The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary was started in 1563 by Father Jean Leunis for his male students at the Roman College of the Society of Jesus. These first Sodalists, with Mary as their guide, agreed to the “Rules” of daily Mass, weekly confession, monthly communion, a daily half-hour of pious works and meditation, as well as service to the poor.

By 1569, the large number of Sodalists called for a division into younger and older groups at the College. Pope Gregory XIII granted many indulgences to the Sodality and named the Roman College the “Prima Primaria.” Other Jesuit colleges and missions started Sodalities, and membership rose to many thousands. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V allowed the Jesuits to start Sodalities outside their schools. Membership soon included priests, merchants, laborers, and soldiers.

In the late 16^th century and through the 17^th century, the Jesuits established Sodalities in Europe, India, and the Americas. The first in Canada was in Quebec in 1657. In Japan, the Jesuits started Confraternities similar to Sodalities to carry out spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Ursuline School in New Orleans started their Sodality in 1730. In 1789, Georgetown University began the first Sodality in the newly formed United States.

Pope Benedict XIV’s 1748 Gloriosae Dominae (Golden Bull) was a gift to the Sodality to honor the Mother of God. In 1751, he opened Sodalities to married women and girls, leading to a huge growth in membership.

In the late 18^th century, the Society of Jesus was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV. It was then that the Sodalities became “one of the normal works of the universal Church.” Jesuits were reestablished in 1814, and in 1824, Pope Leo XII restored Sodalities to Jesuit leadership. Pope Leo also granted affiliation to Sodalities not under Jesuit direction. By 1854, there were more than 4,000 Sodalities in the world.

In 1948, Pope Pius XII issued Bis Saeculari to mark the 200^th anniversary of the Golden Bull. In it, he praised Sodalities for “numerous and great services to the Church.” Through them, the members are led to that perfection of spiritual life from which they can scale the heights of sanctity.

In the early 20^th century, men’s and women’s Sodalities met separately. Regular meetings were not enough to promote the Rules, so the Jesuits were commissioned to help. Their magazine The Queen’s Work was created to communicate with Sodalists. The Diocesan Union of Sodalities was formed in 1918. They organized Summer Schools for Catholic Action to train Sodality leaders. By 1963, 250,000 had participated in the program.

The World Federation of Sodalities and the National Federation of Sodalities were established to maintain unity among the groups. At the Second Vatican Council, the “Sodality Rules” were changed to “General Principles.” These principles were spiritual, communal, and mission-centered, intended to establish deeper spirituality in everyday life.

In Rome, in 1970, the World Federation voted to change the name from Sodalities to Christian Life Communities. Pope Paul VI approved the changes.

Today, there is no central Sodality organization. Only three Sodality Unions remain — in Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C. Most Sodalities are now autonomous women’s organizations.

Since its founding, millions have been Sodalists. These have included famous artists such as Rubens, writers like Corneille, royalty such as Leopold of Austria, and seven Popes. Among the saints who were Sodalists are St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Peter Claver, St. Julie Billiart (foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame), and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (foundress of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart).

This Spring, the Sodality has made improvements to the Mary’s Garden.  Dead shrubs and weeds have been removed.  Thanks to the efforts of Doug Shultz, facilities manager and the parish landscaper, new shrubs have been planted and the various beds were mulched.  Please, take some time to visit the Garden which is located at the end of the parking lot near the rectory.  If you want to help with the planting of flowers and the watering of the Garden, please contact Lynn Hill at 301-873-0755. 

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The Miraculous Medal is sacramental.  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is one of the many approved signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments.  Unlike our seven sacraments, which we believe confer the grace of the Holy Spirit on us, sacramentals prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. 

This sacramental came to us through Catherine Laboure, who had a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother after her mother died when she was a child.  Determined to be a religious sister, Catherine turned down three marriage proposals.  She joined the Daughters of Charity, an order founded by St. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac.  Soon after she entered the convent, Catherine began having mystical experiences.  She had visions of Jesus and of St. Vincent de Paul’s heart.  Her spiritual director advised her to “forget” such visions, but she could not. 

In visions Mary told her that she had been chosen for a special mission.  On November 27, 1830, the young novice saw Mary standing on a half-globe with a serpent crushed beneath her feet.  In her jeweled hands she held a golden globe with a cross on it.  Bright light shone from some of the jewels.  The golden globe disappeared as she extended her arms.  The light from the jewels extended out from her hands and a semi-circle frame appeared around and over her.  Inscribed on the frame were the words: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” 

The vision rotated showing an M with a cross on it and surrounded by 12 stars.  The cross was on a horizontal bar.  On the M were two Hearts engulfed in flames, one surrounded by thorns, the other pierced by a sword. 

Mary explained to Catherine that the vision showed that she is the Queen of Heaven and Earth, crushing a helpless Satan beneath her feet.  The rays of light represent graces she obtains from her Son for those who ask for them.  The dark jewels, not full of light, show graces that people do not receive because they do not ask for them. 

The prayer inscription refers to Mary’s freedom from original sin from the moment of her conception. 

The 12 stars on the back are for the 12 apostles who represent the whole Church.  The M is for Mary, the cross is the symbol of our redemption, and the horizontal bar is the Earth.  The placement of the cross and the bar on and in the M show us Mary’s participation in Christ’s redemption of the world.  The hearts of Jesus and Mary show their love for all. 

Mary told Catherine to have a medal made showing the images she had seen.  She said that those wearing the medal, especially around the neck, would receive many graces. 

In 1832 the first 20,000 Medals of the Immaculate Conception were made.  Soon there were reports of miracles of mind, heart, body, and soul and this “miraculous medal” was in great demand. 

One of the most famous conversion stories involved Alphonse Ratisbonne, a Jewish atheist who hated the Catholic Church.  He was angry that his brother, Theodor had become a Catholic priest.  A friend, Baron de Brussieres, dared Ratisbonne to wear a Miraculous Medal and recite the Memorarae daily.  In January 1842, the two men went to a Church where the Baron had business.  When he returned, he found Ratisbonne weeping and kissing his medal.  He had seen Mary as she appears on the medal.  He converted to Catholicism and was ordained a priest.  He and his brother founded Our Lady of Sion congregation to pray for the conversion of Jews. 

Since 1832 millions of Miraculous Medals have been distributed around the world.  Maximilian Kolbe, who started the Militia Immaculata, called the medal the “silver bullet.”  Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary, gave them to all members.  Mother Teresa deeply loved the Blessed Mother and her Missionaries of Charity distribute millions of these medals every year. 

In 1895 the Miraculous Medal received liturgical approbation (special recognition and approval for public prayer) from the Sacred Congregation of Rites.  The only other sacramentals so honored are the rosary and the brown scapular. 

Our Blessed Mother promised that graces would abound for persons who wear the medal with confidence.  Sodalists wear the Miraculous Medal because of our devotion to Mary.