I have been a member of the Association of the Miraculous Medal for many years. I knew a trip to Missouri would not be complete without a visit to the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri. Within an hour and a half drive from Saint Louis, I was in beautiful Perryville. Several weeks before my arrival, I connected with Krista Koishor at the shrine. I looked forward to meeting Krista.

I had an opportunity to explore the church before Krista arrived. The beautiful artwork throughout the church was stunning. The history of this church is quite interesting as well.

The Vincentians consist of many groups inspired by the life and work of Saint Vincent de Paul. The priests and brothers are part of the Congregation of the Mission and known as Vincentians. The religious women inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul are known as the Daughters of Charity. Saint Catherine Laboure was a Daughter of Charity. Through the apparitions and instructions of the Blessed Virgin to Saint Catherine, we have been given the Miraculous Medal which is worn by millions of people throughout the world. Another interesting fact I learned about Saint Catherine while visiting the shrine is that she is the patroness of seniors.

In 1818 a small group of Vincentian priests arrived in Perryville at the request of many of the descendants of the original Catholic colony of Maryland. The cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1827. The name of the church is Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church. This church is the historic seat of the American Vincentians. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is a large chapel within the church. Below is a picture of the chapel. More details of the chapel are seen in the video below.

After touring the church, I stepped outside excited to see the remaining grounds. I knew there was a Rosary Walk on the campus, and I did not want to miss it. Shortly after leaving the church, I connected with Krista. She and I walked together on the Rosary Walk as she shared information about the many statues and grottos we saw along the way.

There were so many beautiful places throughout the walk that are captured in the video below.

One of my favorite statues was that of the Blessed Mother at the beginning of the Rosary Walk. This statue features Our Lady as she appeared to Saint Catherine Laboure in the first apparition.

Another favorite along the walk was the Marian Meditation Walk. This area is a circular area consisting of twelve Marian statues. The statues stand on pedestals mounted upon stars and remind us of the crown of twelve stars Our Lady wore in the apparition to Saint Catherine. The crown of twelve stars is also referenced in the Book of Revelation – “And a great sign appears in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1). The twelve stars are also displayed on the back of the Miraculous Medal representing the twelve apostles.

A visit to the beautiful shrine would not be complete without a stop at the gift shop. While I explored the gift shop, Krista searched the internet for nearby attractions that led me to a bonus stop in Illinois. Before I share my experience in Illinois, I’d like to encourage each of you to share the Miraculous Medal with others. The Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville makes this easy to do. Displayed beautifully in a booklet with a plastic cover, the Association provides medals FREE of charge. I highly recommend a donation which can be easily made during the check out process. Click here to place your order and make your donation. The Blessed Mother is an important person in our spiritual journey. The medals from this shrine are a GREAT way to share her with others.

After attending Mass at the shrine chapel in the church, I was off to Illinois. The bonus stop was at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. When Krista mentioned Our Lady of the Snows, I was a little perplexed about the connection between this story and the state of Illinois.

I first learned of Our Lady of the Snows when I was planning my trip to Italy. During my research, I learned that it snowed in August in Rome in the year 352. It was certainly an unusual site. The story begins with a nobleman and his childless wife who wanted to do something special for the Blessed Mother. Following the instructions of the Pope, they prayed that the Blessed Mother would make known to them what she would have them do. In response to their prayers, the Blessed Mother, during the night of August 5, appeared to the couple and to the Pope directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of the Esquiline Hill. The Blessed Mother explained that the specific site would be known because “snow will cover the crest of the hill.” Not only did it snow, but the snow had fallen in a particular pattern, showing the outline of the future church. The church built on the Esquiline Hill is now known as Saint Mary Major. I visited this church during my first visit to Italy. Click here to see the blog.

But what does this church in Rome have to do with the state of Illinois?

The devotion to Our Lady of the Snows was first introduced to the Midwest in 1941 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Paul Schulte, O.M.I., known as “the flying priest of the Arctic,” was a pilot who brought medical aid and supplies to remote Oblate missions, particularly north of the Arctic Circle. He developed a strong personal devotion to Our Lady of the Snows while working in the Oblate missions and built a small chapel in her honor.

Fr. Paul Schulte commissioned the artist, J. Watson Davis, to paint a picture of Our Lady of the Snows.

Davis depicted an Oblate missionary and his airplane on a sick call to an Inuit (Eskimo) mission with Our Lady appearing surrounded by rays of the Northern Lights.

Following his ministry in the Arctic, Father Schulte moved to Saint Henry’s Seminary in Belleville, Illinois. The painting of Our Lady of the Snows was hung in the seminary chapel and is now part of the main sanctuary.

In April of 1943, the perpetual novena to Our Lady of the Snows was started. The first Solemn Outdoor Novena was held in 1951, the final day being celebrated on August 5, the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows. The Novena became an annual event which soon attracted thousands each year.

As devotion to Our Lady of the Snows grew, the Oblates decided to look for a location for a shrine to be built in her honor. The search for a suitable site ended in February 1958 with the purchase of 80 acres of farmland on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River Valley in beautiful Belleville, Illinois.

I wish I had a whole day to spend at this shrine. The grounds are massive and provide plenty of spiritual tranquility and peace. The church and one of the many grottos are featured in the video below.

My trip to St. Louis and Perryville, Missouri was a short one but packed with so much history and beauty. If you missed my last blog on St. Louis, click here!

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God bless! Enjoy the video!