One of things I enjoy most when traveling anywhere, is visiting churches. Being catholic, I have an imbedded interest and curiosity about them. The large gothic cathedrals in Europe, as well as the charming little chapels I have found even here in the United States. They each have unique character, a beautiful reverence and a story about them.

On one of my first visits to France, my companion and I were seeking out the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 140 Rue de Bac, in the 7th. We had difficulty finding it, because it is not typically how you would see a church on a street. It was tucked away behind some large doors, and down a hallway of sorts, but when we entered, the beauty of it literally took our breath away.

It was in this very chapel that St Catherine Laboure’ was reported to have seen an apparition of Our Lady in the 1830’s. She had previously seen a vision of St Vincent de Paul, and of Christ present in the sacred Host. It was during one of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that Catherine was shown the image of an oval formed around the apparition emblazoned in a semi-circle this invocation, until then unknown: “O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to you”. The vision turned and St. Catherine saw on the reverse side the letter M surmounted with a little cross and below it the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Catherine then heard these words: “Have a medal made on this model. Those who will wear it with confidence will receive great graces.”

Catherine did as she was told, and since then, millions of these miraculous medals have been received, and along with them, purported miracles. The medal I received there, at this beautiful little chapel, is one that I wear, and will treasure always.

Since my first visit to the chapel, I have returned many times for mass and prayer. It still amazes me, to see the body of St Catherine Laboure’, which was exhumed in 1933 for her beatification, laying in a glass case, incorrupt, as if she had just died that day…no visible signs of decay whatsoever. It is a beautiful place to visit, for prayer, for meditation, or just for a bit of quiet reflection on your visit to Paris.