Inspired by her friendship with Mother Teresa, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle tells us about her book on St. Catherine Labouré's Mission of Grace.
EWTN host & bestselling author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle visits the Digital Café to remind us about the graces promised by Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception when we wear the Miraculous Medal.
ETERNAL WISDOM
Conversions, cures, and wonders continued to occur all over the world from the devotion to the Miraculous Medal."
~ Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
LIVE RECORD NOTES: Musings on “The Miraculous Medal” (& Book Review)
A collaborative article composed by Dr. Tina Bailey w/ Christine H. Pérez (and Donna-Marie) on today’s guest contribution — thanks to DONNA-MARIE COOPER O’BOYLE for her expertise, guidance on sacramentals and wisdom.
© Copyright, Travessa da Senra House Press, 2022-present for The Rosary Hour Podcast Newsletter, 27/28 November on the Feast of the Miraculous Medal and the Feast of St. Catherine Labouré. Second Edition with video on the Digital Café and Fr. Looney’s video on The Rosary: A Mini Series “What is a Miracle?” for his Theology 101 and Fr. Anthony’s new video for his Marian Apparitions 101. Edited by the Rosary Hour Podcast Newsletter team.
In her book, The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers & Devotions, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle gives us a full account of how the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, which became known as the Miraculous Medal, was requested by Our Lady through Sister Catherine Labouré.1
Watch the *NEW* Live Record Session #6 segment of our recent interview with Donna-Marie who came to visit the Digital Café at the end of November.
Her video commemorates today’s memory of the vision of the Miraculous Medal which falls on the Solemnity of the First Sunday of Advent and our new Liturgical Year. (Happy New Year!).2
[CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW DIGITAL CAFÉ LIVE RECORD SESSION #6]
THE MEDAL AND ITS PROPERTIES
The images of the medal, front and back, were presented in great detail, in the second apparition3 by Our Lady to Saint Catherine Labouré in France on November 27.
The medal in her vision showed the compassionate figure of the Blessed Mother, with rays of light pouring forth from her fingers upon a globe at her feet, and surrounded by the words:
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
On the reverse, Saint Catherine saw the letter “M” with a bar and cross, and beneath the hearts of Jesus and Mary, one crowned with thorns and the other pierced with a sword, all encircled with twelve stars.
The images are rich in symbolism, showing Mary as intercessor, together with Jesus, surrounded by the twelve stars representing the apostolic Church. Her instructions were clear:
"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."
Sister Catherine Labouré kept secret her encounters with Our Lady from all in her circles except the key spiritual advisors needed to make the medal a reality.
Only after her death in 1876 was her role in the Miraculous Medal known to her fellow sisters. She was beatified in 1933.4
In her book, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle recounts the first miracle which occurred at Sister Catherine's tomb:
“the healing of a ten-year-old boy unable to use his limbs since birth, yet stood up cured after being lowered into the vault by ropes."
GIFTING THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
The latter half of Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle’s book explores instances when she gave a Miraculous Medal to someone.
This practice was inspired by Saint Mother Teresa who gave Donna-Marie a medal when she was still a young mother.
She explains that when we wear or receive a Miraculous Medal, there is a miraculous promise attached to the sacramental by the grace of the prayer uttered to the Mother God:
"Sometimes the transformations occur within someone's heart, their soul, or even their body. Only God, the Blessed Mother, the angels, and the saints know for sure how these miracles come about." -- Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
The supernatural graces attached to the wearing of the Miraculous Medal flow out of the renewed faith it can inspire.
By sharing the gift of the Medal, we invite others to the shelter of Our Lady especially in times of sorrow.
If Our Lady gave us the Miraculous Medal to protect us and our faith, she perhaps use it to remind us that we are instruments through which she may invite others to experience God’s grace, love and mercy.
We can partake in this role by being a source of intercessory prayers for others, as well turning to our Blessed Mother with great confidence in her desire to help those who are exposed to the Miraculous Medal.
In the giving of a medal to those we encounter, there is an exchange of love, faith, and attention. Donna-Marie explains in the following video clip at the Digital Café. [CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION]
Miracles can be a dramatic occurrence, something that cannot be denied.
But miracles might also be missed, if we are not attuned to the Holy Spirit working in our lives and hearts, and among those around us.
Theologically speaking, Fr. Edward Looney explains what a miracle is according to St. Thomas Aquinas’s definition of a miracle. See his Theology 101 video here:
FR. LOONEY ANSWERS OUR QUESTION: “WHAT IS A MIRACLE?”: FIND OUT THE ANSWER HERE on the ROSARY: A MINI SERIES.
Miracles can also be subtle.
Our eyes may not see the wonder of what 'might not have been' without Divine intervention.
When hearts and minds are changed, the process of accepting God’s grace is even more mysterious, but no less magnificent in its effect.
The miracles may not be obvious to us; we may not realize we’ve missed a danger. We may notice our attention drawn to someone in their suffering — in their need to be seen. And we can perhaps ask God will bring hope or healing in these seemingly chance encounters.
A MIRACULOUS MEDAL THAT GOES BEYOND MERE SYMBOLISM
Many of us wear symbols of many kinds, that have meaning to us and perhaps remind us that we are loved, unique, and pursuing our dreams.
However, sacramentals are more than symbols: they are powerful instruments of our Faith and should be blessed by a priest.
Sacramentals connect us to the Divine5, so that our minds and hearts are reminded to reach for the protection of the Angels and Saints, aware that we are indeed loved, and meant to share that love.
Wearing a sacramental can seem superstitious, as though we can ascribe meaning to it in any eventuality. Yet, when we have faith in the protection of Our Lady, or other Spiritual protectors from Heaven, then we are also reminded to see with new eyes, and to be awake to their intercession.
Wearing the Miraculous Medal keeps Our Lady close to our hearts and in our minds; we can call on her promised graces, when we recite the prayer inscribed on the Medal, and which is usually repeated between the decades of the Holy Rosary:
“O Mary, Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Even with the silent cries of the heart, when we feel overwhelmed, when we fear for the fate of ourselves or another; when we are vulnerable in body or in spirit, we are called to Trust in God’s power to transform our hearts.
Many miracles of the Miraculous Medal are spiritual in nature, but if we are close enough to the encounter, the hand of the Holy Spirit reaching out to intervene in our life or that of someone close to us, we might recognize a shift: renewed strength, or an attitude of surrender that seemed impossible before. Perhaps a deep sense of peace emerges — also rare, when faced with loss, suffering, the unknown, departure, or even death.
Reflecting on her first meeting with Mother Teresa and receiving Miraculous Medals for her family, Donna-Marie wrote a letter to the living saint and credits the Miraculous Medals for the beginning their ten year friendship.
Over time, Donna-Marie was inspired to give out Miraculous Medals following the example of Mother Teresa.
VISIT DONNA-MARIE’S WEBSITE: https://www.donnacooperoboyle.com/
Read the book Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers and Devotions
ABOUT DONNA-MARIE COOPER O’BOYLE
Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle is recognized by millions of people as the friendly face and soothing voice of ideal Catholic womanhood. Yet her frequent appearances on radio and television, many books (more than 30), and dynamic speaking engagements have established her as a mainstay in the lives of anyone devoted to seeking to live according to strong Christian values, to improving their family relationships, and making a powerful impact on their communities. As a Catholic, her universal, compassionate and relatable approach has catapulted her into the mainstream media and the lives of all denominations of Christians, as well as those seeking a deeper relationship with God and a more fulfilling life. A best-selling and award-winning author, she was named one of the “Top Ten Most Fascinating Catholics” in 2009. Publishers Weekly recognized Donna-Marie’s first book Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers as a breakout top ten best-seller within the first week of its release.
“The absolute essence of my work is to inspire, to teach, to encourage, and to help others discover their God-given gifts,” says the Connecticut-based mother of five and grandmother. Her ten year-long, close bond with Mother Teresa (detailed in her National Press Women award-winning book Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship and her memoir The Kiss of Jesus) has imbued her with an approach that profoundly resonates with many dimensions of society, chiefly because of the attitude of service, humility and self-respect that she promotes in all of her work. “I am hardly a self-appointed leader who promises instant prosperity, perfect make-up or an easy way out,” she says with her trademark deadpan sense of humor. “I have never set myself up to be anything more than a work in progress. I’ll be the first to admit that my house will probably never be aesthetically correct and there may always be at least a few dishes in my kitchen sink. But, I am not going to worry about it! I endeavor to help others see that they are a work in progress as well, and they shouldn’t be too hard on themselves though we all need to strive for holiness within the nitty-gritty details of our lives. Mother Teresa has taught us that, ‘Holiness is not the luxury of a few but a simple duty for you and me.’”
A single mother herself for many years, Donna-Marie lives and teaches the lessons passed down to her by her mentor Mother Teresa: a simple doctrine of love, kindness, non-judgment and support for those who need help, encouragement, affirmation and healing. “Calcutta is all over the world for those who have eyes to see,” she asserts. “We don’t have to traipse off to Calcutta to find the poor or those who need our help. They are right here in our own neighborhoods and communities—they are right within our own homes!” Donna-Marie’s conviction that nothing should stand in the way of our commitment to one another or false ideas about the meaning of social class, wealth or fame also rings true. “Another kind of poverty exists in our affluent areas,” she says. “People are starving for love! They might look all put together but inside they are crying—they are starving for the tenderness and warmth of a human touch. We must find Calcutta in our own midst and reach out to those who are in need.” As Mother Teresa was famous for saying, ‘Love begins at home.’ I believe we should begin there and if we are called to broaden our reach, we need to do so. Calcutta is right here, right now. Let’s not miss the opportunity to help transform lives with God’s grace.”
This fearless woman’s down-home message is crystal clear, especially when it comes to women and the demands for perfection they face, in the workplace, at home, even in the parish. “What the heck is a ‘size zero’ anyway? There is no such thing as a size zero!” she exclaims. “Women should not be literally killing themselves trying to achieve some kind of unobtainable level of perfection, chasing after an airbrushed or impossible image. It will not bring them happiness!” The counsel she brings to women’s groups and through her media appearances is centred on countering the barrage of crazy mixed messages aimed at women, which dictate to them that they should be more like a man to get ahead in the world. “Women will become healed of their inner wounds and confusion about their identities if they stop to assess their God-given gifts and special nature and pray” she advises. “Pressure from a culture which undermines a woman’s expression of femininity should have no place in a real woman’s life.”
In all of her work, Donna-Marie emphasizes the importance of every single woman as a spiritual mother, whether they have biological children and traditional family units, or not. “We all have been given gifts from God to serve others. We all, in a sense, “mother” others. That is the great God-given gift of womanhood, in every stage, phase or path in life,” she concludes.
Donna-Marie is a regular contributor to a wide range of newspapers, magazines, TV and online media outlets worldwide, interviewing everyone from Cardinals and fashion moguls to movie stars. She thoroughly enjoys leading others on pilgrimages to Shrines and holy places on the pilgrimages that she plans. You can learn more about them on here “pilgrimage” page on her website.
She’s also an award-winning journalist and writes on a variety of subjects in national and international media, including: L’Osservatore Romano (English edition), the National Catholic Register, Magnificat magazine, Catholic World Report, and Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly.
As an international speaker, Donna-Marie often gives keynote speeches to large women’s conferences, as well as presents to military women on bases and at their worldwide forums. She also gives headliner speeches around the world (with her largest audience to date at 20,000). She is just as happy presenting at small intimate gatherings and believes that God is in the details of EVERYTHING!
Aside from her work as a writer and speaker, Donna-Marie is firmly grounded in reality. Her daily interests and commitments include extensive organic gardening, photography, hiking, and healthy cooking. She also has her hand in creative design of all kinds. She tries to spend as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren.
READ DONNA-MARIE’S EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY HERE: https://www.donnacooperoboyle.com/blog/bio-or-about/
Typographical error found and edited shortly after the Nov. 27, 2022 post. Thanks kindly for your support in sending us any other changes in the comments:
Thank you!
See our latest video. Father Anthony Gramlich explains Marian Apparitions in this 101.
She was beatified by Pope Pius XI.
The Divine Mercy we will continue to explore in future videos with Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC.