Labouré stated that on July 19, 1830, the eve of the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, she woke up after hearing the voice of a child calling her to the chapel, where she heard the Virgin Mary say to her, "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."
Labouré kept walking, thinking about what she just heard.

On November 27, 1830, Labouré reported that the Blessed Mother returned to her during evening meditations.
She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe; rays of light came out of her hands in the direction of a globe.
Around the margin of the frame appeared the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
As Labouré watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary underneath.
Asked why some of the rays of light did not reach the earth, Mary reportedly replied "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask."
Labouré then heard Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions. "
All who wear them will receive great graces."

Labouré did so, and after two years of investigation and observation of her normal daily behavior, the priest took the information to his archbishop without revealing her identity.
The request was approved and the design of the medallions was commissioned through French goldsmith Adrien Vachette.
They proved to be exceedingly popular.
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had not yet been officially promulgated, but the medal with its "conceived without sin" slogan was influential in popular approval of the idea.
Labouré stated that on July 19, 1830, the eve of the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, she woke up after hearing the voice of a child calling her to the chapel, where she heard the Virgin Mary say to her, "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." Labouré kept walking, thinking about what she just heard.
On November 27, 1830, Labouré reported that the Blessed Mother returned to her during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe; rays of light came out of her hands in the direction of a globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." As Labouré watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary underneath. Asked why some of the rays of light did not reach the earth, Mary reportedly replied "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Labouré then heard Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions. "All who wear them will receive great graces."
Labouré did so, and after two years of investigation and observation of her normal daily behavior, the priest took the information to his archbishop without revealing her identity. The request was approved and the design of the medallions was commissioned through French goldsmith Adrien Vachette. They proved to be exceedingly popular. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had not yet been officially promulgated, but the medal with its "conceived without sin" slogan was influential in popular approval of the idea.
Catherine Labouré