St. Catherine Laboure was born on May 2, 1806.

At an early age she entered the community of the Daughters of Charity, in Paris, France. Three times in 1830, when she was a twenty-four year old novice, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure. On July 18, the first apparition occurred in the community's motherhouse. St. Catherine beheld a lady seated on the right side of the sanctuary. When St. Catherine approached her, the heavenly visitor told her how to act in time of trial and pointed to the altar as the source of all consolation. Promising to entrust St. Catherine with a mission which would cause her great suffering, the lady also predicted the anticlerical revolt which occurred at Paris in 1870.

On November 27, the lady showed St. Catherine the medal of the Immaculate Conception, now universally known as the "Miraculous Medal." She commissioned St. Catherine to have one made, and to spread devotion to this medal. At that time, only her spiritual director, Father Aladel, knew of the apparitions. Forty-five years later, St. Catherine spoke fully of the apparitions to one of her superiors.

She died on December 31, 1876, and was canonized on July 27, 1947. Her feast day is November 25.

Saint Catherine Labouré was not canonized because of the favor God showed her through this apparition. Her sanctity was revealed through her self-effacement and humility, through her seeking holiness in the little things of everyday life. Her incorrupt body remains in the convent chapel at the rue du Bac, where miracles were reported at her tomb