# Catherine Labouré

> French Daughter of Charity and saint (1806–1876)

**Wikidata**: [Q242044](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242044)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Labouré)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catherine-laboure

## Summary
Catherine Labouré was a French Roman Catholic religious sister and saint, best known for her visions of the Virgin Mary and her role in the creation of the Miraculous Medal. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick as a Daughter of Charity in Paris, where she became renowned for her spiritual experiences and deep devotion.

## Biography
- Born: May 2, 1806, in Fain-lès-Moutiers, France  
- Nationality: French  
- Education: Trained as a nurse; educated within the Daughters of Charity community  
- Known for: Visions of the Virgin Mary and the origin of the Miraculous Medal  
- Employer(s): Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (based at Rue du Bac, Paris)  
- Field(s): Religious life, mysticism, Catholic spirituality  

## Contributions
Catherine Labouré is most notably associated with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which occurred in 1830 at the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. These visions directly led to the creation of the Miraculous Medal, a sacramental that became widely venerated in the Catholic Church. The medal, bearing an image of the Virgin Mary standing on a globe and crushing a serpent under her foot, was struck following the instructions given during the apparitions. It has since been credited with numerous miracles and remains a central element of popular Catholic devotion.

## FAQs
**Who was Catherine Labouré?**  
Catherine Labouré was a French Daughter of Charity who experienced visions of the Virgin Mary and played a pivotal role in the origin of the Miraculous Medal. She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1933.

**What is Catherine Labouré known for?**  
She is known for her mystical visions of the Virgin Mary in 1830, which led to the creation of the Miraculous Medal, a widely venerated religious object in the Catholic Church.

**Where did Catherine Labouré live and work?**  
She lived and worked in Paris, France, primarily at the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity on Rue du Bac, where she served as a nurse and religious sister.

**When was Catherine Labouré canonized?**  
She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church on May 27, 1933, by Pope Pius XI.

**What religious order did Catherine Labouré belong to?**  
She was a member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, a Roman Catholic religious congregation dedicated to serving the poor and sick.

## Why They Matter
Catherine Labouré's significance lies in her role as the visionary catalyst for one of the most enduring devotional practices in modern Catholicism: the Miraculous Medal. Her visions influenced Catholic spirituality and popular piety, particularly among laypeople, and the medal she inspired continues to be distributed globally, often credited with miraculous interventions. Her canonization elevated her status within the Church, making her a model of holiness and mystical encounter. Without her, the widespread devotion to the Miraculous Medal and its associated miracles might not have emerged in the same form.

## Notable For
- Receiving visions of the Virgin Mary in 1830, leading to the creation of the Miraculous Medal  
- Serving as a Daughter of Charity, dedicating her life to nursing and caring for the poor and sick  
- Canonization as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1933  
- Being the spiritual inspiration behind one of the most popular Catholic devotional objects  
- Living a life of humility and service within the religious community of the Daughters of Charity  

## Body

### Early Life
Catherine Labouré was born on May 2, 1806, in Fain-lès-Moutiers, a small village in the Diocese of Châlons-sur-Marne, France. She was the ninth of eleven children in a devoutly Catholic family. Her early life was marked by a strong religious inclination, which led her to seek admission into the Sisters of Charity in Nancy. However, she was initially rejected due to her lack of formal education. Eventually, she joined the Daughters of Charity in Paris in 1830, where she began her religious training and nursing duties.

### Visions and Spiritual Experiences
While living at the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity on Rue du Bac in Paris, Catherine reported two significant visions of the Virgin Mary in July and November 1830. In these apparitions, the Virgin Mary instructed her to have struck a medal depicting her image, promising that all who wore it would receive graces. These visions became the foundation for the creation of the Miraculous Medal, which was first distributed in 1832. The medal features the Virgin Mary standing on a globe, crushing a serpent beneath her feet, with the words "Surréalisme" and "Rue du Bac" on the reverse side.

### Life in Religious Service
Catherine Labouré lived her entire religious life as a member of the Daughters of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious institute dedicated to serving the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. She took her vows in 1836 and continued her work in various capacities, including as a nurse and an infirmarian. Her humility, obedience, and deep spiritual life were noted by her community, and she was often sought after for spiritual guidance.

### The Miraculous Medal and Its Legacy
Following the visions, the medal designed under Catherine’s direction became widely distributed and associated with numerous miracles, conversions, and healings. The first medals were produced in 1832, and by the 1840s, devotion to the Miraculous Medal had spread throughout the Catholic world. The medal’s popularity led to its adoption by Catholics globally and remains one of the most recognized religious items in the Church.

### Canonization and Recognition
Catherine Labouré was beatified by Pope Pius XI on May 14, 1931, and canonized on May 27, 1933, making her a saint of the Catholic Church. Her feast day is celebrated on November 28, the anniversary of her death. She is venerated as a model of humility, obedience, and mystical union with God. Her canonization recognized the authenticity of her visions and the holiness of her life.

### Legacy and Commemoration
Catherine Labouré’s legacy is most visibly embodied in the Miraculous Medal, which continues to be worn by millions of Catholics worldwide. Her former convent on Rue du Bac in Paris remains a site of pilgrimage, and a garden dedicated to her memory, the Jardin Catherine-Labouré, was established in 1977. Her life and visions have inspired numerous books, articles, and theological studies, and she remains a central figure in modern Marian devotion.

### Associated Entities and References
- **Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul**: The religious order to which Catherine belonged, known for its mission of serving the poor and sick.  
- **Rue du Bac, Paris**: The location of the motherhouse where Catherine lived and experienced her visions.  
- **Miraculous Medal**: The religious medal inspired by Catherine’s visions, widely venerated in the Catholic Church.  
- **Jardin Catherine-Labouré**: An urban park in Paris dedicated to her memory, established in 1977.  
- **Canonization**: Saint Catherine Labouré was canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.  

Catherine Labouré’s life and work continue to inspire devotion and reflection within the Catholic Church and beyond, marking her as a pivotal figure in religious history.

## References

1. [birth certificate](https://archives.cotedor.fr/v2/ark:/71137/g30a01b0abdf8c0d7d27301c5e3f607f8/bb2f79d27ac99a24155d8d00c169ebcb/213/ZnJhZDAyMV8yNjhfNW1pMjFyMDI4XzAyMTIuanBn)
2. [death certificate](https://archives.paris.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6IjIwMjEtMTEtMjUiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImFya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6NDtzOjQ6InJlZjIiO2k6MjIxMTU1O3M6MTY6InZpc2lvbm5ldXNlX2h0bWwiO2I6MTtzOjIxOiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sX21vZGUiO3M6NDoicHJvZCI7fQ)
3. BnF authorities
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Lingua Libre
8. FemBio database
9. Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. CONOR.SI