God is love, and he made us in his likeness – to bring his peace, his hope, and his love to one another. Right now, all across these United States of America, people like you and me are suffering, but there are also incredible miracles happening. Relationships are wounded, but they are not broken! We have to believe and know that by being good people of action, made in God's image, we can all do our part with prayer, love, and faith.

By his death and resurrection, our Lord Jesus has redeemed us. With the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed into the perfect body of Christ. Jesus has restored our ability to love ourselves, to love one another, and to love him who has given us life and every great blessing. And to top it all off, our loving Father has entrusted us into the care of our Immaculate Mother Mary. She takes our needs directly to her Son, obtaining God’s grace in ways only a mother can.

I’m writing today because I want to help you share God’s love and Mary’s motherly compassion with someone in need. More specifically, I’m certain there is someone in your life who has recently lost a loved one. Our Lady knows this pain personally, and she wants to help. As she instructed Saint Catherine Labouré in the year 1830, all we have to do is ask for her intercession.

You can use our new special Memorial Remembrance Card to provide a spiritual benefit and a caring concern for someone close to you who is suffering from the loss of a loved one. In doing so, you are being transformed more perfectly into the image of God.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal obtains God’s restorative grace for countless hearts every single day. Association member, Karen, recently wrote to tell us about her experience of our Lady’s intercession.

“Several years ago my son was gravely ill and was suffering a great deal. My godmother gave me a Miraculous Medal to wear. I prayed to our Lady to ease my son's suffering and comfort my heartbreak. My son's illness culminated in his death on the feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, November 27. While his death was not the resolution I would have chosen, I know that my prayers were indeed answered in accordance with God's plan. Over the years I have received many blessings through the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. I am so grateful for her motherly intercession for me and my family.”

Such miracles of grace happen more often than we might realize, including the answers we don’t expect or ask for, but that are part of God’s mysterious plan of salvation. All of us belong to the Body of Christ, and Jesus wants us to bring his presence, comfort, and peace to others.

If you would like to bring Mary’s motherly concern and the love of Jesus to the bereaved in a special way, please use the enclosed Memorial Remembrance Card as a gift for those who are important to you. Use it to offer prayer and comfort for someone suffering the loss of a loved one.

We invite you to send us your intentions and remembrance. Fill in the names of the deceased on the form, and those persons will be remembered in prayers and Masses here at the Shrine for one year.

As you know, the Association of the Miraculous Medal promotes devotion to Mary and encourages people to wear her medal. Mary’s image on the Memorial Remembrance Card will inspire others to realize that she stands by them in their sorrow just as she stood by Jesus during his passion and death.

Another way to offer the assurance of your care and your prayers is to burn a Votive Light at the Miraculous Medal Shrine for the deceased person and for the intentions of the bereaved. Just check the Votive Light box on the reply form, and enclose the announcement slip in the Memorial Remembrance Card.

Any contribution you send will support the Association in its work of spreading devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The Association is a ministry of the Vincentian community of priests and brothers, who follow in the tradition of Saint Vincent de Paul working with the poor and educating the laity and clergy. Your gift will help us bring the good news and love of Jesus and Mary to people around the world.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal watch over you and your loved ones.

Sincerely yours in our Lady,

Fr. Kevin McCracken, C.M.
Spiritual Director