Starred Virgin Mary Medal
From€299
Choose your materialThe face
Virgin Mary Medal, Welcome and Stars
The Starred Virgin Mary Medal is an original Latournery creation dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. It is worn for yourself or given as a christening gift, around three meaningful points of reference: the welcome of the Annunciation, meditation on the Nativity, and the transmission of faith. It is available in 925/1000 silver and 925/1000 vermeil.
The back
The back can be engraved.
A name, a date, a few words: on the back of the medal, close to you.
The profile
1.4 mmThickness, relief included
- Diameter
- Ø 18 mm
- Overall height
- 22.6 mm
- Bail
- Oval ring
The material
Choose your material.
Material
Your piece
Starred Virgin Mary Medal
Gold 750/1000
- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Approximate weight
- 3.8 g
€1,199
Optional — a name, a date. An engraved piece is made for you: it cannot be returned.0 / 40 · 2 lines at most
The piece, measured
Dimensions
- Shape
- Round
- Diameter
- 18 mm
- Overall height
- 22.6 mm
- Thickness, relief included
- 1.4 mm
- Bail
- Oval ring
Approximate weight
- Gold 750/1000
- 3.8 g
- Silver 925/1000
- 2.6 g
- Vermeil 925/1000
- 2.6 g
Dimensions taken from the workshop model; weights estimated from its volume.
The piece and its story
Who is Mary, mother of Jesus?
Mary is the young woman whom Luke's Gospel presents in Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph. In the episode of the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel announces to her that she will bear a son whom she shall call Jesus (Luke 1, 26-35). This passage establishes her evangelical identity: Mary is the mother of Jesus. Her response, recorded in Luke 1, 38, is an acceptance: she welcomes the word announced to her. Christian reading sees in this an image of availability and trust. These words give a possible meaning to the medal: for oneself, a reminder to welcome with confidence what comes to pass; for a child, a way of evoking, when the time comes, the figure of Mary, mother of Jesus. This is a personal resonance that each person remains free to embrace.1
Why is Mary associated with meditation?
Because Luke tells us so at a specific moment. After the visit of the shepherds to Mary, Joseph and the newborn, the evangelist notes that Mary treasures all these events and ponders them in her heart (Luke 2, 16-19). The text shows her keeping in memory what she has just experienced. One can read in this verse an attitude of attentiveness, remembrance and reflection: this is a proposed reading of the passage. Wearing or giving this medal can, if one wishes, remind one of this attitude: to pay attention to significant events and to those we love, to keep the memory of an important day. This reading remains personal and is not imposed on anyone.2
Why is Mary linked to the stars?
The name 'starred' refers to a Catholic tradition, not to a detailed description of the medal. The Apocalypse describes a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars (Apocalypse 12, 1). The verse does not name Mary: the connection comes from Christian reception of the text. In his address of 8 December 2011, Benedict XVI explains that this woman represents both the Virgin Mary and the Church. He also links the crown of twelve stars to the twelve tribes of Israel and Mary's place within the people of God. The stars thus evoke a communal dimension as much as an image of heaven. This is one reading among others of the passage, that of Catholic tradition.34
Giving this medal for a christening
It can accompany a christening, whether you are a parent, godparent or close friend. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§1213) presents baptism as the foundation of the whole Christian life and entry into life in the Spirit. Giving a Virgin Mary medal is a personal gesture: one can attach to it an intention of transmitting faith, of accompaniment or the memory of the celebration. A few words slipped with the gift suffice, for example by evoking Mary's welcome at the Annunciation or her attention to the child of Bethlehem. This meaning belongs to the one who gives, and each person can express it in their own way.5
Silver or vermeil: how to choose?
The medal is available in 925/1000 silver and 925/1000 vermeil, two versions of the same estimated weight, approximately 2.6 grammes. Silver offers a white and discreet appearance, sober for everyday wear. Vermeil is 925/1000 silver coated with gold, for a warmer golden tone. The choice is mainly a matter of the taste of the person who will wear it. In both cases, store the medal away from moisture and wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing.
The collection