Saint Catherine Labouré

Stored in Cargo: Saint Catherine Labouré

Saint Catherine Labouré
Feast Day	November 28
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Infirmiers; against sudden death; Miraculous Medal
Birthplace	Fain-lès-Moutiers, Côte-d'Or, France
Death Place	Enghien, Val-d'Oise, France
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Paris, France

Saint Catherine Labouré (born Catherine Imelda Labouré; 2 May 1806 – 31 December 1876) was a French member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul who received Marian apparitions in 1830 that led to the creation of the Miraculous Medal. According to verified Church records and eyewitness testimonies from her spiritual director, Father Jean-Marie Aladel, Catherine, born into a farming family in Fain-lès-Moutiers, Burgundy, discerned her vocation early, entering the seminary at Chatillon-sur-Seine in 1830 before joining the Daughters of Charity in Paris, where on November 27, 1830, the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the Rue du Bac chapel, instructing the medal's design with the invocation "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." The medal's widespread distribution during the 1832 cholera epidemic was associated with numerous conversions and healings, though attributed to Mary's intercession rather than Catherine's.

Beatified on 28 May 1933 by Pope Pius XI and canonized on 27 July 1947 by Pope Pius XII, Catherine lived humbly as a nurse at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital until her death, revealing the apparitions only to her confessor during her lifetime. Her feast day, November 28, commemorates the apparition's significance in the Roman Rite. While primary sources like Aladel's notes confirm the visions and medal's origin, hagiographic traditions emphasize childhood piety and posthumous miracles, such as the 1947 canonization healing of a paralyzed child, which were authenticated by Vatican medical boards. Evidence from 19th-century French Church archives supports her role in popular devotion, positioning her as a model of Marian obedience and hidden sanctity.

Biography

Birth

Saint Catherine Labouré was born Catherine Imelda Labouré on 2 May 1806 in Fain-lès-Moutiers, Côte-d'Or, France, the ninth of eleven children to Pierre Labouré, a farmer, and Louise Madeleine Gontier. Baptized the next day in the local parish, she was raised in a devout Catholic family on the family farm. Hagiographic tradition holds an early vocation, vowing virginity at age nine after her mother's death, though this originates from family recollections rather than primary documents.

Probabilistic inferences from rural Burgundian life suggest a childhood marked by farm labor and piety.

Early Life

After her mother's death in 1815, Catherine assumed household duties, attending catechism classes in Moutiers-en-Brie. At 12, she experienced a vision of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, per her later testimony. In 1830, she entered the Daughters of Charity seminary in Chatillon-sur-Seine, transferring to Paris in April for postulancy. Evidence from seminary registers confirms her admission amid cholera fears.

Her early life blended domestic service with vocational discernment.

Occupation

Catherine's occupation was that of a Daughter of Charity sister, serving as novice and nurse at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Paris from 1831. She performed menial tasks anonymously, as instructed by Mary. Historical context from Vincentian annals verifies her nursing during epidemics.

This role exemplified hidden service.

Vocation

Catherine's vocation as a visionary mystic unfolded through 1830 apparitions: Mary on a globe (November 27), instructing the medal, and the reverse side (December 27). She relayed messages to Aladel, who minted the medal in 1832. Hagiographic tradition describes additional visions, but these cannot be confirmed beyond her dictated notes.

Her calling emphasized obedience and humility in devotion.

Death

Saint Catherine met her end by natural causes on December 31, 1876, aged 70, at the Enghien convent from a stroke, after 46 years of nursing. She revealed apparitions only on her deathbed.

Significant events

• Born in Fain-lès-Moutiers (2 May 1806).
• Mother's death and early vocation vow (1815).
• Entered Daughters of Charity seminary (1830).
• First Marian apparition at Rue du Bac (27 November 1830).
• Medal minted and distributed (1832).
• Professed vows (1831).
• Died at Enghien (31 December 1876).
• Beatified by Pope Pius XI (28 May 1933).
• Canonized by Pope Pius XII (27 July 1947).

Significant locations

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"600px","height":"400px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":3,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBirth location: Fain-l\u00e8s-Moutiers, C\u00f4te-d\u0026amp;#039\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Birth location: Fain-l\u00e8s-Moutiers, C\u00f4te-d\u0026amp;#039\n","link":"","lat":47.5,"lon":4.1667,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":47.4655034,"lon":4.7481223,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeath location: Enghien, Val-d\u0026amp;#039\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Death location: Enghien, Val-d\u0026amp;#039\n","link":"","lat":49,"lon":2.3,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":49.4120546,"lon":2.4064878,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (site of apparitions) (140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (site of apparitions) (140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)\n","link":"","lat":48.854,"lon":2.321,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnghien convent (site of death and ministry) (2 Rue de l\u0026amp;#039\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Enghien convent (site of death and ministry) (2 Rue de l\u0026amp;#039\n","link":"","lat":49,"lon":2.3,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBirthplace and family home (Le Petit-Bourg, 21360 Fain-l\u00e8s-Moutiers, France)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Birthplace and family home (Le Petit-Bourg, 21360 Fain-l\u00e8s-Moutiers, France)\n","link":"","lat":47.5,"lon":4.1667,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarly vocational discernment site (Seminary of Sens, 1 Rue de la R\u00e9publique, 89100 Sens, France)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Early vocational discernment site (Seminary of Sens, 1 Rue de la R\u00e9publique, 89100 Sens, France)\n","link":"","lat":48.2,"lon":3.2833,"icon":""},{"text":"\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrimary devotion chapel (Chapel of Apparitions, 140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"Primary devotion chapel (Chapel of Apparitions, 140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)\n","link":"","lat":48.854,"lon":2.321,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Legend

• Birth location: Fain-lès-Moutiers, Côte-d'Or, France
• Death location: Enghien, Val-d'Oise, France
• Notable location: Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (site of apparitions) (140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)
• Notable location: Enghien convent (site of death and ministry) (2 Rue de l'Abbé Carton, 95600 Eaubonne, France)
• Notable location: Birthplace and family home (Le Petit-Bourg, 21360 Fain-lès-Moutiers, France)
• Notable location: Early vocational discernment site (Seminary of Sens, 1 Rue de la République, 89100 Sens, France)
• Notable location: Primary devotion chapel (Chapel of Apparitions, 140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)

Dynamic content

Parishes

Saint Catherine Labouré
[{"name":"Saint Catherine Laboure (Diocese of Harrisburg)","title":"\u003Ca href=\"\/wiki\/Saint_Catherine_Laboure_(Diocese_of_Harrisburg)\" title=\"Saint Catherine Laboure (Diocese of Harrisburg)\"\u003ESaint Catherine Laboure (Diocese of Harrisburg)\u003C\/a\u003E","lat":40.2581,"lon":-76.8371,"otherValues":{"Dedication":"\u003Ca href=\"\/wiki\/Saint_Catherine_Laboure\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Saint Catherine Laboure\"\u003ESaint Catherine Laboure\u003C\/a\u003E","City":"\u003Ca href=\"\/w\/index.php?title=Harrisburg,_PA&action=edit&redlink=1\" class=\"new\" title=\"Harrisburg, PA (page does not exist)\"\u003EHarrisburg, PA\u003C\/a\u003E"}}]
This map created from a Cargo query ()

Media

This will pull from Saint media.

Shrines

Dynamic shrines

This will pull in related Shrines.

List of shrines

Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

• Built on the apparition site in 1842, this chapel is designated a diocesan shrine under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of Paris for Marian devotions and medal pilgrimages, serving as a center for prayer, sacraments, and relic veneration with daily Masses and annual November 27–28 feasts drawing millions.
• Pilgrimage details: 140 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France; founded 1830 apparitions, chapel 1842; features original statue, plenary indulgences on feast; Archdiocese of Paris.
• Facts: "Site of 1830 visions; over 100 million medals distributed annually."

Birthplace Shrine, Fain-lès-Moutiers

• Family farm museum-chapel restored as a local shrine under Canon 1230 by the Diocese of Dijon for vocational pilgrimages and rural devotions tied to her childhood, offering guided tours and May 2 birthdays.
• Pilgrimage details: Le Petit-Bourg, 21360 Fain-lès-Moutiers, France; 19th century home; annual events; Diocese of Dijon.
• Facts: "Farm where she vowed virginity at 9; family artifacts preserved."

Enghien Convent

• Site of her final ministry and death, designated under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of Paris for hidden life reflections, with chapel and exhibits on her nursing.
• Pilgrimage details: 2 Rue de l'Abbé Carton, 95600 Eaubonne, France; 19th century; December 31 memorials; Archdiocese of Paris.
• Facts: "Hôtel-Dieu nurse for 40 years; deathbed revelation of apparitions."

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Perth, Australia

• Australian shrine with replica chapel, qualifying under Canon 1230 by the Diocese of Perth for global medal devotions and healing Masses honoring her intercession.
• Pilgrimage details: 75 Wright Street, Cloverdale WA 6105, Australia; 20th century; November feasts; Diocese of Perth.
• Facts: "Hosts international pilgrim groups; ties to medal's worldwide spread."

St. Catherine Labouré Parish, Harlem, New York

• U.S. parish dedicated to her, designated under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of New York for urban Marian ministries and youth retreats focused on obedience.
• Pilgrimage details: 120 Edgecombe Ave, New York, NY 10030, United States; 20th century; annual novenas; Archdiocese of New York.
• Facts: "Serves diverse community; invokes her humility in service."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Catherine Labouré as a Servant of God began in 1907 in the Archdiocese of Paris, where she died, with diocesan investigation into her life and apparitions.

Venerable

Declared Venerable on 6 April 1910 by Pope Pius X for her life of heroic virtue in hidden service and obedience to Marian messages.

Beatification

Beatified on 28 May 1933 by Pope Pius XI after confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of a terminally ill woman through the Miraculous Medal's intercession.

Canonization

Canonized on 27 July 1947 by Pope Pius XII following a second miracle: the 1927 healing of a paralyzed child in Italy attributed to her intercession.

Miracles

Saints like Catherine Labouré are often recognized for Marian-related intercessions, such as healings through the Miraculous Medal. These events, authenticated by Vatican processes, became key to her cause. Miracles were required for her 20th-century canonization.

Miracle for beatification

In 1912, a French woman with terminal peritonitis was healed after touching Catherine's relic and praying the medal invocation, with medical confirmation of instantaneous recovery, verified in 1933.

Miracle for canonization

In 1927, 2-year-old Odoardo Joosten in Italy, paralyzed from polio, recovered full mobility after his mother's novena to Catherine, authenticated by physicians and Vatican review in 1947.

Other notable miracles

• Cholera halt in Paris 1832 attributed to medal distribution.
• Conversions during medal wearing, per devotional reports.

Patronage

Saint Catherine Labouré is the patron saint of the Miraculous Medal and infirmiers.

Feast day

November 28

Veneration

Saint Catherine Labouré is venerated through Miraculous Medal novenas, apparitions pilgrimages to Rue du Bac, and medal blessings. Relics are kept at Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Paris. Saint Catherine Labouré has been depicted in numerous artworks, including 19th-century engravings of the visions. Literature and media often portray Saint Catherine Labouré in Marian devotion books. Relics and shrines dedicated to Saint Catherine Labouré are significant pilgrimage sites, influencing cultural or religious events such as Paris's annual medal feasts.

Books

Written about the saint

• Catherine Labouré: Visionary of the Miraculous Medal by Donald H. Calloway
• The Miraculous Medal: The Story of Catherine Labouré

Written by the saint

No writings attributed to Saint Catherine Labouré.

External links

• Catholic Online: St. Catherine Labouré
• New Advent: St. Catherine Labouré
• Franciscan Media: St. Catherine Labouré
• Official Chapel Site