[ Post a Response | Mystical Rose Message Board ]
The banner ad is placed here by Boardhost.com, the host of this free message board.
The Mystical Rose Catholic Page has no control over which ad banners appear on this page.
Posted by Moderator Dear Bob; I couldn't find an essay either, so I put one together myself: The four way medal is a composite of four popular Catholic medals. It was devised for convenience sake, so that one can just wear a single medal instead of four. They come in different designs, but here is a general description: The four way medal is usually shaped like a cross, which the symbol of Christ and the Christian Faith (it's sometimes called the "cruciform" medal). The middle of the medal usually displays the Holy Spirit under the form of a dove, but sometimes a small cross or image of the Sacred Heart takes its place. The first medal, usually on top, is a Scapular Medal. On its front is a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on the back an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In 1910, Pope St. Pius X authorized this medal as an alternative for those who cannot wear the Brown Scapular (It is not intended to completely replace the cloth Scapular, though, only as a substitute for those for whom wearing the Scapular is a hardship, such as soldiers or people in very hot regions of the globe). The second is a Miraculous Medal, whose design was given by Our Lady in a vision to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830. Its original name is "The Medal of the Immaculate Conception", but God performed so many miracles for those who wore it that it came to be known as the "Miraculous Medal". Third is a St. Joseph Medal. The foster-father of Our Lord is a very popular Catholic saint, and his inclusion gives the 4-way medal a Holy Family dynamic (Scapular medal displays Sacred Heart of Jesus, Miraculous Medal = Mary, St. Joseph Medal = St. Joseph). The last is a St. Christopher medal, which was traditionally popular because he is the patron of travellers and motorists. (Incidentally, the Vatican never decided he didn't exist. There is reliable historical evidence of a third century martyr by the name of Christopher, but the story that he carried the Christ Child through a river is just a legend which grew up around him.) The back of the medal usually has the words "I am Catholic, please call a priest", so if the wearer ever happens to be in an accident and unconscious people will know that he or she wants to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. I personally wonder why they left out the St. Benedict Medal, which is a very ancient and important sacramental. Perhaps it was not considered "popular" enough at the time the four way medal was devised. For pictures of different designs, see the link below. There's also a "three-way medal", the JMJ medal, which consists of a crucifix with a Miraculous Medal attached under the right arm of the crucifix and a St. Joseph's Medal attached under the left arm. I've heard there's even a five-way medal, but I haven't studied one so I don't know what the fifth part would be (St. Benedict maybe? Guess that's wishful thinking <G>). Hope that helps; God be with you and your family. In Jesu et Maria,
Link: Four-Way Medals
on 5/11/2001, 10:19 am
+JMJ
Mystic Rose
Message Thread:
« Back to thread
The opinions expressed on this board are those of the individuals who post them.
They do not necessarily represent the beliefs of the Mystical Rose Catholic Page, its
webmaster, or the official teaching of the Holy Catholic Church!