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Saint Catherine personally worked no miracles, nor did she practice externally heroic charity like other great saints. She sprang from upper middle class parents among the meadows and vineyards of Burgundy, France. Her father was an educated man and an excellent farmer living in the village of Fain-les-Mothers not far from DiJon. Her sanctity consists in half a century of faithful service as a simple Daughter of Charity. Catherine was born of Peter and Louise Laboure on May 2, 1806. She was the ninth child of a family of eleven.
The day after her birth she was baptized on the feast of the Finding of The True Cross. Even the feast of Catherine's baptism was prophetic, because Catherine was to find the cross in every turn of her life, and to have deep devotion for it, and to see a mysterious vision of the cross. When Catherine was nine years old, her saintly mother died. After the burial service, little Catherine went to her room, stood on a chair, took our Lady's statue from the wall, kissed it, and said: "Now, dear Lady, you are to be my mother. " On January 25, 1818, Catherine received her First Holy Communion. From that day on she arose every morning at 4: 00 a. m. , walked several miles to church in order to assist at Mass, and to pray.
One day she had a dream in which she saw an old priest say Mass. After Mass, the priest turned and beckoned her with his finger, but she drew backwards, keeping her eye on him. The vision moved to a sick room where she saw the same priest, who said: "My child, it is a good deed to look after the sick; you run away now, but one day you will be glad to come to me. God has designs on you - do not forget it. " Later, she awoke, not knowing the significance of the dream.
Sometime later, while visiting a hospital of the Daughters of Charity, Catherine noticed a priest's picture on the wall. She asked a sister who he was, and was told: "Our Holy Founder Saint Vincent de Paul. " This was the same priest Catherine had seen in the dream. In January of 1830, Catherine Laboure became a postulant in the hospice of the Daughters of Charity at Catillon-sur-Seine. Three months later she was again in Paris, this time to enter the Seminary at the Mother House of the Daughters of Charity. Shortly after she entered her new home, God was pleased to grant her several extraordinary visions. On three consecutive days she saw the heart of Saint Vincent above the reliquary in which his relics were exposed, each time under a different aspect.
At other times she beheld our divine Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament; this would occur especially during Mass when he would appear as he was described in the liturgy of the day. On the eve of the Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, July 19, the Sister Superior spoke to the novices about the virtues of their Holy Founder and gave each of them a piece of cloth from his surplice. Catherine earnestly prayed to Saint Vincent that she might with her own eyes see the mother of God. She was convinced that she would see the Blessed Virgin Mary that very night; and in her conviction, Catherine fell asleep. Before long, a brilliant light and the voice of a child awakened her. "Sister Laboure, come to the Chapel; the Blessed Virgin awaits you. Catherine replied: "We shall be discovered. " The locked chapel door swung open at the angel's touch and Catherine found the Chapel ablaze with lights as if prepared for midnight Mass.
Quickly she knelt at the communion rail, and suddenly, she saw the Blessed Virgin, in a blaze of glory, sat in the director's chair. The angel whispered: "The Blessed Mother wishes to speak with you. Catherine rose, knelt beside the Blessed Mother and rested her hands in the Virgin's lap. Mary said: "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you.
Times are evil in France and in the world. Come to the foot of the altar. Graces will be shed on all, great and little, especially upon those who seek for them. You will have the protection of God and Saint Vincent. I always will have my eyes upon you. There will be much persecution.
The cross will be treated with contempt. It will be hurled to the ground and blood will flow. " Then after speaking for some time, the Lady like a fading shadow was gone. Catherine lived the normal life of a novice of the Daughters of Charity until Advent. On Saturday, November 27, 1830, at 5: 30 p.
m. , she retired to the Chapel with the other Sisters for evening meditation. Catherine heard the faint swish of silk... she recognized our Lady's signal. Raising her eyes to the main altar, she saw her beautiful Lady standing on a large globe.
The Virgin spoke, this time giving a direct order: "Have a medal struck as I have shown you. All who wear it will receive great graces. Catherine asked how she was to have the medal struck. Mary replied that she was to go to her confessor, a Father Jean Marie Aladel saying of this saintly priest: "He is my servant. " Father Aladel at first did not believe Catherine; however after two years, he finally went to the archbishop who ordered two thousand medals struck on June 20, 1832. When Catherine received her share of these first medals from the hands of the priest she said: "Now it must be propagated.
The spread of a devotion to the medal urged by Saint Catherine was carried out so swiftly that it was miraculous itself. Saint Catherine expects, nor wanted any praise and promise so she fled from it. She wanted to be left alone to carry out her humble duties as a Daughter of Charity. For over forty years, she spent her every effort in caring for the aged and infirm, not revealing to those about her that she had been the recipient of our Lady's medal. The Sisters with whom she lived held her in the highest esteem, and each one longed to be her companion. In 1876, Catherine felt she would die before the end of the year.
Mary Immaculate gave Catherine leave to speak and break the silence of forty-six years. Catherine revealed to her Sister Superior that she was the sister to whom the Blessed Mother appeared. On December 31, 1876, Saint Catherine passed on to the hands of Mary, this time, however, in heaven. Today her beautiful remains still lie fresh and serene. When her body was exhumed in 1933 it was found as fresh as the day it was buried. Her incorrupt body is encased in glass beneath the side altar at 140 Rue du Bac, Paris, beneath one of the spots where our Lady appeared to her.
In the Chapel of the Apparition you can gaze upon the face and the lips that for forty-six years kept a secret, which has since shaken the world.
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Research essay sample on The Story Of Saint Catherine Laboure
