Posted on 11/24/2008 7:44:52 PM PST by RGPII
Over 10,000 people are expected to pray for peace, families, religious, service people and other groups at Germantown's Miraculous Medal Shrine during its 81st nine-day Solemn Novena starting Monday. Each day, six to nine prayer services will focus on different themes. The novena will end Nov. 25 followed by Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Feast Day Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel Thomas of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Nov. 26.
"We're trying to reach out to every group that needs us," Lizanne Magarity-Pando, director of communications, said. She noted that this is the first year the shrine dedicated each novena day to specific groups including: military, youth, Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. Vincent de Paul Society, police, firefighters and EMTs, teachers, special needs families, religious and seminarians.
The Miraculous Medal Shrine was built in 1927 to help spread the devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and support the mission work of the Vincentian Priests and Brothers "on behalf of those most in need." The Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, located across the street, is a Catholic nonprofit established in 1915 by the priests founded by St. Vincent de Paul.
Billions of people worldwide wear the Miraculous Medal, which is struck with an image shown to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris during her third Marian apparition in 1830. The medal shows the Blessed Mother standing on a globe with rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Around Mary is the inscription: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
According to St. Catherine Labouré, Mary told her, "Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck."
"Mary's here," Mrs. Magarity-Pando said of the shrine. "She's the mother of the world. She told Catherine Labouré, 'If you come to the altar and bring your sorrows to the altar I will shed my graces upon you.'"
Through this novena, the shrine hopes to reach out to more people praying for grace. If there is a good response to the special needs families' services on Nov. 23, Mrs. Magarity-Pando said the shrine would consider offering sign language services on a regular basis. The shrine is currently looking for a Spanish-speaking priest as well.
Large numbers of people are expected to come on Nov. 21 to pray for police, firefighters and EMTs. The shrine embraced police officers and their families through a Mass remembering fallen police officer Chuck Cassidy just last week.
"The shrine is a place of solace and refuge, a place in any times, but especially in these hard times, to come and pray and not feel alone," Mrs. Magarity-Pando said. "It is a place to re-gather your hope for the future."
Besides specified group intentions, thousands of gold cards with worldwide prayer requests will hang from ribbons suspended above the altar during the novena.
"People from all over the world are praying even though they can't make it to the shrine," Mrs. Magarity-Pando said. They will read the novena prayers and sermons at www.cammonline.org.
For more information on the Solemn Novena contact the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal at 215-848-1010 or visit www.cammonline.org.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Philadelphia is somewhat reknowned for miracles related to the Medal it has been said if one reads into it. The Central Association is listed above at http://www.cammonline.com/ and in Perryville, Missouri is a similar organization.
Information and images may be found at the above links.
I wear the Miraculous Medal and am a member of the MMI(spelling). Graces and help came my way after wearing
it!
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, The Miraculous Medal [Ecumenical]
America Needs Fatima Campaign does outreach by distributing St. Benedict medals (Catholic Caucus)
Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Catholic Caucus)
Graces Will Be Abundant (175th Anniversary of Miraculous Medal)
America Needs Fatima Launches "Miracles for America" Campaign: A Miraculous Medal Outreach
“I wear the Miraculous Medal and am a member of the MMI(spelling). Graces and help came my way after wearing
it!”
Me too! It hangs right there next to my Cross of St. Benedict.
Yes!
Actually I wear a WWII soldiers medal of scapular medal
and miraculous medal,2 medals in one,—a guys thing, former soldier,
http://i21.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/2d/05/75c3_2.JPG
also a St. Benedict Cross and a dog tag, all attached to a neck CORD.
Cant wear a real brown scapular....practicality issues and regular ocean activity here in So Cal!
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