It was only after her sister was old enough to take over the household tasks that were left that Catherine was free to leave. Even in this she complied to her father's wish, which was for her to see some of the world by working at her brother's restaurant in Paris. She finally decided she'd had enough and entered the community of The Daughters of Charity at Rue de Bac, Paris.
Before entering the community she visited another house of the Sisters of Charity. Seeing a familiar picture on the wall she asked the nun with her, "Who is he?" The sister replied, "St. Vincent de Paul, our founder."
Struck speechless, Catherine remembered her dream in the church at Fains of the very same priest saying Mass on the altar foretelling her vocation! So you see, here we are again, the saints skipping in and out of each other's lives, giving assistance and encouragement to their fellow travelers on the path to sanctity. Catherine knew she was in the right place.
Now, the apparition of The Blessed Mother which led to Catherine's mission of making The Miraculous Medal known is really another story in itself. What is important to note about the former years is Catherine's forebearance and persistence when her confessor didn't believe her, the long years of approval for the striking of the medal and the strain it put on Catherine. And her acceptance of her forty year assignment caring for aging rascals in a men's hospice, all of whom she converted before their deaths. Mostly, it is her silence that is noteworthy, never telling anyone until the end of her life that she was the sister that Mary appeared to, the "Sister" of the Miraculous Medal.
Mary wished that her daughter live in humility.
Ah, who could be that humble except a saint? But you will see in Catherine's life that in simplicity there is sanctity, and the hope and promise of a heavenly future.
Links:
1) St. Catherine Laboure Apostle of the Miraculous Medal - Short biography of Catherine's life after the apparitions
http://home.ici.net/~aath/alliance/apost...
Web, four stars
2) Catherine Laboure Biography of St. Catherine Laboure by Dave Kopel
http://www.pitt.edu/~ef/st4/laboure.html
Web, five stars
3) Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society The story of St. Catherine Laboure for children
http://tutt,org./viq/tlieu/saints/st1128...
Web, four stars
4) Domestic Church Accounts of St. Catherine Laboure for children ages 1-14
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.D...
Web, four stars
5) Apostolate Alliance of the Two Hearts A short life story of St. Catherine Laboure, Apostle of the Miraculous Medal
http://home.ici.net/~aath/alliance/apost...
Web, five stars
6) Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul
