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The eighth and last edition of THE HISTORY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL, extending up to the year 1842, has for a long time been out of print. More than once efforts have been made to have a new edition published, but until now they have failed. The recent death of the Sister who was favored with the Blessed Virgin's confidence, has again excited a general desire for the work; for many persons are eager to learn the origin of the medal, and others hope to get the full particulars of it. For these reasons, the present edition has been undertaken.

Believing that it would gratify our readers, we have placed at the beginning of the book a biographical sketch of the privileged Sister, Catherine Labouré, and to it we have added some notes concerning M. Aladel, her Director, who was the author of the previous editions.

These editions of the History presented but a very condensed account of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin in 1830; for serious reasons induced M. Aladel to suppress many things. He feared especially to attract attention to the humble daughter who had transmitted Heaven's orders, and who, it was best, should remain unknown to the end of her life.

Now, these fears are no longer an obstacle, and we are permitted to publish, for the edification of the faithful, all that the Sister revealed, at least, all that we still possess of these communications. At the time of the last edition, M. Aladel could understand but imperfectly the import of the vision of the medal, but certain events of subsequent occurrence, have placed this important revelation in a clearer light, and fully established its connection with the past and the future. We have endeavored to show the designs of Providence, by proving that the apparition of 1830 was not an isolated fact; that it marked the end of a disastrous period for the Church and society; that it was the beginning of a new era, an era of mercy and hope; that it was a preparation for the definition of the Immaculate Conception as a dogma of faith; in fine, that it was the first of a series of supernatural manifestations, which have greatly increased devotion to the Blessed Virgin, insomuch, that our age may justly be styled the age of Mary.

We have judged it advisable to omit quite a number of miraculous occurrences related in the preceding editions, and substitute for them others not less authentic, but more recent, thus demonstrating that the medal is as efficacious in our days, as it was at the time of its origin.

We ask those who may hereafter obtain similar favors, to send an account of them, together with satisfactory vouchers of their authenticity, to the Superior-General of the Daughters of Charity, rue du Bac, 140, or to the Director of the Daughters of Charity, rue de Sevres, 95, Paris.

		PAGE
	Dedication	iii
	The Author's Declaration	v
	Preface	vii
	CHAPTER I.
	Sister Catherine, Daughter of Charity—Her Birth—Early Life—Vocation—Entrance into the Community—Apparition of the Blessed Virgin—The Medal—Sister Catherine is sent to d'Enghien Hospital—Her humble, hidden Life—Her Death.	1
	CHAPTER II.
	Mary's Agency in the Church—This Agency always manifest, seems to have disappeared during the Eighteenth and at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century—Mary reappears in 1830—Motives and Importance of this Apparition—The Immaculate Conception.	42
	CHAPTER III.
	Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to Sister Catherine—First Apparition: An Angel Conducts the Sister to the Chapel—Mary Converses with Her—Second Apparition: Mary standing upon a Globe, her hands emitting Rays of Light, symbolic of Grace—Mary orders a Medal to be Struck—Third Apparition: Mary Repeats the Order.	51
	CHAPTER IV.
	The Medal Appears—The Welcome it Receives—Canonical Investigation ordered by Mgr. de Quélen—Wonderful Circulation of the Medal.	67
	CHAPTER V.
	Development of the Devotion to the Immaculate Conception—Mgr. de Quélen's Circular.	79
	CHAPTER VI.
	Extraordinary Graces obtained by means of the Miraculous Medal—Graces obtained from 1832 to 1835—During the year 1835, in France, Switzerland, Savoy, Turkey—From 1836 to 1838, in France, Italy, Holland, &c.—Notre Dame des Victoires—From 1838 to 1842, in Greece, America, China, &c.—From 1843 to 1877, in France, Germany, Italy, America.	94
	CHAPTER VII.
	Progress of the Devotion to Mary crowned by the Definition of the Immaculate Conception—Our Lady of La Salette—The Children of Mary—The Definition of the Immaculate Conception.	261
	CHAPTER VIII.
	The Miraculous Medal and the War—The War in the East—The Italian War—The United States—War between Prussia and Austria—Souvenirs of the Commune.	289
	CHAPTER IX.
	Recent Manifestations of the Blessed Virgin in the Church—Our Lady of Lourdes—Our Lady of Pontmain, &c.—Conclusion.	309