There's a place in the center of Paris you wouldn't expect — and if you don't already know about it, you'll likely walk right past. It's the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. But this isn't just any chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal — this is the very place where the Medal itself originated. Here, in 1830, the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré, giving her detailed instructions on how to create what would become the Miraculous Medal.
I visited 140 Rue du Bac — that's the exact address — in the spring of 2016. I remember walking through the Luxembourg Gardens on a beautiful Sunday morning and making my way through a few quiet streets until I reached a plain, gray building with a small sign that read: Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse.
The building is the convent where Saint Catherine Labouré lived. The chapel lies within the courtyard, exactly where the apparitions took place. It's decorated with a beautiful mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary appearing to Catherine for the first time, surrounded by angels and the two sides of the medal.
Photo credits: www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com
It was precisely in this place, in 1830 — after many prayers and requests from Catherine — that the Virgin Mary appeared to her in three separate apparitions. During the second apparition, Catherine saw, as if in a fading projection, the two images (and the invocation, unknown until then) that would later become the front and back of the Miraculous Medal.
Following this vision, the Virgin spoke these words to Catherine:
"Have a medal struck according to this model. Those who wear it with faith will receive great graces."
What amazed me most was the number of people, from all nationalities, gathered in this place. Despite the constant flow of visitors, the atmosphere remains calm, orderly, and deeply reverent.
There's a small shop run by kind, smiling, and welcoming sisters who sell Miraculous Medals made from humble materials in various sizes — designed to be shared widely with anyone who may need one. The sisters gifted my daughters two small handmade rosaries with attached medals, and I purchased several medals myself.
I also took home the "Chapel Notebooks" — an informative leaflet explaining the history of the medal and how to use it properly.
You can download it here: I quaderni della cappella
One thing I love to highlight — forgive my simplicity — is that this medal wasn't called "Miraculous" from the start. It earned that name only after many miracles occurred, beginning shortly after the first 2,000 medals were distributed in 1832 during a cholera outbreak.
Since then, the medal has continued to work miracles and spread graces. The Chapel of the Miraculous Medal remains a major site of prayer and pilgrimage, drawing thousands of faithful from around the world — all coming to reflect, to pray, and to seek the protection of the Virgin Mary.
If you ever get the chance, I truly recommend visiting this special place. Here are some useful links:
Official website of the Chapel:
www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com
Send your prayer intentions via this form:
www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/informations-pratiques/intensions-de-priere
Download the official chapel app: Médaille Miraculeuse
