Sodality Medal

The front; The medal depicts Mary standing on a globe, with the head of a serpent beneath her feet. Circling the oval-shaped medal is the signature, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." On the bottom it says "Sodality of the B.V.M." 1830 On the reverse; 12 stars surround a large "M," from which a cross arises. Sodality; The word Sodality comes from the Latin word sodalist, meaning “companion”. A Sodality is an organization of companions or friends. The Sodality of Our Lady, also known as the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded in 1563 by Jesuit Priest Jean Leunis when he decided to gather his pupils, boys and men, in front of the Altar of Mary to consecrate themselves to her, and to place themselves in her hands so they would be guided in defending our Catholic Faith from those who at the time, were seeking to undermine it. Membership spread quickly throughout Europe and later to America, but it wasn’t until 1751 when Pope Benedict XIV extended membership to women and girls. Today, the Sodality membership is worldwide and includes the Holy Father, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and lay persons of all ages.