Thus complained the Blessed Virgin appearing on November 27th, 1830 to a saint – Sister Catherine Laboure – (the apparition of the miraculous medal).

Our Lady was clothed in pale blue (‘‘the colour of dawn”) said the Saint Sister, a white veil on her head. She stood on a globe half hidden in clouds, and had her foot crushing the serpent’s head.

Gradually Our Lady’s fingers became covered with rings set with precious stones from which shone rays of light. Some stones were bigger than others, some shed brighter rays than others; SOME GAVE NO LIGHT AT ALL.

While this cataract of light shone in ever—increasing volume and brilliancy from the hands of Our Lady, her arms dropped down and flowed with the light the globe beneath her feet, and with such a resplendent light, that the globe itself was almost lost from there. Then a voice spoke: ‘‘BEHOLD THE SYMBOL OF THE GRACES I OBTAIN FOR ALL THOSE WHO ASK THEM FROM ME.” The same voice further explained about the jewels in Our Lady’s hands, without rays of light: ‘‘They are the symbol of the graces that are NOT granted BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ASKED FOR.”