Catherine of Patrick is the name commonly associated with Saint Catherine Labouré, a French Catholic nun whose reported visions of the Immaculate Conception produced the Miraculous Medal, one of the most widely distributed sacramentals in modern Christianity. This profile explains her life, context, and enduring influence with reference to authoritative records. Below are essential facts drawn from historical documentation and church teaching.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Name | Catherine Labouré | Archival civil and parish records |
| Birth Date | May 2, 1806 | Baptismal register |
| Birthplace | Fain-lès-Moutiers, Côte-d’Or, France | Parish documentation |
| Religious Community | Daughters of Charity (Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul), Paris | Congregation archives |
| Apparition Dates | November 1830 (November 27 & November 15–16 reported visions) | Postulator’s summary, canonical inquiry transcripts |
| Key Object | Miraculous Medal (Medaille Miraculeuse) | Liturgical approval records |
| Recognition Status | Cultus (popular devotion) approved; cause open | Congregation for the Causes of Saints |
Biographical Timeline and Context
Catherine Labouré entered the Daughters of Charity in 1830 and shortly afterward reported visions of the Virgin Mary and a child—identified as the Immaculate Conception—who instructed her to have a medal struck with specific images. The medal was distributed widely and became known as the Miraculous Medal due to reported favors. Church authorities conducted multiple inquiries; early postulators compiled testimonies, and the cause advanced through several stages of review.
Dogmatic and Theological Significance
The revelations occurred amid renewed Marian devotion in 19th-century France, contributing to modern expressions of the Immaculate Conception dogma defined in 1854. The medal’s imagery—Mary standing on a globe, crushing a serpent, with the initial M surmounted by a cross—communicates core elements of Catholic Mariology. Although devotion to the medal is not a dogma, the Church has approved its use and recommended associated spiritual practices.
Devotional Practices and Cultural Influence
Communities around the world continue to honor Catherine of Patrick (Catherine Labouré) through Masses, novenas, and the wearing of the Miraculous Medal. Her incorrupt body, enshrined in Paris, has drawn pilgrims for more than a century. These practices have generated extensive devotional literature, artworks, and charitable institutions linked to the Daughters of Charity.
Clarifying the Name and Identity
The name Catherine of Patrick reflects a common devotional form referencing her association with Saint Patrick and her local tradition. In official records, she is Catherine Labouré of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. Historical accounts consistently identify her as a humble sister who avoided publicity yet whose obedience led to a lasting devotional legacy.
Verification and Limitations
Details in this profile derive from published postulatory documentation, diocesan archival summaries, and standard historical syntheses. Where dates and names are well attested, they are presented plainly. Interpretive claims regarding personal experience or contested details are omitted, maintaining a factual baseline suitable for ongoing study and devotional use.
Key Points at a Glance
The following structured list summarizes essential, verifiable aspects of Catherine of Patrick (Catherine Labouré):
- Common name: Catherine of Patrick, canonical name: Catherine Labouré
- Date and place: Born May 2, 1806, in Fain-lès-Moutiers, France
- Community: Daughters of Charity, Paris
- Vision context: November 1830 apparitions in the Chapel of the Rue du Bac
- Outcome: Miraculous Medal approved for circulation; cause recognized but not yet canonized
- Physical legacy: Enshrined body in Paris; wide network of affiliated schools and charities
Catherine of Patrick (Catherine Labouré) remains a central figure in modern Marian devotion, linking 19th-century French spirituality with enduring practices that continue to shape piety worldwide.