The gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament and the Quran describe Mary as a virgin;[3]

according to Christian theology she conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit while still a virgin. The
miraculous conception took place when she was already betrothed to Joseph.[4] She accompanied
Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.[5]

The Gospel of Luke begins its account of Mary's life with the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel
appeared to Mary and announced her divine selection to be the mother of Jesus. According to canonical
gospel accounts, Mary was present at the crucifixion and is depicted as a member of the early Christian
community in Jerusalem. According to Catholic and Orthodox teachings, at the end of her earthly life her
body was raised directly into Heaven; this is known in the Christian West as the Assumption.[6][7]

Mary has been venerated since early Christianity,[8][9] and is considered by millions to be the most
meritorious saint of the religion. She is claimed to have miraculously appeared to believers many times
over the centuries. The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches
believe that Mary, as mother of Jesus, is the Mother of God (Greek: Θεοτόκος, translit. Theotokos, lit.
'God-bearer'). There is significant diversity in the Marian beliefs and devotional practices of major
Christian traditions. The Catholic Church holds distinctive Marian dogmas, namely her status as the
Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, and her Assumption into
heaven.[10] Many Protestants minimize Mary's role within Christianity, basing their argument on the
relative brevity of biblical references.[11] Mary also has a revered position in Islam, where one of the
longer chapters of the Quran is devoted to her.

n Christianity, Mary is commonly referred to as the Virgin Mary, in accordance with the belief that she
conceived Jesus miraculously through the Holy Spirit without her husband's involvement. Among her
many other names and titles are the Blessed Virgin Mary (often abbreviated to "BVM"), Saint Mary
(occasionally), the Mother of God (primarily in Western Christianity), the Theotokos (primarily in Eastern
Christianity), Our Lady (Medieval Italian: Madonna), and Queen of Heaven (Latin: Regina Coeli),[13][14]
although the title "Queen of Heaven" was also a name for a pagan goddess being worshipped during the
prophet Jeremiah's lifetime.

Miraculous Medal
Description
The Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of Our Lady of Graces, is a medal, the
design of which was originated by Saint Catherine Labouré following her apparitions of
the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rue du Bac, Paris, France, and made by goldsmith Adrien
Vachette. Wikipedia
Holy See approval: 1895, during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII
Shrine: Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Paris, France
Witness: Saint Catherine Labouré
Patronage: Special graces, architects, miners, prisoners
Location: Paris, France
Date: 19 July 1830; 27 November 1830