also order a variety of spiritual back to school gifts to remind your recipients of Mary’s loving care. One of our most popular items is a pewter Miraculous Medal with bright cuts and a lobster claw clasp that   attaches easily and securely to a backpack, purse, keychain, or zipper.

For a suggested offering of $10 each, you may request one or more of these “Backpack Miraculous Medals”. Or, browse and order from AMM’s selection of religious items at our online gift shop: amm.org/store.aspx.

You give a gift of priceless value by asking Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, to watch over those you love this school year.

Thank you for your devotion to Mary’s mission carried out here at the Association of the Miraculous Medal. May God continue to bless your efforts to serve him, and may he draw you ever closer to himself.

Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,

P.S. You may request free, blessed Miraculous Medals on a story card to share with school children, educators, and family members. Order using the enclosed reply slip. Or, call us at 1-800-264-MARY (6279), Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT. Any offering you add will be gratefully appreciated and used to continue Our Lady’s mission.

What difference can your offering make for students and educators? Recently, an AMM member from Texas wrote …

Dear Father,
I volunteer as a second grade Continuing Christian Education teacher. At the end of each school year, I like to give each student something that will remind them of our class. This year, I decided to give each of them the Miraculous Medal. I told them the story of Saint Catherine Labouré and taught them to pray, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,” to receive great graces from the Queen of Heaven for their lifetime journey of faith.

La Virgen María, en sus apariciones a santa Catalina Labouré, prometió que quienes recurrieran a ella con confianza recibirían las gracias y bendiciones de Dios, especialmente si llevaban al cuello su bendita Medalla.

Como hijos de María y miembros de la Familia de la Medalla Milagrosa, usted y yo también podemos recibir estos favores celestiales.

¿Tiene usted alguna bendición o algún favor que pedir a la Virgen? ¿Hay alguien enfermo, alguna situación difícil o una circunstancia que quiera poner en manos de la Virgen? Envíeme sus peticiones usando la forma de respuesta. Así podremos orar por ellas, por usted y su familia.

Algo que la Virgen también pidió a santa Catalina fue que su medalla se repartiera “a todo mundo y a cada persona”. De esa manera, más y más personas podrían recibir las bendiciones que Dios tiene para cada uno.

¿Le gustaría ayudar en la misión de la Virgen María? Puede solicitar Medallas Milagrosas GRATIS sujetas a una tarjeta con la historia para compartir con familiares, compañeros de trabajo, amigos o comunidad.

Podemos estar seguros de que a la Virgen le dará mucho gusto que sus hijos den a conocer su Medalla, para que más personas puedan acercarse a su Hijo Jesús.

Algo que me gustaría ofrecerle para apoyar su vida espiritual, además de la Medalla Milagrosa, es el bello libro de “Meditaciones Diarias con el Espíritu Santo”. En él encontrará un momento de oración para cada día que le ayudará a empezar su jornada de la mejor manera. Por una ofrenda de $23 o más, le enviaré este hermoso regalo para usted o para un ser querido. Al solicitarlo, también recibirá dos separadores de libros de la Medalla Milagrosa adicionales.

Este testimonio muestra lo que la intercesión de la Virgen y la presencia de Dios pueden lograr en nuestra vida:

Estimado Padre:
Yo he tenido una Medalla Milagrosa desde que era niña, pero nunca supe su significado hasta que leí la historia de santa Catalina Labouré. Últimamente había batallado mucho con el resentimiento y me invadía el sentimiento de que no tenía un propósito en la vida. Después de usar mi Medalla Milagrosa y de rezar la novena, encontré un sentido de claridad. Mis sentimientos de ansiedad y depresión han sido reemplazados por un nuevo sentido de esperanza, una fe más firme y un gran amor. También pude perdonar a dos personas que me habían lastimado y no solo eso, ¡ahora puedo disfrutar de su compañía! Es claro que esto no lo logré sola. Gracias, Santa Madre. Gracias, Jesús, por llenar mi corazón con más de ti y menos de mí. 

Si este testimonio y la historia de la Medalla Milagrosa le son de inspiración, le pido que considere la opción de hacer una ofrenda a la Asociación de la Medalla Milagrosa. Su apoyo, por grande o pequeño, nos ayuda a llegar a más familias, hombres, mujeres y niños, con la Buena Nueva de las bendiciones y favores que Dios nos tiene reservados por medio de Nuestra Señora.

Que la belleza y pulcritud de nuestra madre María nos acerque a su Hijo. Y encomendándonos a ella, digamos sí a la gracia y las bendiciones que Dios tiene para nosotros por su maternal intercesión.

Siempre con la Virgen María,

Rev. Prudencio Rodríguez de Yurre, C.M.
Director Espiritual

P.D. Al solicitar su Libro de oraciones al Espíritu Santo, más separadores de libros o Medallas Milagrosas, recuerde también enviarme sus intenciones de oración. Nosotros las colocaremos ante el altar de la Virgen María en nuestro Santuario. P.P.D. También puede encender una veladora ante Nuestra Señora como símbolo de la constante oración a la Virgen María por su intercesión.

P.P.D. También puede encender una veladora ante Nuestra Señora como símbolo de la constante oración a la Virgen María por su intercesión.

El día 8 de septiembre, los católicos celebramos un día muy especial, el cumpleaños de la Virgen María. Y para esta ocasión, la Asociación de la Medalla Milagrosa tiene la tradición de crear una hermosa “vela de cumpleaños” hecha a mano con la ayuda de miembros de la Asociación. Y espero que acepte mi invitación de participar en esta Fiesta.

Para esta celebración, enviamos a los miembros un trocito de cera, el cual nos devolvieron para crear una Vela de Cumpleaños de la Virgen María. La vela de María se encenderá durante una octava de oración especial a la Virgen María, del 8 al 15 de septiembre.

Las intenciones que me envíe por este medio, los sacerdotes Vicentinos y yo las recordaremos en nuestras misas y oraciones personales, y especialmente durante la Octava de oración del 8 al 15 de septiembre. También puede encender una veladora por sus peticiones. Espero poder orar por usted y su familia.

No deje de acompañar a la Virgen María en esta celebración, junto con miles de miembros de nuestra Familia de la Medalla Milagrosa. Será un gusto para mí incluir sus intenciones en la Octava de Oración a Nuestra Señora. ¡Honremos a nuestra Madre en este día especial!

Siempre con la Virgen María,

Rev. Prudencio Rodríguez de Yurre, C.M.                      
Director Espiritual

Each year the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. Please send me your special intentions to include in this celebration.

A birthday candle will be lit each day throughout our special octave of prayer that begins Sunday, September 8, and concludes on September 15.

My fellow Vincentians and I would like to pray for your needs send me your personal prayer intentions. You may also request a Votive Light to burn for your intentions. 

I invite you to join AMM members in creating a work of great love for the Immaculate Mother of Our Lord. We look forward to including your special intentions in Our Lady’s Birthday Octave of Prayer. May God bless your efforts to serve him and draw you ever closer to himself.

From the early 1800s until 1965, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish served Catholics here in the small Missouri town of Perryville.

In the beginning, a small wooden church served the congregation. By 1834, that structure was replaced by a larger church, modeled after the Vincentian motherhouse, Monte Citorio, in Rome. Beautiful paintings were added over time. Today, these include a magnificent replica of a depiction of Our Lady’s Assumption by Spain’s famous Baroque painter, Bartolomé Murillo.

In 1929, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was added to the church.

Today, I invite you to take part in the annual Assumption Novena of Masses beginning on August 6 at the National Shrine. Submit your personal intentions and we will place them near Our Lady’s Shrine Altar for remembrance throughout the novena and during the Solemnity Mass on Thursday, August 15.

You may also request a Votive Light to burn for your intentions. Votive Light offerings help the Association draw others closer to Jesus through Mary, who is the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

I recall the words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, speaking on Mary’s Assumption: “She is the first creature who, with her whole self, body and soul, victoriously crosses the finish line of Heaven … Looking at her, in glory, we understand that the true power is service, and that to reign means to love.”

In closing, I invite you to join AMM members in reciting this prayer daily from August 6-15.

May Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal keep you close to her heart and to the heart of her Son.

 In the love of Mary,

                        

P.S. This year’s Solemnity of the Assumption Mass on Thursday, August 15, will be live-streamed on our Facebook page beginning at 12:10 p.m., CT. You are invited to join us for this joyous Liturgy!

Stories of Our Lady’s Intercession

     Dear Father, My daughter had been trying for two years to get pregnant. I bought a fertility prayer card and placed it inside her birthday card. Within six weeks, she was expecting. My granddaughter was born on January 1 —the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Praise God and give thanks to Our Holy Mother, Mary.

     Dear Father, Wearing the Miraculous Medal has brought me continuous peace and harmony in not only my life, but in the lives of many friends and family. Your life will thrive with Mary on your side.            

Dear Father, For six weeks I have been offering small donations and asking Mary’s help in finding a new heart for Philip who needs a transplant. This morning we got the phone call – a heart has been donated and he will have surgery tomorrow! Is this just a coincidence? I don’t think so. Thank you, my Mother Mary!

Can you remember when the news of a loved one’s illness left you at a loss for words?

It isn’t always easy to know the right thing to say or do.

One thing we should never do is underestimate the power of the smallest act of kindness — sharing a few assuring words of support, texting a get well message, saying a prayer, or mailing a note or greeting card. Offered in love and faith, God can bless and multiply the ripple effects of such gestures, yielding graces and blessings we might never have dreamed possible.

Perhaps a friend or relative is in need of healing of body, mind, or spirit at this time. If so, I invite you to entrust that person to the loving care of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Send a Healing Remembrance Card to let your recipient know that you are thinking of them — and that you have asked Mary, the Mother of God, to do the same.

Recall Our Lady’s promise to Saint Catherine Labouré. Our Blessed Mother would never fail to shower graces upon all who turn to her confidently in times of need. 

Not long ago, a member wrote to tell us how much such a gesture could mean.

Dear Father, The mother of a co-worker was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was in and out of the hospital. My wife and I requested a Healing Remembrance Card and a Votive Light to burn for her at AMM’s National Shrine. I also prayed the Rosary confidently in petition for her healing. My co-worker is no longer a practicing Catholic, but I still gave him the card and a Miraculous Medal to give to his mother. I assured him that his mother would be remembered in the Masses and prayers at the Shrine. Recently, his mother went to the doctor and was told that her stage 4 cancer was completely gone. Now, that is a miracle! I would like to thank Our Blessed Mother for her intercession and the Vincentian priests and brothers for their prayers. I told my co-worker that it was a miracle, but he still seems doubtful. Please continue to pray that he recognizes God’s grace.

Send me the names of your loved ones for remembrance in healing. We will remember your recipients in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

Requesting a Votive Light to burn near Mary’s Shrine Altar can be another expression of your faith and prayerful support. 

Any offering you include will help us spread devotion to Our Lady and support the ministries of the Vincentian priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Mission founded by Saint Vincent de Paul.

In his wisdom, the saint taught those who joined him in his missionary work, “It is from your hands that Our Lord, in the person of the sick, seeks relief.”

Thank you for allowing the Association of the Miraculous Medal to join you in praying for your loved one in need of healing.  May God continue to bless all our efforts to serve him and draw us ever closer to himself.

Faithfully yours in Jesus and Mary,

P.S.  Order your Healing Remembrance Card to lift the spirits of someone you love who is suffering in body, mind, or spirit.

In ancient times, people used anointing oil for various reasons. In the Bible, it often symbolized bestowing God’s strength and favor on someone. People also used it for its healing properties.

On my last assignment on the Indian Reservations of Arizona, I was introduced to another type of blessing. A Native American religious sister shared a cherished childhood memory of her father blessing her and her siblings with an eagle feather before she went to bed each night. She combined the symbolism of her culture with the strength of her Catholic faith to teach others the importance of a blessing each night.

Blessing your children and grandchildren builds the faith you hold dear to your hearts. It nurtures the next generation and establishes a solid foundation for their lives. It can also become a cherished memory for children.

Order your Blessed Oil today. It has been blessed here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and touched to a first-class relic of Saint Catherine Labouré.

I invite you to use this oil for yourself, a child, your grandchildren, or another loved one to receive God’s love and blessings. It is not a good luck charm, but a sacramental of faith — much like holy water.

I’d like to share a member’s story about their use of the Blessed Oil:

“When my wife was in hospice, she would sometimes get very uncomfortable in between doses of her medications. I would rub blessed oil on her forehead, and every time, it seemed to make her calm and ease her pain.”

Again, using Blessed Oil is a sign of your faith. Faith heals us in accordance with God’s holy will.

I would also like to pray for you and any loved ones in your life who are in need of restored physical, mental, or spiritual health if you will send me their names. They will be remembered in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine.

You may also request to burn Votive Lights at the National Shrine for your loved ones.

If you would like to order Blessed Oil, you may request a half-ounce bottle for an offering of $17 or more. Any additional offering will help AMM continue its ministry to bring God’s love and healing to the world through Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.               

May God continue to bless all our efforts to serve him and draw us ever closer to himself.

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.