Lunch at Great Grandma's on Fat Tuesday!

After sleeping the day away... working my second night of 4 at the nursing home... I awoke to happy news from my little family here with us.  They had gone to lunch at Great Grandma's house and Therese showed me the Miraculous Medal that she had been given by her special 91 year old Great Grandma Verly... it had arrived in the mail in one of her many requests for donations. 

Looking up more information on this medal... The First Apparition

The story begins on the night of July 18-19, 1830. A child (perhaps her guardian angel) awakened Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, and summoned her to the chapel. There she met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours. During the conversation Mary said to her, “My child, I am going to give you a mission.”






The Second Apparition

"Mary gave her this mission in a vision during evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. On the globe was the word “France,” and our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world, but especially France. The times were difficult in France then, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from the many wars of the time. France was first to experience many of those troubles which ultimately reached many other parts of the world and are even present today. Streaming from rings on Mary's fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolize the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on the rings were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and graces were available but did not come because no one had asked for them. "

I went back to Susan's pictures while she traveled France for a few weeks - she was studying in Rome 2005-2006.  She had a trip to Paris planned to see the Church devoted to ST Catherine and the Miraculous medal. 

Inside the Church she found this amazing altar...

This was the outside of the Church in Paris devoted to Mary, and the medal that she asked St Catherine to make for us to wear...

An altar to her wonderful St Agnes was a joy for her to find.  I have shared many times the story of ST Agnes and how she is there to help us stay pure when we are put in the House of Prostitution that this world has become with all the evil influences that are everywhere we turn.  She was put in one and left there totally untouched and pure - the only man that tried to touch her was struck blind! 

The Meaning of the Front Side

of the Miraculous Medal



Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary's sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.
The Meaning of the Back

Side of the Miraculous Medal

The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.” The cross can symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of her initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as mother of the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (See also Lk 2:35).

Lunch at Great Grandma's was special to celebrate last day of feasting as Lent begins tomorrow... Applesauce Jello!  Ice cream!  The kids were thrilled at the wonder of it all and truly knew that today was a special day as it is the beginning of Lent tomorrow as we get ashes to remind us that we are "dust."  I appologize that this is so rambling today... Turning my days and nights upside down makes me a bit off... But I do know that it will be a unique Ash Wednesday as no other in the midst of working all these nights! 

Jesus, I love you and need you and appreciate that I am reminded of my smallness and need for you in my life.  All the plans I may think that I have for myself are as nothing as you are in total control!  May this Lent be a powerful walk with you!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Bless-bless, Barb

"The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7