During Our Lady's visit to St. Catherine Laboure on November 27, 1830, rays of light flowed from rings on her fingers that were made of precious stones. However, some of the stones on the ring did not shine. Mary explained, "These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which souls forget to ask." Mary then spoke of the medal with these words, "All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence." The medal is simply a visible sign of the inner devotion the wearer has to Mary and to her Son, Jesus. In the small charming city of Loreto, many Catholic medals of distinction are handcrafted using an ancient Roman custom of forming metal and hand finishing it in the Loreto custom of silver oxidization.