Bible Dictionaries
Religious Medals

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Pieces of metal resembling coins, blessed by the Church and used to increase devotion, to commemorate some religious event, to protect the wearer, or to serve as badges of pious societies. Some bring indulgences to the user. Their use among Christians is very ancient; many have been found in the catacombs, often marked with the Chi-Rho, the Greek monogram which is an abbreviation of the name of Christ. In the Middle Ages, when pilgrimages were made to famous shrines, medals or "tokens" were often given to the pilgrims; and c.1475medals were made commemorating papal jubilees. Many kinds are now in use:

• those in honor of Our Blessed Lord, such as the Medal of the Sacred Heart, of the Holy Childhood, and of the Infant of Prague
• those in honor of the Blessed Virgin, the Mater Dolorosa, Our Lady of Victory, of Mount Carmel, of Good Counsel, of Perpetual Help, of Lourdes, and the "Miraculos Medal"
• those in honor of saints, e.g., Sain Joseph, Saint Dominic, Saint Aloysius, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Agnes, Saint Anne, Saint Rita, the popular Medal of Saint ChrIstopher, and also the highly indulgenced Medal of Saint Benedict
• those in honor of religious events and of devotions, e.g., First Communions, jubilees, etc., including the Scapular Medal