MARIAN APPARITION AT LA SALETTE

 

Marian Apparition at La Salette
Marian Apparition at La Salette


By Edward Matulanya 

Here are history, location, witnesses, description, message, investigation Legacy and Spiritual Significance of Marian Apparition at La Salette (France, 1846).

Introduction

The Marian apparition at La Salette, France, is one of the most significant events in the history of modern Marian devotion recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Occurring on September 19, 1846, this apparition was witnessed by two shepherd children in the French Alps and was later approved as authentic by ecclesiastical authorities. The message of the apparition centered on conversion, penance, and reconciliation with God (Laurentin, 1991).

Historical Context

Location and Witnesses

The apparition took place near La Salette-Fallavaux, a small mountain village in the Diocese of Grenoble in southeastern France. The witnesses were:

Mélanie Calvat, aged 14

Maximin Giraud, aged 11

Both were from humble families and were tending cattle on the mountain when they reported seeing a beautiful lady surrounded by light (Cruz, 1992).

The Apparition Event

Description of the Vision

The children described the Virgin Mary as seated on a rock, weeping, her face buried in her hands. She wore a white gown adorned with a golden crucifix, which featured a hammer and pincers on each side. A golden crown with roses surrounded her head, and her shoes were decorated with roses (Dirvin, 1963).

The Message

The Lady spoke to the children first in French, then in the local patois dialect. Her message included sorrow over humanity’s neglect of prayer, profanation of the Sabbath, and blasphemy. She warned that continued sin would bring famine and suffering upon the people of France, saying:

> “If my people do not submit, I shall be forced to let fall the arm of my Son.”

(as quoted in Laurentin, 1991, p. 74).

Mary also entrusted each child with a secret message, which they later sent to Pope Pius IX (Bishop of Grenoble, 1851/2006).

Ecclesiastical Recognition

Church Investigation

The Diocese of Grenoble, under Bishop Philibert de Bruillard, initiated a canonical investigation soon after the reported apparition. The inquiry lasted from 1846 to 1851, during which testimonies, healings, and conversions associated with La Salette were examined.

On September 19, 1851, Bishop de Bruillard issued a formal declaration:

> “We judge that the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to the two shepherds on September 19, 1846, bears within itself all the marks of truth and that the faithful have grounds for believing it.”

(Bishop of Grenoble, 1851/2006, p. 112).

Papal Approval

Pope Pius IX approved the veneration of Our Lady of La Salette and encouraged the faithful to embrace her message of penance. Later popes, including Leo XIII and John Paul II, reaffirmed the apparition’s significance (Rogers, 2002).

Symbolism and Theology

The Weeping Virgin at La Salette represents Mary’s compassion for humanity’s suffering and her sorrow for sin.

The Tears: Symbolize divine sorrow over the world’s moral decay.

The Hammer and Pincers: Represent the human role in Christ’s Passion—sin (hammer) and repentance (pincers).

The Roses: Symbolize purity and love, surrounding both sorrow and joy (Laurentin, 1991).

Theologically, La Salette emphasizes penance and mercy, key aspects of Catholic teaching on reconciliation and grace (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997, §§1422–1498).

The Sanctuary and Devotion

After approval, a basilica was constructed at the apparition site and consecrated in 1879. The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, founded in 1852, continue to promote her message globally (Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, 2023).

The Feast of Our Lady of La Salette is celebrated annually on September 19, commemorating the call to repentance and spiritual renewal.

Message Summary

Theme Description

Faithfulness Attend Mass, keep the commandments, and pray daily.

Reverence Honor Sundays and avoid blasphemy.

Repentance Confess sins and seek conversion.

Warning Chastisement follows persistent sin.

Hope God’s mercy is available through Mary’s intercession.

Legacy and Spiritual Significance

La Salette’s message inspired later Marian apparitions, including Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917), both of which emphasized prayer and conversion. The apparition remains a symbol of compassion and warning, blending prophetic urgency with divine mercy (Cruz, 1992; Rogers, 2002).

Conclusion

The Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette remains a cornerstone of Marian spirituality, reminding believers of the urgency of repentance and the enduring mercy of God. The Church’s recognition affirms its theological depth and moral relevance, calling all Christians to conversion and fidelity.

References

Bishop of Grenoble. (1851/2006). The approval of the apparition at La Salette (Pastoral letter). In Documents on Marian Apparitions (pp. 110–115). Pauline Books & Media.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1997). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Cruz, J. C. (1992). Incredible! But true: Miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary. TAN Books.

Dirvin, J. (1963). The tears of Mary: The story of Our Lady of La Salette. Farrar, Straus & Cudahy.

Laurentin, R. (1991). Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary: A theological history. Veritas Publications.

Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. (2023). The message and mission of La Salette. Retrieved from https://lasalette.org

Rogers, P. (2002). The approved Marian apparitions

: Historical and spiritual analysis. Ignatius Press.


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