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Saint Mary's of the Barrens Church is the National Shrine to Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The Shrine as you see it was added to
the church in 1929-1930, by the Promoters of the Association of the
Miraculous Medal, replacing an older Shrine of our Lady which had been in
the church from the beginning. While looking at the altar of the Shrine,
the elements of the front and the back of the Miraculous Medal should be
evident.
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This stained glass window depicts the first apparition of our Lady and Saint Catherine Laboure's private conversation from midnight to two in the morning. Our Lady asks Saint Catherine to undergo many hardships to bring about the medal, and she agreed. It was July 19, 1830, at the Motherhouse Convent Chapel in Paris, France. |
| The dome painting is a copy of a painting which was in the Motherhouse in Paris. The top of the painting presents our Lady as she appears on the Medal and the bottom part is Saint Catherine giving out Medals to the people of Paris. The painting shows the poor and rich, the old and young, clerics and religious life and lay life to benefit from the use of the Miraculous Medal. |
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The second apparition of our Lady to Saint Catherine, on November 27, 1830, is depicted in this stained glass window. Saint Catherine was asked to make a statue of Mary holding a globe. Our Lady told Saint Catherine that the globe represents the world, especially France, and the people of the world, whom she loved so much. |
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The third apparition followed immediately. In it Mary revealed to
Saint Catherine the design of the medal as we know it, with our Lady's
arms outstretched on the front and the familiar twelve stars, M surmounted
by a cross, and two hearts. The entire design of the medal is depicted
on the Shrine altar.
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