Miraculous Medal Shrine

Saint Mary’s of the Barrens was founded in 1818 by the Vincentian fathers. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was built in 1929 by the Promoters of the Association of the Miraculous Medal. While looking at the altar of the Shrine, the elements of the front and the back of the Miraculous Medal should be evident. The statue above the altar and the words in the archway, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee, ” depict the front of the medal.

Miraculous Medal Story

The Blessed Virgin herself designed the Medal of the Immaculate Conception—popularly known as the Miraculous Medal! No wonder, then, that it wins such extraordinary graces for those who wear it and pray for Mary’s intercession and help. See top 15 Catholic shrines in the world

The First Apparition
The story begins on the night of July 18-19, 1830. A child (perhaps her guardian angel) awakened Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, and summoned her to the chapel. There she met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours. During the conversation, Mary said to her, “My child, I am going to give you a mission.”

And something else for you: selection of beautiful Miraculous Medals 

See more Catholic Shrines and pilgrimages in North America.

The Chapels

• Main Altar – The original altar of Saint Mary’s is actually encased in the white carrara and red marble of the main altar. This construction happened in the 1890’s. Today this altar is used as the Altar of Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and for communion taken to the sick.
• Sacred Heart Chapel – Sacred Heart of Jesus altar continues a devotion in the Catholic Church that represents the love and mercy of Jesus. This devotion started in the seventeenth century with an apparition to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.
• Passion Chapel – The painting of the crucifixion of Jesus with his mother, Mary, and Apostle John has become a devotion to the Vincentian community recommended by Saint Vincent, because he saw the suffering poor in the suffering Jesus. The Vincentian call is to see Christ in the suffering poor.
• St. Vincent de Paul Chapel – French diocesan priest who founded the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.) and the Daughters of Charity (D.C.). He is the Church’s universal patron of organized charities. He originally founded the Congregation of the Mission to evangelize the poor country people through the work of the Parish Mission and the training of diocesan clergy.
• St John Gabriel Perboyre Chapel – Saint John Gabriel Perboyre, C.M., 1802-1840–French born Vincentian priest and missionary to China from 1835-1840. In spite of the dangers of persecution, he exercised his apostolic ministry among the Christians, was betrayed by one of his disciples, and was martyred after prolonged suffering. He was canonized June 2, 1996.
• Stained Glass Windows – In back of the church, you will see the Rose Window, Raphael’s Madonna of the Chair, which was added to the church in the 1913-1920 renovation
• Little Flower Chapel – Saint Theresa of Lisieux 1873-1897. Saint Theresa is the co-patron of Foreign Missions. She is also known as Saint Theresa the Little Flower. Saint Theresa was a Carmelite nun who never left her convent, but her prayers and penances brought many souls in the mission fields to the Church thus prompting her to be made Patroness of Missions and Missionaries. The Vincentians in America have foreign missionaries in China-Taiwan, Africa, and South America. Saint Theresa reminds us to pray for our foreign missionaries. She was canonized on May 17, 1925.
• Saint Louise de Marillac Chapel – Saint Louise de Marillac, D. C., 1591-1660. Saint Louise is the co-foundress with Saint Vincent de Paul of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, 1633. She is depicted here with a young girl and a book in her hand with Vincent’s care for the abandoned children that give him his name of patron of organized charities. Through Louise’s help, the Daughters of Charity were guided in their work and daily activities of service and community life. Because of Louise’s ill health, she was unable to wear the Daughter’s white cornette or bonette and had to wear a head covering. The Daughters of Charity is the sister community of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and work closely whenever possible.
• Alphonsus Ratisbonne painting – A Catholic friend gave Alphonsus Ratisbonne, a Jew, a medal to wear and asked him to pray a simple prayer to Mary. He complied out of friendship, not really understanding its meaning. While at a Catholic Church arranging for a funeral, our Lady appeared to him and brought about his conversion.
• Miraculous Medal Shrine – Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church is the National Shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The Shrine as you see it was added to the church in 1929-1930, by the Promoters of the Association of the Miraculous Medal, replacing an older Shrine of our Lady which had been in the church from the beginning. While looking at the altar of the Shrine, the elements of the front and the back of the Miraculous Medal should be evident.
• Tomb of Father Felix De Andreis – The marble tomb marks the burial site of the first Superior in America, Father Felix De Andreis, who brought his community of Vincentian priests, brothers, and seminarians from Italy in 1816, to the United States of America, arriving in Saint Louis in 1818.
• Saint Bernadette Lourdes – Saint Bernadette Soubirous received her apparition from our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France, in 1858, some twenty-eight years after the apparition of Saint Catherine Laboure at Paris, France. Our Lady appeared to Bernadette and identified herself by saying, “I am the Immaculate Conception,” the same words she had spoken to Saint Catherine many years earlier. Saint Bernadette was canonized on December 8, 1933.
• Votive Light Room – To the right of the Shrine Altar, through the glass door is Votive Light room, where tens of thousands of lights burn today. These lights represent the intentions from people across the United States and the world sent to the Shrine. Vincentian community here and throughout the province offers prayers and works for these intentions.
• Saint Joseph Chapel – Saint Joseph–Spouse to Mary Altar honors the protector of the Church. As the protector of Mary and the child Jesus, Joseph becomes the protector of Holy Mother, the Church.
• The Angelus Bell Tower – In 1980, to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Manifestation of the Miraculous Medal, a seven-story Angelus Tower was built next to Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church. At the top of the tower are housed three perfectly matched bells that were cast between 1868 and 1882.