Category: What’s New?

Because December 8 falls on a Sunday of Advent this year, the Church will observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Monday, December 9. Join fellow members of the Association of the Miraculous Medal in our annual eight-day celebration of the feast commemorating God’s gracious gift to Mary in preserving her from the stain of original sin.

In 1830, Mary called upon all people to invoke her as “conceived without sin,” as this phrase appears on the Miraculous Medal she instructed Catherine to create and promote.

On December 8, 1854, Blessed Pius IX released a document defining the dogma, stating that the Blessed Virgin Mary “… In the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.”

You are invited to entrust your intentions to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for remembrance throughout the Immaculate Conception Octave of Masses being offered at the National Shrine in Perryville. Praying this prayer daily during the octave can unite you with fellow AMM members sharing in the observance of this feast. You may also request a Votive Light to burn as another sign of your love for the Mother of God — the pure and holy Queen through whom every grace and favor flow to us!

From the responsorial psalm for Thanksgiving Day readings, we echo the praise of David:

“Generation after generation praises your works
    and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
    and tell of your wondrous works …
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.”
(Psalm 145:4-5, 10)

May you and your loved ones enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving. We invite you to pray this blessing for your Thanksgiving Day meal.

AMM’s annual Miraculous Medal Novena begins Monday, November 18. Together we look forward to the November 27 feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, followed by the feast of Saint Catherine Labouré on November 28. You are invited to take part with us in several ways:

(1) Pray this prayer daily.

(2) Send your petitions to be placed near Mary’s Shrine Altar for remembrance in the Masses and prayers.

(3) Request a Votive Light to burn as a symbol of your spiritual presence.

“Have a Medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces … Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.” 

Blessed Virgin Mary to Catherine Labouré, November 27, 1830, appearing to her in the image of “the Medal of the Immaculate Conception,” which soon became known as the Miraculous Medal

Don’t miss this season’s special edition featuring the theme of “meaningful giving.” There are many ways you can leave a legacy of passing on the faith and promoting devotion to Our Lady. Many members, for example, choose to direct a year-end gift to Mary’s Association in memory or honor of a loved one. You can create this kind of tribute with a planned gift put in place before December 31, or with an immediate contribution such as inscribing loved ones’ names inside the Book of Remembrance at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. There’s more information and inspiration inside this issue of the Rays of Light Newsletter below.

Your support for the Association of the Miraculous Medal as the year draws to a close is a beautiful way to help the Mother of God become more well known and loved by her spiritual children everywhere. This is our mission. Thank you again for being part of our growing AMM family around the world.

Join members of the Association of the Miraculous Medal in asking Mary’s intercession for deceased relatives and friends each day this month. Together, we pray …

O Virgin, most kind, Mary, Mother of God, most loving consoler of those in distress, commend to your Son the souls of the faithful departed so that, because of your motherly intervention, they may joyfully arrive in your company as their longed-for home in heaven. Amen.O Lord, grant those who have died the joy of your presence and us who are living the happiness of knowing this. Amen.

Are you or someone close to you in need of healing? You are invited to attend the Association’s Mass of Healing Remembrance at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The Liturgy takes place Tuesday, October 29, at 12:10 p.m., CT, and will be live streamed on the Association’s YouTube page.

You may share your special intentions here. They will be entrusted to Our Lord through Our Blessed Mother’s intercession. You may also request a Votive Light to burn for these same needs.

The need may be for you or another. It may be a physical ailment, an emotional or mental illness, or a spiritual sickness.

Mary, Health of the Sick … Mother of Hope … Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal … Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Mary desires to give you limitless graces obtained through her Son as she guides you along every step of your spiritual journey.

Today, you are invited to place your needs in Mary’s loving hands. This year, the feast of the Immaculate Conception will be observed on Monday, December 9. On that day, a Mass will be offered for you and your intentions at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal here in Perryville, Missouri.

Do you know about the beautiful bronze statue of Mary on the Shrine grounds? It shows Our Lady seated, just as she appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré in 1830. Mary told Catherine: “Come to the foot of the altar. Graces will be shed on all, great and little, especially upon those who ask for them.”

Your petitions will be literally placed into the hands of this statue as a symbol of your desire to take your needs to Jesus, through Mary. They will then be placed near the foot of her altar inside the Shrine Church for remembrance throughout the month of December.

You may also burn a Votive Light at the National Shrine – a visible 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 — a replica of the bronze statue I referred to above. The second gift is a Palm Cross, inlaid with a beautiful Miraculous Medal. Both items have been blessed here at the National Shrine. View and order here.  Read Father Clay’s letter about putting your hands into the loving hands of Mary.

Today, we pray for the people of Florida’s Gulf Coast as they brace for Hurricane Milton. In this present crisis, we are reminded of the words Moses spoke to the Israelites as they faced uncertainty and danger: 

“Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread … for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you…” Deuteronomy 31:6

Please join the Association in asking Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to intercede for our brothers and sisters in their most urgent need right now. May God pour out his mercy to relieve both the physical and spiritual suffering they may endure in the coming days. We also continue our fervent prayers for all those affected by Hurricane Helene. May they feel God’s love and mercy by way of Our Lady’s maternal embrace.

Join our Vincentian priests and brothers along with AMM staff members who will offer a daily recitation of the Rosary for the intentions of members from October 7–14. Leave your intentions here for remembrance in the eight days of prayers. The 15 minutes it takes to pray five decades of the Rosary can become a sacred time to spend with Jesus  and Mary. There is no greater way to use a small fraction of the day given to us by God! 

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

The Association’s annual Rosary Octave of Prayer will begin Monday, October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Saint Pius V established this feast in 1573 in gratitude for the triumph of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto. That victory was credited to the overwhelming response of the faithful, who heeded the Pope’s plea to recite the Rosary.

Pope Francis has encouraged the faithful to pray the Rosary, “which has nourished the faith of the Christian people through the centuries … The recitation of the Rosary is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to the Virgin Mary; it is a contemplation on the stages of the life of Jesus the Savior with his Mother and is a weapon that protects us from evils and temptations.”

The Blessed Virgin has urged praying the Rosary as a means of restoring peace in the face of war, oppression, and social injustice.  You are invited to join AMM members in reciting five mysteries of the Rosary daily for eight days. Send your intentions to be remembered in prayer throughout the octave at Our Lady’s Shrine. You may also request Votive Lights to burn for your needs –– or as a gift of gratitude for favors Our Lady has already obtained for you and those you love.

How will you keep Jesus at the center of your Christmas gift-giving this year?

Spiritual remembrance Christmas cards from the Association of the Miraculous Medal make thoughtful gifts for loved ones near and far. Each design and sentiment focus on the true meaning of the holiday –– God becoming man to save us from our sins. Each Christmas card you send offers your recipient a special remembrance in an octave of Masses beginning Christmas Day at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and during a Mass offered by a Vincentian priest every week throughout 2025. Order today! To learn more, read Father Clay’s letter.

Please remember to submit the names of loved ones receiving the Christmas cards so they can share in the spiritual remembrance offered during the Christmas Octave of Masses and in a weekly Mass throughout 2025.

On November 27, 1830, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré in the image of the Miraculous Medal. Mary gave the young novice God’s mission –– to produce and share the medal with the world. Catherine’s gave this account:

…her arms swept wide in a gesture of motherly compassion, while from her jeweled fingers the rays of light streamed upon the white globe at her feet. An oval frame formed around the Blessed Virgin, and written within it in letters of gold Catherine read the words, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.” Our Lady spoke: “Have a medal struck after this model. 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.”

The apparition revolved, to reveal the back side of the medal. It contained a large “M,” surmounted by a bar and a cross. Beneath the “M” were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pieced with a sword. Twelve stars encircled the whole.

Each year, AMM invites members to celebrate the anniversary of this holy apparition. AMM will hold its annual Miraculous Medal Novena of Masses November 18 – 26 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Share your personal prayer intentions here to be placed near Mary’s Shrine Altar throughout the nine days of the novena and on Wednesday, November 27, the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You may also request a Votive Light to burn for your petitions.

Generations of faith-filled people have grown closer to Jesus through devotion to Our Blessed Mother and wearing the Miraculous Medal as a sign of their confident trust in receiving the graces promised. Every year, hundreds of AMM members give witness to God’s work in their lives. One recent email read:

Dear Father,

I would like to thank Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for ensuring that my laboratory tests were normal. I always believe in the power of Mary’s intercession. I am grateful for the Miraculous Medal, which I always wear around my neck.

Father Clay’s full letter shares more about this special feast.