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.

• View the Shrine Altar close up.
• There is a stained glass window up and to the left of the Shrine Altar that depicts the first apparition of our Lady and Saint Catherine Laboure.
• In the center above the Shrine Altar is a dome painting which is a copy of a painting which was in the Motherhouse in Paris. It features our Lady as she appears on the medal and the bottom part is Saint Catherine giving out Medals to people in Paris.
• The second apparition of our Lady to Saint Catherine is depicted in the stained glass window to the right of our Lady's Shrine.
• The third apparition of our Lady to Saint Catherine.
• Off to the right of the Shrine Altar through the glass door is our Votive Light room.

The statue above the altar and the words in the archway, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee," depict the front of the medal. The back of the medal is depicted in the base of the altar with the large "M" surmounted by a cross (through Mary's intercession we pray with confidence to God), the twelve stars symbolizing the apostles, who are the foundation stones of the Church, and the stars of heaven (Mary is Queen of Heaven). On either side of the tabernacle door are the hearts of our Lady and our Lord Jesus.

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