The apparitions ocurred in the Mother House of the Daughters of Charity in Paris (140 Rue de Bac).
The heart of Saint Vincent de Paul is incorrupt and is held in the chapel, to the right of the altar.
The body of Saint Catherine Laboure is incorrup and is displayed in the chapel, to the left of the altar.
Miraculous Medal Story from the following website
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.
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.”
The
Second Apparition
Mary gave her this mission in a vision during evening meditation on
November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be half a globe
and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. On the
globe was the word “France,” and our Lady explained that the globe
represented the whole world, but especially France. The times were
difficult in France, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often
refugees from the many wars of the time. France was first to experience
many of those troubles which ultimately reached other parts of the world
and are even present today. Streaming from rings on Mary's fingers as she
held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays
symbolize the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some
of the gems on the rings were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and
graces were available but did not come because no one had asked for them.
The Third Apparition and the Miraculous Medal
The vision then changed to show our Lady standing on a
globe with her arms now outstretched and with the dazzling rays of light still
streaming from her fingers. Framing the figure was an inscription: Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
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The
Meaning of the Front Side of the Miraculous Medal
Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a
serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of
Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all
his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the
Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the
Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary
conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of
Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to
Mary's sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke
1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.
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The vision turned and showed the design of the reverse
side of the medal. Twelve stars encircled a large "M" from which
arose a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. Thorns
encircle one heart and a sword pierces the other.
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The
Meaning of the Back Side of the Miraculous Medal
The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who
represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the
vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which
“a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the
moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.” The cross can
symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign
of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of her
initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our
world. In this, we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as
mother of the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary
for us. (See also Lk 2:35).
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Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon
this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they
wear it around the neck.” Catherine explained the entire series of
apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out
Mary’s instructions. She did not reveal that she received the Medal until
soon before her death 47 years later.
With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made
in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that
Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal. The
devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and
prosperity, followed in its wake. Before long people were calling it the
“Miraculous” Medal. In 1836, a canonical inquiry undertaken at Paris
declared the apparitions to be genuine.
There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected
with the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal is not a “good-luck charm”.
Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer.
Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and
faith. God uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an
instrument, in bringing to pass certain marvelous results. “The weak things
of this earth hath God chosen to confound the strong.”
When our Blessed Mother gave the design of the medal to
Saint Catherine Labouré she said, “Now it must be given to the whole world
and to every person.”
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