How to Use Catholic Medals

Medals are popular ways for Catholics to identify with, bolster and give witness to their faith.

Instructions

1. Religious medals have been used by Catholics since the early days of the Church. They can depict Christ, the Virgin Mary, angels, saints, shrines and pilgrimage sites, miracles and other important events or religious groups or orders to which the wearer feels an affinity. They are reminders of honored and beloved figures or aspects of the faith, treasured somewhat in the same way as family photos.

2. A medal reminds the wearer of his religious obligations and can serve as physical warnings to him not to enter into any occasions of sin. It proclaims the faith of the wearer in the help offered by the subject of the medal. It can serve as an ice-breaker, affording the wearer an opportunity to witness to others about the Catholic Church.

3. Medals can be made of any number of materials, but pewter, silver and gold are the most popular nowadays. Medals can be worn on a rope or chain around the neck, pinned to clothing or carried elsewhere on one's person.

4. Many people take their medals to a priest to have them blessed. There are a variety of blessings the priest might use, but generally they ask that the medal become of a conduit of grace whereby the wearer will become more Christ-like.

5. Again, medals are symbols, badges and at best channels of grace. They are not magic or good luck charms.

6. Popular Catholic medals include those of St. Christopher, Divine Mercy, St. Martin de Porres, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Anthony, St. Joseph, Maria Goretti, St. Dominic, the Scapular, St. Benedict, St. Dymphna, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jude, St. Francis of Assisi, the Infant of Prague and Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as the Miraculous Medal of St. Catherine Labouré.