In this chapel chosen by God, the Blessed Virgin Mary came in person to reveal her identity by means of a small object, a medal, intended for every person without distinction.
Mary’s conception was the object of controversy among theologians ever since the early times of the Church. In 431 the Council of Ephesus proclaimed the first Marian dogma: Mary is the Mother of God.
Ever since 1830 the invocation “O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to you,” which is repeated thousands of times by thousands and thousands of Christian hearts the world over as requested by the very Mother of God, will produce its effects. On December 8, 1854, Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. From the first moment of her conception Mary is without sin by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God in view of the redeeming death of her Son.
Four years later in 1858, the apparitions at Lourdes confirm to Bernadette Soubirous this privilege of the Mother of God.
Mary, with an immaculate heart, is the first redeemed by the merits of Jesus Christ. She is light for our world. We are all, like her, destined for eternal happiness.
A medal, miraculous… why? … Luminous … because? … And sorrowful?