On November 27, 1830, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Catherine again in the chapel. This time, it was at 5:30 pm, during meditation. First, Catherine saw something like two living paintings, one fading into the other, in which the Blessed Virgin stood on a half-globe, her feet crushing the head of a serpent. In this first image, the Virgin held a small golden globe topped with a cross, which she lifted up toward heaven. Catherine then heard, “This globe represents the entire world and every person.”
In the second image, beautiful rays of light streamed from the Blessed Virgin’s open hands, which were covered with jeweled rings. At that same moment, St. Catherine heard a voice say, “These rays are a symbol of the graces that I pour out on those who ask them of me.” Then, an oval formed around the apparition, and Catherine saw this invocation emblazoned in gold letters shaped in a semi-circle: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.” She then heard the words, “Have a medal made in this image. For those who wear it with confidence, there will be abundant graces.” Finally, the image turned, and Catherine saw the reverse side of the medal: the letter “M” surmounted with a little cross; two hearts below the cross, one crowned with thorns and the other pierced with a sword; and twelve stars bordering the medal.
The following are the liturgical texts for the celebration of the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Miraculous Medal.
OPENING ANTIPHON
The Lord God has blessed you, Virgin Mary, more than all the women on earth. He has exalted your name: let all the peoples sing your praise.
COLLECT
God, you cause us to rejoice in your great goodness, through the immaculate Virgin Mary, so inexpressibly united with your Son. As we are supported by her motherly protection, may we never be without your providential love, and be always dedicated to the mystery of your redemption with unbounded faith. We ask through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Revelation Rev. 12:1, 5, 14a, 15-17
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She gave birth to a son, a male child destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was to be taken care of. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of her mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Ps. 45: 11-12, 14-15, 16-17
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In broidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have; you shall make them princes through all the land.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Alleluia Song of Songs 4:7
Alleluia, Alleluia
You are all beautiful, Mary,
and there is no stain of original sin in you.
Alleluia, Alleluia
GOSPEL READING
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John Jn: 2: 1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from – although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord, as we offer you this joyful sacrifice of praise, we honor the memory of the blessed Virgin Mary. May we, who now rejoice in your goodness, one day be able to offer you eternal thanks and praise. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE in the Roman Missal for December 8
Preface of the Immaculate Conception
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord,
Holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For You preserved the most Blessed Virgin Mary
from all stain of original sin,
so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness of your grace,
you might prepare a worthy Mother for you Son
and signify the beginning of the Church,
his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle.
She, the most pure Virgin, was to bring forth a Son,
the innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offenses;
you placed her above all others to be for your people
an advocate of grace and a model of holiness.
An so, in company with the choirs of Angels,
we praise you, and with joy we proclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy…
ANTIPHON FOR COMMUNION (Luke 1,48-49)
From now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord our God, we have been refreshed by the sacraments of everlasting redemption. As we rejoice in the celebration of the Immaculate Mother of your Son, may we advance more eagerly on our journey of faith; and, being participants here on earth at the table of your kingdom, may we merit to praise you together with her in heaven. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Source: https://amminter.org/
Visit the International Miraculous Medal Association’s website
Many thanks for providing these texts for the liturgical celebration of Our Lady of Grace.
Could you please provide also the proper reading of the Divine Office: the Second Reading for the Office of Readings -and whatever else may be “proper” of her Office?
Thank you very much.