FROM THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTORDear Members,

Tom, a deacon, was approached by a young man who had been away from the Church for five years and wanted to go to confession. Deacon Tom took him to church, after reviewing the proper way

to make a good confession. Tom went first, then prayed while the young man received the sacrament. At the precise moment the young man left the confessional, Tom’s cell phone rang full volume. His ring tone? Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus!”

That might have been a coincidence. But I think it was a God-incidence. The sacrament of Penance is an Easter sacrament, good reason for a Hallelujah Chorus. It was the first gift made by Jesus to his apostles after his resurrection. “When it was evening on that first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” (John 20:19-23).

When Jesus was arrested and crucified, the apostles went into hiding. On the third day, they learned that Jesus’ tomb was empty. They recalled Jesus’ prophecy that he would rise

THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL & RECONCILIATION When Mary gave the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine

Labouré in 1830, the Church was in a sad state because of terrible persecutions. The first medals were struck in 1832 in the midst of a revolution. Within a decade, tens of millions of medals had been distributed throughout the world, and people started calling the medal “miraculous” because of all the miracles worked for those who wore it. Multitudes of people returned to the practice of their faith, and many others were converted to Jesus.

One of the most famous converts was Alphonse Ratisbonne, a brilliant, wealthy member of a prominent Jewish family, but an atheist who mocked religion. He was converted when he had a vision of Mary as depicted on her Miraculous Medal. He became a Catholic and was ordained a priest, dedicating his life to the conversion of the Jews. He founded the Sisters of Zion, in 1855, and built convents, orphanages, and schools in Jerusalem. He remained faithful to Jesus and Mary, dying near Jerusalem in 1884.

There is a real connection between the Miraculous Medal and

Our Mission We bring Mary conceived without sin to the Catholics of North America. She reveals God’s fatherly love and her own motherly concern.

We invite members to greater holiness: attending to their pastoral and spiritual needs, forming them in the Christian life, and involving them in the apostolate of charity.

The National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal is our center of prayer.

We appreciate any support you can offer to help offset the cost of our bi-monthly bulletin. Please use the enclosed reply envelope to send your support and your prayer requests. As always, you are remembered in the Masses and

prayers offered at our Lady’s Shrine.

Association of the Miraculous Medal 1811 West Saint Joseph Street, Perryville, Missouri 63775-1598

Phone Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central Time, Monday thru Friday 1-800-264-MARY (6279) • www.amm.org • frluke@amm.

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The Miraculous Medal & Reconciliation (Continued on page 6)

MARCH/APRIL BULLETIN

Vol. 46, No. 2 THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL 2013

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from the dead, and they must have become excited. Then one of them probably said, “Jesus is going to be angry. When he needed us most, we ran away.” Suddenly Jesus appeared, and he wasn’t angry... The disciples rejoiced. Then he proclaimed, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” The apostles must have said, “Jesus, we don’t understand. We are the ones who need forgiveness. When you were arrested, we ran away. We sinned, we’re sorry, forgive us.” I’m sure Jesus replied, “Yes, you sinned. But you now repent. I forgive you. There will be many others who sin, then repent. They will want to know that I forgive them, and so ... If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” Jesus made the Easter joy of the apostles available to people of every place and time.

Christ wants us to confess our sins and hear words of forgiveness. Confession and absolution fit into the very human pattern of apologizing for our failings and being granted forgiveness. If we hurt a close friend, then regret what we’ve done, we go to that friend and apologize: “I’m sorry, please forgive me?” We want to hear words of forgiveness: “Of course I forgive you!” Confessing our guilt and hearing words of forgiveness turn sorrow into joy.

Psychologists often point out that talking about our guilt with another person has a cleansing effect and helps us to gain new insights. Our sins and our failings seem less overwhelming when we “get them out of our system.” Such positive effects of confession, were known two thousand years ago by Jesus, who understands human nature better than anyone else! Confession brings down-to-earth healing on the natural level. But Jesus raises confession to a whole new level, that of God’s life and grace. In confession, the priest is a sign of the real presence of Jesus, who listens to us as we confess our sins, and assures us of his pardon. We can experience the same joy felt by the apostles on the first Easter Sunday.

In the sacrament of Penance Jesus comes to us as he did to the apostles on the first Easter. And he says to us, “Peace be with you.” Hallelujah!

Sincerely yours in Mary, Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C.M.

Future BulletinsIn the January/February Bulletin, I wrote how each

Bulletin issue will have a theme centered on the “Year of Faith.” I laid out a “road map” for the remaining issues so you can prepare yourself for the journey of faith with us. The May/June issue–Repeat–focuses on commitment to repeating one’s faith in every area of your life; July/August–Retrace–following in the footsteps of the faithful who have gone be-fore us; September/October–Relationship–strengthening our relationship with Jesus and Mary by sharing our joys and sufferings with them; November/December–Rejoice–the coming of Christ and a celebration of our journey rediscovering our faith.

Sharing Their StoryTwo members of our Lady’s Association have graciously

shared their thoughts with us about the sacrament of Penance and their commitment to the Association. I hope each story helps you rediscover your own faith.

Meet Sam Sam lives in New York and

has been with the Association for nearly 33 years. He and his wife, Virginia, have been married for 55 years; they have four children and three grandchildren. Sam and Virginia are devout Catholics and share an inspiring devotion to our Blessed Mother. They both wear a Miraculous Medal in her honor.

For Sam, the sacrament of Penance means dedicating his life to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is his “guarantee” that he will never be abandoned as he goes through life. This sacrament makes him want to try harder to be a better person to please God.

He finds that reconciliation with himself, family, friends, and the Church converts his heart and mind which is a guaranteed formula for achieving his goal of a closer relationship with God. He believes that to end a conflict is to gain inner peace, “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” During this Year of Faith, Sam plans to do everything possible to pray for his conversion through the sacrament of Penance. He knows this is what God wants of him, and he wants to be prepared

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Spiritual Director (Continued from page 1)

Sharing Your Story (Continued on page 7)

FOUR FINGERS POINTING BACK AT YOU!“Four fingers pointing back at you.” This is a saying remembered from childhood. We

usually heard it when pointing fingers at someone else’s sinfulness, trying to take eyes off ourselves, either in earnest or in fun. This expression tells us that we should be more concerned with our own sinfulness than that of others. We judge. We point fingers. We close our eyes to our own sinfulness.

Vincentian Marian Youth (VMY) was commissioned by Mary when she appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré. We bring Jesus and Mary to youth following the tradition of Saint Vincent de Paul evangelizing and serving the poor.

VMY participants, have opportunities to help those who are less fortunate. They often witness “four fingers pointing back at you.” The lessons learned through the media, relatives, and adult conversations the youth overhear are often laced with judgments. “He’s a drunk.” “They collect welfare and they could work.” “Why don’t

they get up and help themselves.” Our youth can be influenced and take on the beliefs they hear. Yet VMY participants are fortunate to be able to meet some of the people society tags as unworthy. When they do, they are often filled with love and compassion for them. And VMY participants often express their surprise in finding those lovable who have been labeled unworthy. When God wakes us to an unexpected love he also awakens us to a time to reach inside our souls and see more clearly what work he is trying to do. He opens us up to look at those “four fingers pointing back at you,” changing our hearts and opening our eyes to our sinfulness, helping us to love more like he does; love them, change me.

That is the reason we offer the sacrament of Penance when our young people are with us on missions and formation experiences. These events allow them to step away from busy schedules and become open to hearing God speak to them through the priest in this beautiful sacrament. In the words of a young member:

“Reconciliation is one of God’s greatest and most powerful gifts. It’s his way of saying no matter how much you sin or disobey me, I will always love you. And while reconciliation can definitely be scary, no one should ever take it for granted because it is a sacred gift and if it is given to us by God, then it has to be good.” Katie - VMY Consecrated Member

Our young people who have experienced the grace and healing the sacrament of Penance offers also experience the feeling that those “four fingers pointing back at you” are, more frequently than not, a good feeling; a feeling when God says, “I love you. You are my belovedof whom I am well pleased.”

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Operation Overhaul, West Virginia

Laboure Exchange Resale Store empowers youth to serve Christ

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WHAT RECONCILIATION MEANS TO SECOND GRADE STUDENTSAs children, we all remember the fear we felt when we entered the confessional for the very first time. Not

only was there fear of the priest yelling at us for our sins, but also the fear of forgetting the words we had memorized. After the confession, we realized it really wasn’t as scary as we thought. As adults, we might still feel the fear of

admitting our sins to a priest, but we know that our sins are forgiven and that we are right with God. I recently asked some second grade students what the sacrament of Reconciliation means to them. I hope you find their answers to be as honest and refreshing as I do, and that you find yourself on a journey of holiness through this sacrament.

“Reconciliation is a holy sacrament. I felt a little bit nervous but I knew God was right by my side.” Kamille“This sacrament means I am breaking down the wall.” Madison“We tell our sins and say the Act of Contrition and Father reads from the Bible. At the end you will get a candle.” Trevor“After Reconciliation I felt clean inside and I felt proud of myself because at first I was really nervous but I did it.” Allie“At Reconciliation I felt joyful, special, and holy.” Liam“I am glad that God forgave my sins. After that I felt good inside like my heart was happy and so was I. My heart felt like I have never sinned before.” Gracie

“I am glad God forgave my sins. Reconciliation was awesome. I talked to the priest about my sins.” Camron“It means you get to be fresh and new with God and you should feel good about it.” Autumn“The sacrament of Reconciliation means getting your sins out.” Theresa“I like to tell my sins and get rid of my sins. It makes me a good person and I know God is with me.” Kannon“It means that your sins are washed away and your body is clean. God forgives us.” Kaden“Reconciliation is about receiving God’s love and getting forgiven for our sins and hurtful things we’ve done to God.” Rachel“It means that the Holy Spirit forgives all your sins and Jesus forgives your sins. When I die I can go up in heaven and I will feel very happy.” Clarice“Reconciliation is an awesome sacrament. I was nervous. I washed my sins away. It’s holy to me.” Colton“The sacrament of Reconciliation is when I say I am sorry for my sins and God forgives them and that makes me happy.” Brady“The sacrament of Reconciliation means for God to forgive my sins and wash them away.” Ross“It is so joyful when you receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. It doesn’t matter if you are big, tall, short or small. God still loves you.” Lauren“When we receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, your heart feels better. You are making Jesus happy.” Eli“It means I had a wall between me and God and I broke down that wall that night.” Alyssa“Reconciliation is an awesome sacrament. I felt good when Jesus forgave me. I memorized that Jesus was with me and forgiving me and all of us.” Allison

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New Spring CatalogWith Spring just around the corner, let us be thankful for the many gifts and blessings

our Lady has obtained for us. A wonderful way to share these blessings with others is by giving gifts of religious articles and items with religious sayings and themes.

By now you should have received the Association’s new, expanded Spring Catalog. I know you will find the gifts in the catalog perfect for expectant mothers, for your gardens and flower beds, and occasions like Lent, Easter, First Communion, Confirmation, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. Also added are more gifts for men and children, and gifts for those experiencing bereavement. To place an order, go to our website www.amm.org/catalog or call 1-573-547-2508.

Join our Fall Pilgrimage to IrelandThe Association is pleased to announce a 12 day pilgrimage to Ireland, October 25-November 5, 2013. Ireland is a

small country with a big reputation for fascinating, friendly people expressed in the warmth of their welcome. Every step on the Pilgrimage presents Ireland’s history, from the breathtaking prehistoric monuments to the fabulous ruins of Ireland’s rich past at Glendalough. These are a few of the highlights during the trip-

• Panoramic tour of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, • Visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, • Take an excursion to Armagh (which has been framed in folklore for the past 4,000 years), • Tour the city of Belfast, • Travel to the town of Knock-famous for visions, apparitions, and miraculous cures, • A panoramic tour of Limerick City, viewing the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights.

During our pilgrimage we will be attending Mass every day at some of the altars dedicated to our Lady and the many graces she obtains for us. Please join us for this spiritual venture. If you would like more information, or have any questions, please call the Association (573-547-2508) or email us at ammfather@amm.org.

1-800-264-6279www.amm.org

2013 Spring

Catalog

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The National Shrineof Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

the conversion of sinners to new life in Christ. On the medal are the words, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” We were not conceived without sin as Mary was, but her medal invites us to turn away from sin and embrace a life of holiness, as did Alphonse Ratisbonne.

Mary’s image on the medal draws our attention to the “woman” of Revelation 12 who stands on the moon, clothed with the sun, wearing a crown of twelve stars. After she gives birth to Jesus, she is pursued by Satan who cannot harm her. This represents Mary as the “woman” whom the Book of Genesis foretold as the one who would bring about the defeat of Satan.

In John’s Gospel, Mary is addressed by Jesus as “woman” at the wedding feast of Cana. He calls her “woman” again at Calvary, when he gives Mary to the beloved disciples (and us) as Mother. Mary is the woman foretold in Genesis, and the Miraculous Medal shows Mary crushing the head of a serpent. The first Eve and first Adam were deceived by the serpent and disobeyed God. Mary, the new Eve, Mother of those redeemed by Christ, did God’s will, and Satan was conquered by the second Adam, Jesus Christ.

The reverse of the medal displays Christ’s cross, the instrument of our salvation. It depicts the heart of Christ, burning with love and crowned with thorns, showing how he suffered and died for our sins. The heart of Mary, pierced by a sword and placed near the heart of Christ, reminds us how Mary joined her sufferings to those of Jesus in order to bring us the graces he won by his death.

The cross rests on a table or altar, recalling what Jesus said at the Last Supper, “This is my body, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me.” This shows the connection between Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and the table of the Eucharist, explained by Saint Paul: “When you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.”

The fact that the cross and altar are intertwined with an “M” is another reminder of how Mary brings us to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and the granting of his grace. Mary encourages going to her Son and receiving his mercy in the sacrament of Penance. Her Miraculous Medal calls us in this Year of Faith to turn away from sin, and find a richer, more beautiful relationship with Jesus, our Savior.

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FROM THE MAIL Dear Father, Two months ago my adult son had an accident in which he fell eight feet to the ground. Both wrists were broken and he suffered back and neck injuries. I immediately went to my Miraculous Medal Novena book and started the first of several novenas asking our dear Lady for help with his recovery. She did indeed hear my prayers! My son has been able to return to work recently. Thank you over and over again dear Mother Mary. Mrs. M. R. - WIDear Father,

Several years ago my son was gravely ill and suffering very much. I received a Miraculous Medal from my godmother and prayed for a resolution to ease my son’s suffering and my heartbreak. My son passed away soon after. While not the resolution I would have chosen, I know that my prayers were, indeed, answered in accordance with God’s plan. Over the years I have received many blessings through prayer to our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. I cannot express my gratitude for all of her motherly intercession for me and my family. Mrs. K. B. - FL

Dear Father, I, like so many others, was unemployed. I prayed a novena to the Blessed Mother for

employment. I am happy to say that I just received a fabulous job offer close to home, utilizing my God-given

Mail (Continued on page 8)

The Miraculous Medal and Reconciliation (Continued from page 1)

Rosati’s Log Cabin ChurchOn the Shrine Grounds

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to spend an eternity in everlasting joy and peace in heaven. Sam shared his very unique upbringing as a Catholic. His Jewish mother

was given the blessing to marry an Italian Catholic man. This was quite a mod-ern gesture for the early 1900s. Sam’s mother embraced the Italian culture but never changed her faith. Yet, she was very faithful in raising her four children as Catholics. She was the one who made sure Sam and his siblings attended Church and said their prayers. Sam is eternally grateful for the sacrifices his mother made which allowed him to be the devout Catholic he is today.

He demonstrates his commitment to the Catholic faith and the Blessed Mother through the Association’s Annual Membership program. He has 1,700 members enrolled in the program-the majority being complete strangers. Sam is passionate about enrolling those in need of prayer whether it’s an adult he passes on the street, a child he sees with a disability, or a teenager whose name is posted on a billboard as missing. His list includes family, friends and their families, those in his parish, priests, nuns, military men and women, homeless people, disaster victims, those suffering with illness….and the list goes on. He would like to enroll many more, but he knows this is not possible. Sam does plan to continue enrolling members for as long as he can.

Sam feels he has every reason to be happy with his life. His Catholic faith, his love for our Blessed Mother, helping the Association with our work, and enrolling members are the driving forces behind his passion for life. Like Sam, we hope you are able to find peace of heart and mind through the sacrament of Penance during this Year of Faith.

Patt’s Passion for PenanceWhen you talk with Association member Patt about our Blessed Mother, you feel her devotion and her passion.

She’s just as passionate about the sacrament of Penance.For Patt, the sacrament of Penance gives her loving time with Jesus to ask forgiveness for her sins. It’s a time

to cleanse her soul and mind of her short comings. Patt feels that by vocalizing her sins, her heart and mind are converted. She is freed of all guilt and her soul soars with joy and love for our Lord.

Reconciliation allows Patt to be a more loving Christian. She treats her family, friends, the Church, and herself with more love and respect. Patt plans to continue using the sacrament of Penance during this Year of Faith to help her become a stronger, more faith-filled Catholic.

Patt and her husband, Eugene, live in Indiana and have been married for 39 years. They have one son, two daughters, and three beautiful grandchildren. Patt, her husband, and her son are devoted to saying the rosary.

Patt shared a heartfelt story about how her devotion to our Blessed Mother began. When she made her First Communion, her godmother gave her a music box on which stood a statue of our Blessed Mother. Before going to bed each night, Patt listened to the music box play “Ave Maria.” She would say a prayer to Mary which brought her peace and comfort. From then on her devotion to our Blessed Mother continued to grow.

In 2006 Patt became a member of our Lady’s Association after her sister sent her a Healing Remembrance card. She still keeps the card on her bedside table. Patt is certain that the many prayers offered for her at our Lady’s Shrine helped her to recover from ankle surgery. She uses many of our Healing Remembrance cards, Perpetual Memberships, and Memorial Remembrance cards for friends and family. Patt also passes out Miraculous Medals to those who are interested in learning about this wonderful story. She is so touched when she receives a letter from the Association saying that she is being remembered in the Masses and prayers offered here.

Patt places her trust in the hands of our Blessed Mother, knowing that God will answer her prayers.

Sharing Your Story (Continued from page

Rose Window-The Shrine

Association of the Miraculous Medal1811 West Saint Joseph StreetPerryville, MO 63775-1598

talents. I will now be able to support my family. I am so grate-ful to our Lady for answering my prayers. Mrs. M. V. - TNDear Father,

The blessings I have received from wearing the Miraculous Medal and my absolute belief in its powers are numerous, but the story of how I came to know the medal is relevant. Years ago I was in a low point in a hospital all alone. A man came to me with a Miraculous Medal which I never had. I was so moved by this gesture and the story of the medal. That was years ago. I’ve never been without a Miraculous Medal. I keep in touch with that gentleman who I consider an angel on earth. S. O - via emailDear Father,

The Blessed Mother helped my wife and I get through several surgeries. When I had knee replacement and then back surgery 18 months later, I prayed the Hail Mary over and over that I would be able to walk again. Then it was my wife’s time for back surgery. She came through the surgery with no complications or severe pain. We know that, without a doubt, the Blessed Mother helped us through the intercession with her son, Jesus Christ.

Mr. D. L. - PA

NOVENA SCHEDULEThree novenas of Masses and thirty individual Masses are offered each month for the Promoters and members of our Lady’s Association. The schedule for the novenas at the Shrine is as follows:

AprilMother of Good Counsel

18th to 26th

MayHelp of Christians

16th to 24thJune

Mother of Divine Grace12th to 20th

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