In November 1830, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young novice in the convent of the Sisters of Charity at Rue du Bac, Paris. The novice's name was Catherine Laboure'.
This was not the first time she had seen Our Lady, but it was the most significant. Our Lady appeared holding a globe, which she lifted while gazing prayerfully heavenward (signifying that she is praying for the entire world). Then the globe disappeared, and the vision changed. Our Lady extended both hands, from which rays of light streamed. Around her formed an arch with the words:
“O Marie concue sans peche, priez pour nous qui avons recours a vous” -- “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”
Our Lady asked that a medal be struck showing this vision. On the back of the medal, she asked for the depiction of two hearts (hers and Christ's), with a cross surmounting the letter M. She promised that God would grant great graces through this medal to Christians who would wear it prayerfully.
With great difficulty, Sister Laboure' convinced her confessor to arrange for the striking of the medal. It was finally approved, struck, and circulated.
Originally known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, it quickly became known as the Miraculous Medal, because so many miracles of healing and conversion attended those who wore it. Nonetheless, although the Pope himself possessed a Miraculous Medal, it was initially most popular in France; it did not become firmly established at Rome and worldwide until after the miraculous conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne.
Rue de Bac, Paris, where the Miraculous Medal was first revealed to St. Catherine Laboure.
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