is much talk today about the apparitions and written. How is it that in our speaking the wonderful events that took place in the 17 and 18 century have in Le Laus (pronounced Loo solution), a hamlet in the French Alps happened, so completely unknown? you are still in intimate connection with all subsequent appearances of the Mother of God, and they are underpinned by the same concern: the Mother of God wants to warn the apostate from God mankind from the impending terrible punishment. If
in the book by Goubert and Christiani, "Apparitions", the author's own words, a summary of which is to be brought, what they call "the Marian episode" were it not at the top of the phenomena of Le Laus? They are the first significant time, and no other place can boast of so many visits to the Blessed Virgin, in no other place they walked, as there, the landscape, she associated in such a confidential nature with their elect.
THE DOCUMENTS
From the appearances, the Benedicta Rencurel the shepherdess - because of their affiliation to the Third Order of Dominicans Sr. Benedicta called - have become in time from 1664 to 1717 given, four certified authentic manuscripts tell of the time. They come from direct witnesses, including any statements of Benedicta, about the various other people who were involved in the events and of these themselves, who were then known to all. The statements are framed by interrogations, begun in the spirit of the doubt. Through three centuries and serious perils they are miraculously come through for us. The missionaries of Notre Dame du Laus they guard as priceless treasure.
The first wrote a layman, François Grimmaud. He was a lawyer of the Parliament of Grenoble and the judges rule Avençon, Le Laus Situated opposite. He conducted the initial interrogation and played in the main publication the same role as Bernadette's companions later in Lourdes.
The second is by Brother Aubin, a hermit from the vicinity of Le Laus. It contains his memoirs and a report on the persecution suffered by the seer in his presence.
The third wrote a priest, M. Peytieu, DD, of Pfarrverweser the sanctuary was and who had found in Le Laus healing of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is very comprehensive and includes four parts: Reports to the Archbishop, memories, daily records and notes.
The fourth is a Journal that another priest every day led. This, Messire Gaillard, spiritual advisor of the king and was canon of Gap, forty-three years witnessed the events. He watched everything that went down and began at the age of 68 years to write the facts. He noted with regret that at first he was not pious enough, the things to be believed. Nineteen volumes were given during his lifetime, apparently by a notary, with atomic numbers and paragraphs.
The Blessed Virgin has protected these manuscripts during the sack of Le Laus in Ocotber 1791 obviously, because naturally they would have to fall prey to everything else destruction.
The spiritual needs of France to externally golden age of Louis XIV, it is clear from them. After the devastation caused by the advance of Protestantism, came up with a new heresy: the Jansenism. He found rapid spread. Even members of the clergy were among his followers. Under the pretext of defending the honor of God, he alienated his people. He gave them the reception of the sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist, difficult, almost impossible. His doctrine of predestination to grace was reserved for the elect. The religious orders fell into disrepute, the pope and church were attacked violently rejected the Devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the pilgrimages to their credit. Against this Aberrations should include Le Laus fight. France wanted
Church was in peril, as the Queen of Heaven chose the small earth spot in the High Alps to the grandstand, from which they speak to the world. Their tool was the poor shepherdess Benedicta Rencurel, who has appeared in the course of 35 years very often. She associated with her confidence, she taught prayers, rebuked them for their mistakes, finished the rough manners of the peasant child and raised it as an infinite patience for the task to which she had chosen it.
THE ISSUED
Benedicta Rencurel was born in September 1647 in the little village of St. Etienne. Her life was strange from the start. It was Peinen rare nature of drawing and on the other hand outshines miraculous. It was a different kind of childhood than the children of the village. It was not error free, but three virtues were with her at all times well in Release: piety, purity and charity. They had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. Tirelessly she prayed the rosary.
Her father had died young, and poverty forced the mother and the child at a tender age to be in a service to give. As a
Benedikta Maien evening of the year tending sheep in 1664, they suddenly saw a beautifully dressed old man coming towards him, she had noticed several times on these pastures. He settled in a conversation with her , and was finally revealed as a holy MAURITIUS, in whose honor was once in the nearby, now ruined chapel was built. He asked the shepherdess with her flock now seek the opposite valley, for there they shall see the mother of God. To certify his words he gave her a stick and instructed them to defend it against four wolves that would meet her. The predators were in fact, moved away but the sight of the stick. And the kids really
appeared the next day and from then on, four months on end, every day, accompanied by a lovely child, the mother of God, without the promise that this is Benedicta of St. Mauritius would have remembered. For two months she testified the girl only wordless kindness. Benediktas heart but became more and more filled with blissful delight, and she was eager not to miss these meetings. Sometimes she stood in the middle of the night and rushed to the site of the encounter. Willingly followed her always the sheep that grazed always lean on the same spot and it progressed remarkably.
began after two months but to teach the lady shepherdess to examine and educate. They treated her with charming familiarity. It also happened that they sent them to church, so they pray there, however, she was responsible for even the sheep. They taught her the mysteries of the Rosary to consider and pray the Litany of Loreto.
course could not keep secret Benedikta their joy on these visits. Amazed, the villagers perceived the change that had come over her. She, who had an unruly temper, was now quiet and gentle, her words and movements were of unusual delicacy and grace, her face radiated serenity and inspired all who came near her, respect and trust one.
"Whether it's not the end of the Blessed Virgin is that they look like? "Wondered the people, and they were burning with desire for an explanation of these operations. In the whole area there was growing excitement. The judge of the rule of Avençon followed closely the events. Beginning August 1664, he appeared in St. Etienne, Benedicta was an incoming call and turned to interrogation with her. He was very intelligent, quiet and safe, according incapable of sincere nature and character, to invent what they testified. Finally, he ordered her to confess and to communicate and then to ask the lady at the next meeting without fear to their name. Benedicta led the job conscientiously. The lady then said the desire to let the pastor of the village the next day, 29 August, a procession with singing of the Litany of Loreto to the valley of the furnaces lead. It happened and the judge François Grimmaud took part. He knelt in prayer beside Benedikta before the grotto, but no one saw the phenomenon as the shepherdess alone. When they asked the lady to her name, she replied. "I'm Mary, the Mother of Jesus" Then she added: "You will not see me more here and not at some time more."
wandered for weeks Benedikta about with their flocks to seek, whose presence had been her happiness, finally, on 24 September, her birthday, she showed her on a hill on the other side of the heavily swollen river. Benedicta was passing through hastily on the backs of their goat. When they reached the place called, Pindreau, Mary gave her the job, according to Le Laus would go and where to look for a small chapel, flow from the scents. "You will see there very often and very often talk to me can.
ESTABLISHMENT IN LE LAUS
Lange had the shepherdess roam forests and fields, until they finally found the chapel, which, thatched , not from the scattered huts differed the inhabitants of the valley. It was Our Lady of the Visitation dedicated. there received the Mother of God, hovering above the poor altar of incense flowed around their chosen one. She revealed her plan, here in honor of their Son, and to hers, a large church and build a house for priests to do. "I have asked my son to give me Le Laus for the conversion of sinners, and he fulfilled my request. Many will be back here to find him. "
rumor's of the apparitions spread quickly. In crowds flocked to the people, and many miraculous healings rewarded their faith. Stürmisch asked the people to the desired by the Mother of God Church.
now entered the canon Gaillard as delegated by the Archbishop of the parishes of the diocese of Gap Visitor on the scene, a doctor of theology and author of the later reports of the events. In August 1664 he had come out of curiosity to Le Laus, and was There have been blessed so rich that he was completely won to the cause. He reported to the ecclesiastical administrator of the diocese, Vicar-General Lambert, report. In the fall of this arrived, accompanied by the rector of the Jesuit College in Gap, the secretary of the archbishop and about twenty other church leaders in Le Laus. They were all biased against the events, and the Vicar General was with the secret intention to close the chapel and to ban the pilgrimage.
Benedicta was shocked at the sight of the magnificent train and wanted to hide. But Maria would advise them, the clerics in which it would be to answer questions. She promised to help her to do.
THE CHURCH RECOGNITION
The interrogation lasted for hours. The Shepherdess met all attempts to bring them into confusion and to lead the lie with calm and wisdom. After threats and their effects were missing was the general of it the mandate to ask the alleged phenomenon, let him by a sign or miracle to know the truth. the evening, sent to the Commission to depart. As suddenly began to fall a torrential rain. He flooded the small valley and the men were compelled to spend the night in the village. When the Vicar General the next morning just the celebration of Sts. Fair ended, had he received his, demanded by the MTA sign: sprang all known woman from the village of St. Julien, Catherine Vial, who suffered for six years from an incurable paralysis of the legs and continued to move only with a small rolling cart, could suddenly, the paralysis had disappeared. A month later, they led to removed under the indescribable joy of the faithful, a procession to the, from her home located 60 km Le Laus. Deeply taken by the vicar general gave permission to build the church, after he healed yet thoroughly interrogated and had received an authentic log.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SANCTUARY
1666 started the construction of the sanctuary, and three years later it was completed. Its construction in such a short time during ongoing wars, in an area with no roads for access by people living in abject poverty, not the least of the wonders of Le Laus. No other sanctuary in the countries visited by the Virgin was, as Le Laus, the award given that construction work and financial matters were under their immediate custody. It secured and supervised the construction to the smallest detail, and the mite of the poor covered costs, as they had predicted. The pilgrims dragged tree trunks and boulders from the canyons approaching, they took everything Material that was required, the workers had just put it together. The faith of a people has built the church on the word of a Child. In later years the building of the monastery was for the missionaries, furnished the pilgrimage to the service, and a boy's seminar, which the storms of time has not stood up. A singing school for choir boys was added in the still about 30 children of the diocese be formed and a corollary of the small seminar. Le Laus soon became one of the most famous shrines of Europe. It ranked just behind Loreto. On 8 September 1671, there were 6,000 admissions, for example, in 1721 there were 1,200 of its day. Countless miracles confirmed the shipment Benediktas. Most of them completed by the oil that feeds the eternal light in the sanctuary. From the beginning, he was awarded the Blessed Virgin the strength to heal from a distance. "The oil of the lamp that burns in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, is, if one assumes or imposes a believer longs for my intercession, healing bring.
was on request of Our Lady of the shepherdess cattle herding, and devoted himself entirely to the pilgrimage Service . She gave herself up to him to heroic way. for the sins she underwent the most severe mortifications. She prayed through the nights castigated itself, contained the necessary food, carried with all psychological and physical Not dismissed, rightly, the obdurate, encouraged the weak and desperate.
MISSION Benediktas
That was so special about the mission Benediktas: on behalf of the Blessed Mother, she had to warn sinners to repent and move. To fulfill this task, she was given the charisma to read the hearts and conscience. She saw through the sinners who had not confessed to serious crimes of false modesty, and made them aware without understanding in its purity, what did these sins. It happened that she pilgrims from the communion rail came back and asked her to travel to another in the confessional and to acknowledge this or that concealed debt. greater than the number of healing miracles was that of converting the most hardened sinners. More often, they also brought possessed, that there was not then a few in the Dauphine, to confess to what the physical healing took place.
THE PERSECUTION Benediktas
The seer had much to suffer persecution. In 1692 they fled to the behest of the Mother of God, taking with him all the treasures of the church, Marseille. It had been revealed to her what she would find on their return, the church was intact, but the monastery buildings were burnt down. Maria gave her precise instructions for reconstruction.
from 1692 to 1712, had to endure the hostility of the Jansenist party, which left nothing untried in order to suppress the pilgrimage. They wanted to eliminate Benedicta, they lock in a convent, referring to a remote place and kept trying to get hold of her. An open one dared not attack because they feared the people. Warned by angels from the danger, the seer went out at night and not always carefully locked their doors. They were accused of witchcraft, she refused the sacraments, forbade her to enter the church. The Mother of God and angels stood faithfully by her in those difficult years, strengthened their courage, advised her how to act should.
your opponents brought the Archbishop of Embrun to transmit the pilgrimage service Jansenist priests. This denied from the pulpit the wonderful events of Le Laus. But the people took little notice of them as well as from their heretical pronouncements. In spite of all prohibitions, it held on to the pilgrimage. And the seer of waited. Had you told Maria: "Your enemies would be happy if thou sorry, for then they would reach their destination quickly," But the day came
soft as these enemies had the Bishop of Gap, for its machinations tired succeeded... him to shake up the Archbishop of Embrun from its indifference. The prior the Jansenists was strictly reprimanded and called the Holy Fathers of the guard in place. Le Laus soon reached new heights.
Benedikta consumed more and more in service to the pilgrims and their suffering is increased immeasurably. After the pronouncement of her confessor, she was born only to suffer.
Benediktas LEIDEN
1671 was her first time to the Lord on the cross of Avençon in his agony. Then she suffered the Passion itself. Fifteen years she remained, once a week, from Friday afternoon stretched clock vier neun clock to Saturday morning, stiff and motionless on her bed, his arms in cruciform shape, one foot over the other. But they had to monitor on behalf of Mary, the workers who were building the monastery, or to provide them with food, so did the Good Friday from pain. 1648 vanished entirely, but were replaced by the worst persecution of Satan. They are those who had to suffer the holy Curé of Ars, and lasted only a little after thirty years, until her death. The demons appeared to her in the most horrible forms. They tormented her day and night, they dragged around for hours in her room, threw them into the fire, robbed them of their few belongings, their clothes soaked in oil. They dragged her into the Rocky Mountains, they plunged into the abyss and let them there are broken. She was then unable to move a limb, unable even to find in the dark of night for home. Engel pity on her and led her, in foal burning torches, home. 
It was generally recognized a familiar dealing with angels. They kept friendly with her, alternately praying the rosary with her, she consulted in difficult situations, were concerned and affectionate to their mental and physical well-being, they probably blamed if they made mistakes. On 2 August 1700, the festival showed Our Lady of the Angels, as the Jansenists had denied her the sacraments, angels at her to remove the altar cloth and handed it to own hands the Lord's body. By Mary had scents can be found in Le Laus of Benedicta. In life, the seer, the church was often of such meets. "A host of people can attest to this," reports the chronicler. 1690, on the eve of the Assumption, everybody could do in the church pilgrims present this perception. And today, individual believers blessed with it. The basilica lacks any flowers to doubt exclude the origin of the scents. At the same time with them is peace and joy of supernatural nature felt. After each appearance of the Mother of God streamed from dresses Benediktas days indescribable scents. Even in her death on the day of innocent children, 28 December 1718, flooded a wonderful fragrance the miserable room. In their hour of death seemed to her the last time on earth their "good mother" as she had always known and had no fight, expressing ineffable happiness, different them.
DEVELOPMENT OF PILGRIMAGE
Highway Benedicta revealed: "Le Laus is God's work, neither men nor demons can ever destroy it will take to contribute to the end of time, anywhere much fruit..." And as the Lady had promised, unfolded the pilgrimage to Benediktas more death and more. The manuscripts and votive tablets talk about grace miracles of all kinds, the number of pilgrims is increasing constantly and still. A number of important people stood under the spell of Le Laus. The Holy Father Eymard, founder of the Society of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Chautard, the famous Trappistenabt, the Romantics Maurice Bare, historian Georges Goyau, Henri Ghéon, Paul Claudel, Jacques Maritain, and many others.
One speaks of "the magic of Le Laus." No one, of the believing heart, get there, can it be closed. Tremendously lovely is the position of the small, between canyons and high, rocky mountains embedded hamlet. A fluid flows there, which captures the heart , and deep into the soul penetrates. Any way, each web points out that Maria is changed. Processions pass through the valley, greeted by the sound of bells, poignant singing the praises of the little boy singer Queen of Heaven. Litany heard in the rhythmic Perion one never forgets when they have heard. An admirer of Le Laus found the beautiful words: "The valleys, each rock is reminiscent of the heavenly vision. As if by prayer flows from the lips of pilgrims
...". The warm, personal welcome, will be the visitor of Le Laus by the missionaries and the sisters not given, is one of the least charms of this blessed place. It seems the presence of "good Mother "to her resume Heimsuchungsort. You feel warm incorporated into the large family U.lb. wife of Le Laus.
Sunk in the crypt of the sanctuary in 1892 by Leo XIII. Was brought to the small basilica, before the altar of tiny chapel, the frames of the first apparition of the Virgin in Le Laus was and today, as a small temple in the great, the choir of the church is expected and receives Sr. Benedicta now for almost two and a half centuries of pilgrims. What they expected, but still the official church recognition of their mission by Rome. canonization was opened in 1861, the first made such good progress that the archbishop of Sens in May 1872, during a solemn able to announce the ceremony, the decree of the venerability Benediktas Sr., was inhibited by the war of 1870 and by the displacement of the princes of the church in its pursuit. In 1891 he was examined and Leo XIII. confirmed on 21 August 1894 approval of the Congregation of Rites. In 1897 the Bishop of Gap closed the files of the process personally brought this instance, where they wait until today the execution. The current Bishop of Gap and the Dominicans continue its work diligently to achieve the collection Sr. Benediktas to the altars.
1854 Pius IX. the petition of the Bishop of Gap at the coronation of the miraculous statue approved and granted indulgences. On 25 May 1855 was celebrated Coronation place, attended by, besides the secret papal chamberlain, several archbishops, many bishops, priests and about six hundred and four hundred thousand (400,000) believers.
The conclusion of the ceremony united everyone present in the prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, who gave you your most holy Mother Le Laus for the conversion of sinners, and a poor shepherd child an instrument of the miracle that should happen there, have chosen, grant us by her intercession, the beatification of your faithful servant, the venerable Sister Benedicta Rencurel "
Edina Zerboni
PS: La-Salette, pilgrims can easily make a trip to Le Laus, as it is to reach by bus from Corps in one and a half hours!
PS: This article first appeared in "THE SIGN OF MARY", September 1972, 6 Volume, No. 5
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