Saint Catherine Laboure: of the Miraculous Medal

by Joseph I. Dirvin

Excellent, popular, definitive life of the saint to whom the Medal was given by Our Lady. Tells both her story and that of the Miraculous Medal apparitions. 61 pictures, including photographs of St. Catherine's incorrupt body. 250 pgs, PB

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Biography, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christianity

264 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1981

About the author

Fr. Joseph I. Dirvin, CM

Born in Germantown, Pa., he graduated from St. Joseph's College in Princeton, N.J., and was ordained in Philadelphia in 1943. He took a variety of assignments before earning a master's degree at St. John's in 1956.

He was the author of several books and served as editor in chief of the 15-volume "Writings of St. Vincent DePaul, French Saint and Social Reformer (1580-1660)." Among his biographies were "St. Catherine Laboure of the Miraculous Medal" (Farrar, Straus, 1958) and "Louise de Marillac" with an introduction by Terrence Cardinal Cooke (Farrar, 1970).

Reviews

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about the life of Saint Catherine of Laboure. The author did a wonderful job of describing Saint Catherine's life, included pictures, and focused on Catherine's visions of the Virgin Mary. I learned how the Miraculous Medal of Mary was designed by Saint Catherine describing one of her visions. I liked how Saint Catherine was portrayed as being like you and me, like having a hard time getting along with some of the other sisters! I like how she was able to keep quiet, and only saying what was important.

[Roger Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

O, how I love this beautiful, beautiful book. For it is both learned, involving firsthand research the author did in France and yet also poetic pious. Simply wonderful.

Have a longer review of it at my website devoted to the Sacred Heart here: http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2011/...

[Lihsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Catherine was one of the visionaries that meet with an apparition of the virgin Mary. She also received the vision if the Miraculous Medal. Reading this book not only explained her apparitions but also gave me an appreciation for the French revolution, which occurred on her very doorstep and were keenly predicted in her prophecies and visions.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, detailed portrait of this humble Saint, my patroness, who was given great gifts from Heaven. St. Catherine Labouré pray for us!

[Mary Ellen Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gem of a biography brought St Catherine to life. She truly was the handmaiden of the Lord on Earth. This book was written before I was born, and the qritting is a little dry.

I wasn't aware how much political strife occurred in Paris in the mid 19th century. I've visited Rue de Bac, and think I need to go back!

Highly recommended.

[Marilyn Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Saints Biography

I gave this 5 stars, having read different biographies of saints, this one held my interest until the last page. No dry recitation of facts. The facts are these but fleshed out with love and respect for a woman who trusted God and Mother Mary and St Vincent de Paul till the end, with unwavering faith.

[Emily Ignatius · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 This biography is extremely well written. It reads like a novel, and the descriptions of Zoe/Catherine’s early life and the apparitions she experienced are enchanting. The author gets a bit side tracked half way through with overly long descriptions of the lives of clergy, but this is the book’s only fault.

Catherine’s life isn’t sugar coated, and the author recounts times when she struggled with her temper and emotions. I also had no idea about the political turmoil taking place in France during Catherine’s life. Despite the trials she faced, she remained silent and strong in her faith, carrying out her duties to the best of her ability.

I wear a miraculous medal but I didn’t know how this devotion came about. It now holds so much more meaning for me. St Catherine is a wonderful example of steadfast faith and trust in God; I highly recommend this book!

[Edel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well told life of St. Catherine Labouré. I love how the author presents her as very human and relatable during all the trials of her life. She was quiet and introverted but had a strong determined personality which I can relate to myself.

Overall love the book and would recommend to all.

[FR ADRIAN G HEAD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring and encouraging

In these hard times we need encouragement to persevere until the end. What an example of this we find in this Life of St. Catherine Laboure?

[Michael Sharkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful story

This is a marvelous biography of this remarkable sister! Seer of the miraculous medal but remained anonymous laboring with her sisters caring for the poor.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well-written book by Fr. Dirvin.

[Rose Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography which traces the life of St. Catherine from her birth and childhood through her life as a Sister of Charity, her death and canonization in 1947. Her visions of the Blessed Mother concerned the devotion to the Immaculate Conception which was what the medal was originally called, the medal of the Immaculate Conception. But so many miracles happened after the medal was created and spread throughout the world, people began calling it the Miraculous Medal. Catherine told her confessor of the visions but she insisted that her identity remain a secret, which it did until the last year of her life. I greatly enjoyed this book because I wanted to know more about St. Catherine since I wear a Miraculous Medal for my consecration to the Blessed Mother.