Marian apparitions in France
There have been several recognized Marian apparitions reported in France throughout history.
Let us look at some of the well-known ones.
Our Lady of Lourdes (1858)
This is perhaps the most famous Marian apparition in France. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous in the town of Lourdes. The apparitions occurred in a grotto near the Massabielle rock, and Bernadette reported a total of 18 apparitions. The site has since become a major pilgrimage destination and is associated with miraculous healings and the presence of a spring with reputedly healing properties.
Message
The message of Our Lady of Lourdes emphasizes faith, repentance, prayer, and healing. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, conveying messages of love, penance, and the importance of building a chapel at the grotto. Lourdes has become a major pilgrimage site associated with miraculous healings and the call to spiritual renewal.
Title
Immaculate Conception
Our Lady of La Salette (1846)
The Virgin Mary appeared to two children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, in the mountainous area of La Salette. The apparition conveyed a message of repentance, conversion, and prayer. The site of the apparition in La Salette has also become a popular pilgrimage site.
Message
The apparition of Our Lady of La Salette to Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat conveyed a message of repentance, conversion, and prayer. Mary expressed sadness and called for keeping the Sabbath holy, reverence for the name of God, and a return to a life of faith and penance. The apparitions included prophetic elements regarding future events.
Our Lady of Pontmain (1871)
Four children in the village of Pontmain reported seeing the Virgin Mary during the Franco-Prussian War. The apparition, known as Our Lady of Hope, appeared above a barn, and her message emphasized prayer and peace. The event was officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1872, and the site has become a place of devotion.
Message
Our Lady of Pontmain appeared to four children, conveying a message of prayer and peace during the Franco-Prussian War. Mary appeared as Our Lady of Hope, calling for prayerful response to the conflict, unity, and reconciliation among individuals and communities. The event received local recognition, and the site became a pilgrimage destination.
Our Lady of Laus (1664-1718)
A shepherdess named Benoîte Rencurel reported multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the mountains near Laus. The apparitions conveyed messages of penance, reconciliation, and the building of a chapel. The site became a pilgrimage destination, and a sanctuary was established there.
Message
Our Lady of Laus appeared to Benoîte Rencurel, emphasizing penance, reconciliation, and the building of a chapel. Mary called for personal spiritual practices, seeking reconciliation, and fostering peace. The site became a pilgrimage destination, and a sanctuary was established.
Our Lady of Rue du Bac also known as Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (1830)
The Virgin Mary appeared to a nun named Catherine Labouré in the Chapel of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. The apSister Catherine Labouré, a novice in the Daughters of Charity in Paris, at the motherhouse on Rue du Bac. Mary instructed Catherine to have a medal struck with specific design details, which came to be known as the Miraculous Medal. This devotion spread rapidly and has become one of the most popular Marian devotions worldwide.
The chapel at Rue du Bac has since become a place of veneration and attracts many visitors.
Our Lady of Pellevoisin (1876)
Estelle Faguette, a French woman suffering from terminal illness, reported a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Pellevoisin, France. Mary appeared as the Queen of Heaven and gave messages of love, conversion, and prayer. The apparitions were officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1922, and a sanctuary was built on the site.
Message
Our Lady of Pellevoisin appeared to Estelle Faguette, a woman suffering from terminal illness, delivering messages of love, conversion, and prayer. The apparitions were recognized by the Catholic Church, and a sanctuary was established. The site became a place of pilgrimage, offering solace, healing, and devotion.
Our Lady of La Prière (1947)
In the small village of Brignon, a young girl named Pierrette Talbot reported seeing the Virgin Mary for several weeks. The apparitions conveyed messages of prayer, penance, and peace. While not as well-known as some of the other apparitions, the event received local recognition, and the site remains a place of pilgrimage.
Our Lady of the Green Scapular (1840)
This apparition is associated with the revelations received by Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, a French nun in Paris. The Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to her, promoting the use of the Green Scapular and promising spiritual graces and conversions to those who wear it with faith and pray for others. The Green Scapular devotion gained popularity worldwide.
Message
Our Lady of the Green Scapular appeared to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, encouraging the use of the Green Scapular as a means of obtaining spiritual graces and conversions. The devotion emphasizes prayer, faith, and intercession for others.
These are a few recognized Marian apparitions in France. It’s worth noting that there may be other local or regional apparitions that are not widely known or officially recognized by the Catholic Church.
Each of these apparitions carries unique messages and holds significance for the faithful. They call for prayer, conversion, repentance, and the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. While the Church has recognized some of these apparitions, it is important for individuals to approach them with discernment, guided by the teachings and authority of the Catholic Church.
Summary table of the known Marian apparitions in France and their main messages
| Apparition | Location | Date | Message |
| Our Lady of Lourdes | Lourdes | 1858 | Faith, repentance, prayer, healing |
| Our Lady of La Salette | La Salette | 1846 | Repentance, conversion, prayer |
| Our Lady of Pontmain | Pontmain | 1871 | Prayer, peace |
| Our Lady of Pellevoisin | Pellevoisin | 1876 | Love, conversion, prayer |
| Our Lady of Laus | Laus | 1664-1718 | Penance, reconciliation, chapel building |
| Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal | Paris | 1830 | Intercession, graces, call to prayer |
| Our Lady of the Green Scapular | Paris | 1840 | Spiritual graces, conversions, prayer |
The dates provided represent the time period in which the reported apparitions occurred. The messages provided in the table are general summaries and may not encompass all the details and nuances associated with each apparition.
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Article written with help of openai‘s chatGPT language Models, Dalle and Picsart
