The Immaculate Conception medal is one of the most beloved in Spain, and for good reason: the Immaculate Conception is our patron saint. Here we tell you what it means to wear it, what its image represents, and how to give it as a gift and get it right, especially now that December 8th is approaching.
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What the Immaculate Conception medal means
The Immaculate Conception celebrates that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin: God prepared her from the first moment of her life to be the Mother of Jesus. It is a truth of faith that the Church defined as dogma on December 8, 1854, with Pope Pius IX's bull Ineffabilis Deus, although it had been celebrated and defended in Spain for centuries before.
Wearing her medal is a simple way to keep the Virgin close and to place yourself under her protection. It is not an amulet nor does it work on its own: it is a reminder of whom you entrust yourself to, a prayer you wear. That is why so many mothers hang it on a baby's cradle, give it at a communion, or wear it their whole lives.
What its image represents
On the Immaculate Conception medal, the Virgin appears young and standing, with her hands together in prayer or open, dressed in white and with a blue mantle. Every detail has meaning:
- The crescent moon at her feet, taken from the Apocalypse: "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet".
- The serpent she treads upon, a sign of her victory over evil and sin.
- The twelve stars that form her crown.
- White and blue, the colors of purity and heaven, which in Spain we call "purest blue".
It is the image painted by Murillo and so many artists of the Golden Age, and the one that inspires our medals, designed from antique family and antique shop medals.
Why it is so Spanish
The Immaculate Conception has been the patron saint of Spain since 1760, when Pope Clement XIII proclaimed her at the request of Charles III. Before that, in 1585, the Spanish tercios besieged in Empel (Flanders) found a painting of the Immaculate Conception on the eve of December 8; that night the river froze and they were able to break the siege. Since 1892, she has been the patron saint of the Infantry. We tell it in the history of the Immaculate Conception.
Immaculate Conception medal or Miraculous Medal
It is a very common question. Both represent the Immaculate Conception, but they are different medals:
- The Miraculous Medal reproduces the design that Saint Catherine Labouré saw in Paris in 1830: the Virgin with rays of light in her hands, the prayer "O Mary conceived without sin" and, on the reverse, the M with the cross and the two hearts. Its feast day is November 27. You can find it in our Miraculous Medal collection.
- The Immaculate Conception medal shows the Virgin as Spanish artists painted her, standing on the crescent moon. Its feast day is December 8.
How to give the Immaculate Conception medal as a gift
To whom
- To an Inma, Concha, Conchita, Concepción, or Purísima, on her saint's day. You can find more ideas in gifts for an Inmaculada.
- To a mother or grandmother who has always had the Purísima in her home.
- To a baby or a girl, at her baptism or First Communion.
- To someone who serves in the Infantry, or to their family, as she is their patron saint.
When
The most beautiful time is December 8th, a holiday throughout Spain and in the middle of a long weekend. We tell you how it is celebrated in the Immaculate Conception, December 8: traditions and gifts, and from November 29 to December 7, the novena to the Immaculate Conception is prayed. But it is also suitable for any important occasion: a birth, a wedding, or a difficult time.
What to write in the card
With every medal, we write the message you want by hand, free of charge. Some ideas:
- "So that the Purísima always looks after you. Happy saint's day."
- "May the Virgin accompany you in this new stage."
- "Your grandmother wore it, and now it is your turn."
And if you want to congratulate her by message too, you can find phrases in Happy Saint's Day, Inma!.
How to choose the model
For a mother or grandmother, the one with natural pearls is the most classic and elegant. For someone young, those with colored stones like lapis lazuli or amethyst. And for a girl, the enamel ones, which are more cheerful and start from €45. All come with a 40 cm gold-plated chain with a 5 cm extender and arrive wrapped as a gift. You can find more details in how to choose your Immaculate Conception medal.
Care for it so it lasts
For the gold plating to last, put it on after perfume and cream, and take it off when showering, swimming, or sleeping. And if you want, take it to be blessed: any priest can do it.
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