On Wednesday, April 21, 1830, Catherine Labouré entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity, located at their motherhouse in Paris. Catherine's spiritual experiences during this time would be extraordinary. She would tell her confessor about everything that was happening to her. At first he paid no attention.
On Sunday, April 25, a few days after her arrival, Catherine joined the other sisters in celebrating the Translations of the Relics of Saint Vincent de Paul. During the revolutionary period, these relics had been hidden for safekeeping. The Archbishop of Paris now wished to honor the saint whom everyone recognized as "The Father of the Poor". He hoped that his celebration would rekindle the faith of the residents of the capital. An immerse procession wound through the streets of Paris from Notre Dame Cathedral to the chapel of the Priests of the Congregation of the Mission at 95 rue de Sevres.
When Catherine returned to the motherhouse after the celebration she had a vision of Saint Vincent's heart. The apparition repeated itself for three consecutive days. Each time the color of the hearts changed. Here is what Catherine Labouré wrote later at the request of her confessor:

"Every time that I returned from Saint Lazare, I would go to our chapel where above the little reliquary containing Saint Vincent's relics, his heart would appear to me. This happened three days in a row.
The first day the heart was white symbolizing peace, calm innocence and union.
On the second day it appeared to be red like the charity, which must enflame our hearts. I sensed that the Community would undergo renewal and would spread throughout the world.
Finally on the last day it was black. This distressed me greatly. I do not know why, nor do I know if this sadness was related to the revolution that would soon take place. I spoke to my confessor who tried to calm me as much as possible, and distract me from all these thoughts."

In her daily life there was nothing that distinguished Catherine from the other young sisters. Their day began at 4:00 a.m.. After Mass, the directress would give a conference on the vocation of the Daughters of Charity. She spoke of the importance of the Eucharist's. Catherine kept hidden the great favor that she had been granted sensing our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. On the feast of the Holy trinity she also had a vision of the Christ the King.

" I was also favored with another great grace, that of seeing Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This happened thought-out my time in the novitiate until I allowed myself to doubt. After this I saw nothing because I had doubted this profound mystery, and I believed that I may have been mistaken in what I had seen."

The days passed peacefully. Catherine, who has desired to see Mary since her childhood prayed fervently to be granted this favor. On July 18, Sister Martha the novice directress spoke about Saint Vincent's devotion to the Blessed Mother. Catherine Labouré went that day to bed at about 10:00 p.m.
Catherine confessor asked her later about her experience that night and to put her recollections in writing. This is what she wrote.

"At 11:30 p.m. in the evening, I heard someone calling me: "Sister, Sister, Sister." I awoke and looked in the direction that I heard a voice coming from. I saw a little child dressed in white who appeared to me about 4 or 5 years old. The child said to me: "Let us go to the chapel.. Get up quickly and go the Chapel. The Blessed Virgin is waiting for you". The thought came to me: "But someone will hear me. " The child told me: "Do not worry, it is 11:30 in the evening, and everyone is asleep. Come, I am waiting for you."
I arose and dressed quickly while the child waited for me at the foot of the bed. He followed me, or rather I followed him. He was always on my left. He shone brightly and illuminated the path we were taking. This astonished me greatly. But I was even more surprise as I entered the chapel and found that the door opened at the child's touch. My amazement was made complete when I saw that all the candles and lights in the chapel were illuminated as if for midnight mass. I did not yet see the Blessed Virgin. The child led me into the sanctuary to the chair where the sisters' directress always sat. I fell to my knees, and the child remained with me. I though a long time had passed and looked to see if the sisters on the night watch passed by.
Finally, the time had come. The child sensed this and told me: "Here is the Blessed Virgin. She is here." I heard a rustling like the sound of a silk dress. The sound was coming from the Gospel side of the altar. I doubted at first that this was the Blessed Virgin. After this, it was impossible for me to describe what I was feeling or what was going on around me. It seemed that I still could not recognize the Blessed Virgin. Now the child no longer spoke to me in child's voice, but in a man's strong voice.
Then I recognized the Blessed Virgin, I quickly kneel before her on the steps of the altar and put my hand on her knees. Then I spend the greatest moments of my life. It would be impossible for me to describe how I felt. She told me how I must conduct myself during the struggles that would come to me in the future. She pointed to the foot of the altar with her left hand and said that it was there I was to open my heart, there I would receives all the consolation that I needed. There I should ask for the explanation of all the things that I had seen. Oh! She explained everything to me! ...
I do not know how long I stayed there. All I know is that when she left, she suddenly was gone in the same way as she arrived. I found myself on the steps of the altar and I saw the child was where I had last seen him. He told me, "She is gone". We returned the same way we had come with the path illuminated before us. The child was always on my left. I believe that this child was my guardian angel who has become visible to guide me to the Blessed Virgin. Because I had prayed so hard he obtained this grace for me. He was dressed in white, and was miraculously illuminated. He seems to be about 4 or 5 years old.
I returned to my bed. I heard the clock around this time. It was 2:00 a.m. I could not get back to sleep."

In the course of their long conversation, the Virgin Mary told Catherine that she would be given a mission. Like all God's messengers, she could expect to encounter numerous difficulties and suffer many contradictions.
In and other account written on October 30, 1876, Catherine Labouré reported some of the Virgin Mary's words:

'"My Child, God wants to give you a mission. You will encounter many difficulties but you will be able to overcome them if you do everything for God's glory. You must believe that all this comes from God, and you will not be at peace until you tell your confessor about what has happened. You will encounter obstacles, but you will be given the grace that you need. Do not fear. You will see certain things. Tell what you will see. You will be inspired in your prayers."
" The times are very evil. Misfortunes afflict France; the entire word will experience misfortunes of all sorts... The moments will come when the danger will be great. People will believe that all is lost. The cross will be scorned, blood will flow in the streets, the entire world will be saddened.. But come to the foot of this altar, there abundant graces will be spread over all those who ask for them with confidence and fervor. They will be given to the great and small..."

Then Catherine recalled the message that Mary told her to give to her confessor Father Jean-Marie Aladel:

"The Blessed Virgin would like you to be its founder and director. This will be the Association of the Children of Mary. The Blessed Virgin Mary will give you many graces..."

However, during the last days of July 1830 a revolution broke out in Paris, which overthrows the King of France, Charles X. Her confessor, Father Aladel, was astonished. His penitent has predicted this would happen. He wondered whether Catherine's account could be authentic and not the product of her imagination.

This is how Catherine Labouré wrote the accounts of the second apparition.

"On November 27, 1830, which was the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, at 5:30 p.m. after the meditation and during the Grand Silence. I seemed to hear a sound of rustling silk; she wore a long white veil. Under the veil, I saw that her hair was covered. The figure was standing. Her feet were setting on a globe, or better on what appeared to me to be half a globe. She had her hands raised gracefully, and her eyes were elevated to heaven. Her face was quite beautiful. I cannot describe it.

Suddenly, I noticed that her fingers each had rings covered with beautiful stones. Some were small and some were large. These stones emitted rays of light, each more beautiful that the next. The farther these rays spread the larger they become. They caused a great light, which was so bright that I could no longer see her feet.
At the same moment that I saw this, the Blessed Virgin lowered her eyes and looked at me. I seemed to hear a voice saying: This globe that you see presents the entire world, especially France, and each person in particular. I do not know how to express how I felt, or how to describe the beauty and the grace of what I saw, especially the rays which were so beautiful... This is the symbol of the graces that I pour out upon those who ask for them." I understood this to mean that the blessed Virgin desired that people pray for her. She joyfully granted those graces asked of her... At this moment, I was filled with rejoicing, and I was not aware of my surroundings...

A sort of oval picture formed around Our Lady. At the top of this image written in gold were the words: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you." Then I heard a voice which said: "Have a medal made according to this model. Everyone who wears it around their neck will receive great graces. For those who wear it with confidence there will be abundant graces."

Several moments later, the tableau was turned around to reveal the reverse side. Catherine saw the letter "M" surmounting a small cross. At this base were the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary.