Expert: Charlie B - 5/13/2008

Question
Dear Charlie,

                I have a wooden hand made Rosary from France. The year on it is 1830. It is 178 years old. The medal on the rosary is turning color. And the copper is turning a sea green. My priest gave this too me. I do not know why. He was not handing out rosaries, but he held on to this one for a special reason.

I feel that this might have belonged to a saint, like St. Therese the little flower. That is how old it is. Also I read about 1830 Miraculous Medal France. My guess is I feel that this is one of the rosaries from Catherine Labouré.

Catherine Labouré was a twenty-four year old novice sister when she was privileged to see Mary, late at night, on 18 July 1830, in the chapel at the convent at Rue du Bac in Paris. She was escorted by a figure she later took to be her guardian angel and saw Mary descend the altar steps and sit in the spiritual director's chair.

She told Catherine that she had a mission for her and of the bad times which were to come, but promised help and grace for those who prayed. In particular she spoke of the religious persecution which would break out in Paris later in the century, while also foretelling the coming events in the capital.

Catherine repeated all this to her spiritual director, Fr Aladel, who was sceptical, but this scepticism disappeared when the revolution in Paris began just over a week later on 27 July 1830. Later in the same year, on 27 November, Catherine again saw Mary in the chapel, during community meditation. She was dressed in white, standing on a globe and holding a golden ball, with rings on her fingers flashing with light. An inner voice told her that the ball represented the whole world and that the rays coming from Mary's fingers represented graces for individuals.

The golden ball then vanished as this apparition changed to represent Mary with her arms outstretched, inside an oval frame with golden lettering: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Again, an interior voice spoke, telling her to have a medal struck on this model. It would be a source of great graces and should be worn around the neck.

Then she was shown the reverse of the medal, consisting of a large "M" surmounted by a bar and cross, with two hearts, representing the hearts of Jesus and Mary, all encircled by twelve stars. Again Fr Aladel was reluctant to act, but once the medal was struck and distributed, it rapidly earned the title of the "Miraculous" medal.

A canonical inquiry was initiated by Archbishop de Quelen and this concluded that Catherine was of good character, that the apparitions she had reported were to be accepted, and that the Miraculous Medal was supernaturally inspired and responsible for genuine miracles.

It was an important element in reviving catholic belief in France, as well as in preparing the way for the proclamation of the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

As foretold the Paris revolution of 1871 had very anti-religious elements, but fortunately the power of the Commune was defeated. Catherine worked in a hostel for old men for forty years and was eventually canonised as St. Catherine Labouré, in 1947.

Despite the importance of these apparitions in propagating the Miraculous Medal, it is surprising how little was said that was meant to be publicly revealed.

Mary told Catherine that God wished to charge her with a mission, that she would have trials to bear and many difficulties to overcome, but that she would always have an inner certainty as to what she should do. She was told to tell everything she saw and heard to her confessor.

Mary then continued: "There will be bad times to come. Misfortunes will come crashing down on France. The throne will be toppled. The whole world will be turned upside-down by misfortunes of all kinds [...] But come to the foot of this altar. There, graces will be poured out on all those, small, or great, who ask for them with confidence and fervour. Graces will be poured out especially [on tho]se who ask for them."

Mary then returned to the theme of the sorrows coming to France and the whole world, but told her not to be afraid, since she would always be protected and granted many graces. A moment would come when everything would seem lost, but she should continue to have confidence since God was with her. Other communities and individuals though would have to suffer.

Mary continued with tears in her eyes: "There will be victims [...] There will be victims among the clergy of Paris; Monsignor the Archbishop will die [...] My child, the cross will be held in contempt. It will be thrown to the ground. Blood will flow. Our Saviour's side will be opened anew. The streets will run with blood. Monsignor the Archbishop will be stripped of his vestments ...My child, the whole world will be plunged into gloom."

She was also told about the new Association to be founded, the Children of Mary, of the way May would become a special Marian month, and of how devotion to the Sacred Heart would greatly increase.

"The ball which you see represents the whole world, especially France, and each person in particular. These rays symbolise the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which souls forget to ask."

"Have a Medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence."

The Rosary is wooden with copper medal and the back of the crucifix has a real medal plate with an engraven word France! The copper part of the rosary was like a green/ sea green color. There was an image of the Virgin Mary encarved on this rosary the back side has 12 stars around a cross and underneath the cross was a huge M. The Virgin Mary was shaped with outstretched arms, and a she was stepping on the serpent then there was a year engraved underneath this medal artwork it said 1830!

I was stunned, I was in awe. I said this could be from a saint from France. I never saw a rosary like this. The make it self is so rare. I even calculated the date to now it is 178 years old. I was so moved and I felt the prescence of God like a warmth in this rosary. It felt like it belonged to St.Catherine Labouré. I knew there were saints from the 1830s and I felt like it belonged to her.

So what to you think?  This rosary was of Olivewood Cathedral w/copper medalwork! I feel for some odd reason like it belongs to St. Catherine?  

Answer
Jacqueline,
So, what do I think?  I think people are right, that faith means they see things, unseen and believe ... and if nothing else, we got a good history lesson on the St. Catherine of France & the Miraculous Medal, which I wear.  Thank you.

I want to humbly advise you that I'd like to take this conversation "offline" and talk about who your Spiritual Advisor is, and how I might more effectively guide you.  

Please email me at info@breedingtrust.com.

God bless,
Charlie
www.breedingtrust.com