The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.53-54

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF LAON & OUR LADY OF LIESSE (JOY)

 53  [continued] The same author took great pains to give posterity an understanding of the miracles worked by God in the Church called Our Lady of Laon, where he served as a Canon. These continued even to the construction of the holy chapel and later the beautiful Church called Our Lady of Joy.   Its origin was marked by miracles and these have continued. The history has been written by a nobleman called Boissat. Here is a summary.

Around 1134, shortly after the establishment of the order, the Ascalonites attacked the Knights Hospitallers in an ambush they had prepared. Among the captured were three Knights who were brothers from near Laon in Picardy. The eldest was lord of Arpe and the second was lord of Marchois, lands still known today by the same names. The third brother had no lands of his own. They eventually recovered from the numerous wounds they had received whilst defending themselves against the attack and found that they were prized by the enemy not only for their wealth but also for their noble birth. They were taken to Cairo to be presented to the Sultan who at first treated them very harshly but then the idea came to him to convert them into followers of Mahomet.  To this end, he placed them in cells on bread and water only, sending Imams and Morabites to tempt and persuade them to convert. As a last resort, he sent his daughter Ismeria who was a beautiful young lady, reared and well-instructed in the Mahometan religion. After several disputations, she was altogether taken by the sober arguments and the constancy of these Knights. She was particularly moved by what they told her about Our Lady, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the way they sang her praises. She asked if she could see an image of this Lady and the eldest of the brothers, replied without thinking (perhaps we may assume he was led by the Spirit of God) and he promised to make an image for her. Neither he nor his brothers, however, were able to do this satisfactorily and so they had recourse in prayer to God and to the glorious Virgin. The following night the Knight found by his side a statue of the MOTHER OF GOD and this is believed to be the same one that may be seen today in the Church of Our Lady of Liesse, The statue gave off a sweet fragrance and illuminated the whole prison where they were.

It also seemed as if they could hear melodies and harmonies which could only be the music of Angels. This so enraptured their hearts that they spent the whole night in a spirit of sweet consolation. The following day, Ismeria returned to the prison and discovered all these miracles. She experienced such a change of heart that instead of trying to win over the Knights, she herself was won over by Our Lord. She carried the statue away to her own chamber and honoured Our Lady in a thousand different ways. As a result, she was immediately suffused with so much joy that she felt unable to leave the statue. That night, Our Lady appeared to her and told her she was to deliver the Knights from prison and that she would be honoured in her name. The next morning, her mind was quite made up and with great joy and inner peace she gathered together her things, including jewels and some money, before setting off for the prison which she found miraculously unlocked. She summoned the Knights and told them of her plan. They all set off together from there and crossed Cairo  unnoticed before coming to a branch of the river Nile where a young man promptly showed them on board a small boat and then immediately disappeared from sight. They had been travelling for three hours after nightfall and Ismeria, who was herself feeling weary, invited the Knights to get some rest. While all four of them were sleeping, they were miraculously transported to a spot close by the paternal house of the Knights. They were recognized and they walked smartly to their château. Ismeria hurried after them but in her haste she left the statue of the Virgin near a spring. The waters flowed over the statue and later these waters were to have power to heal those sick with fevers and other illnesses.

When the Knights reached the  château, the joy of their parents at their return was indescribable, especially when they learned about what had happened in the house of Ismeria and the favours they had received from her. When formalities had been completed, the Princess was presented to the bishop of Laon and he baptized her, giving her the name Mary. She made her home in the house with the mother of the Knights, a most virtuous and honourable lady, and spent the remainder of her days there in chastity and filled with deep devotion. The Knights built a Church at the spot where, through miraculous intervention, the statue had fallen from the hands of Ismeria when she was carrying it. The statue was solemnly carried in procession to the new Church. Since that day, countless miracles have been reported and the crowds flock from all over Europe to honour the holy Virgin. The sheer joy experienced by so many of the visitors has led to the Church being called Our Lady of Liesse, because liesse means joy.

OUR LADY OF THE HAWTHORN, OUR LADY OF RHEIMS, OUR LADY OF AVENAY & OUR LADY OF MERCHINEY

 54   In the province of Champagne we discover a beautiful Church one league distant from  Châlons-sur-Marne which is called Our Lady of the Hawthorn. It was given this name because the miraculous image preserved inside was first seen in a hawthorn and was honoured there for some time before a sanctuary was constructed.

In Rheims, we see the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady, as celebrated for the miracles reported there as for its grandeur and beauty. The learned Author who wrote the history of Rheims was inquisitive about its origin and development.

The first building was completed by St Nicasius, Archbishop of Rheims, and it adjoined the  château or palace from which King Clovis made his exit on his way to be baptized by St Remigius. St Nicasius was accustomed to offer his prayers to the Holy Virgin in the Church he had built for her. When the Vandals seized the city of Rheims and proceeded to behead many of the inhabitants, he made his way straight to the doors of the Church along with his dear sister, the blessed St Eutropia, who was a virgin dedicated to God and graced with all the virtues. If he were to surrender his life, then he wanted to be sure he did so in the bosom of the glorious Virgin. The were both singing the divine praises when the Barbarians finally arrived. When they beheaded him, he was at that moment saying these words from Psalm CXVIII : Adhaesit pavimento anima mea[1]; as his head fell to the ground, he completed the verse and he was heard to to say quite clearly : vivifica me secundum verbum tuum[2]. St Eutropia’s beauty was such that it seemed it would deprive of the martyr’s palm but her courage was so great that the Barbarians found it too much too bear and they sent her to join her brother St Nicasius in death, just as she had always been united with him in life though her tender affection. 

From that time onwards, God multiplied the miracles at this location and this caused the great Hincmar, who was later Archbishop of Rheims, to increase the size of the Church by more than half. He also enriched and embellished it so that it is comparable with the most beautiful and magnificent of the Churches in France.

Before leaving this beautiful Church famed for its devotion, I need to share with you something well worth knowing that I noticed there once before. Outside the choir of the Church, there is a fairly ancient tablet with gothic lettering, attached with metal brackets to one of the columns. There we read that:

there was a certain person from Rome who had a fervent devotion to the Holy Virgin and used to recite several beautiful prayers to her every day, including the Ave Maria. One day whilst he was praying, Our Lady appeared to him and, amongst other things, she told him that his prayers were pleasing but that she would really like him to say a prayer acknowledging her mother St Anne. The man replied that he did not know any prayers to say to her.

“When thou dost recite the Ave Maria,” replied the Holy Virgin, “which thou art to do frequently because of the pleasure I take from this prayer, after the words Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus[3], thou shouldst say : Et benedicta sit Sancta Anna mater tua, ex qua sine macula caro tua processit virginea[4]. Then do thou continue unto the end.” 

On the same tablet is also written the following, devout prayer which you will find very satisfying to learn: O Virgo Virginum, o Virgo regia ; sola spes hominum, sola fiducia, nostrorum criminum expugna vitia, et Patri hominum nos reconcilia. Amen[5].

The Church of Our Lady of Avenay, which is a famous Monastery housing Benedictine sisters located between Rheims and Châlons, has been known from ancient times for various miracles the Holy Virgin has performed. In Bassigny, they talk of Our Lady of Prêle near  Saint-Gengoux and of Our Lady of Merchiney which is one league from Chaumont.

Footnotes

[1] My soul hath cleaved to the pavement. Ps. CXVIII. 25.

[2] quicken thou me according to thy word. Ibid.

[3] And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

[4] And blessed is St Anne thy mother, from whom thou didst take virginal flesh without sin.

[5] O Virgin of Virgins, O royal Virgin; only hope of men and our only confidence; destroy the vices of our sins and reconcile us unto the Father of men. Amen

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.51-53

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF NANTES or OUR LADY OF GOOD HELP, OUR LADY OF SUCCOUR & OUR LADY OF SAFE HAVEN

 51   We now arrive in Brittany and come to the beautiful Cathedral in Nantes which St Felix the Bishop dedicated to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Later, the Church suffered at the hands of the Vikings but Alan the Duke of Brittany, nicknamed Wrybeard or Twisted-Beard, won a glorious victory over them in 937. He restored the Church so that it was actually more beautiful than before and renamed it Our Lady of Good Help because he attributed the success of his victorious arms to the glorious Virgin. On the outskirts of the ancient city of Rennes, we shall pay a visit to Our Lady of Succour, who is willing to help people in all their needs but especially little still-born babies. In Dol there is a Chapel called Our Lady of Safe Haven where they will show you numerous prayers pinned up around the altar. These are for the most part prayers of thanksgiving from those who received help from the Holy Virgin when caught in storms or peril on the sea.

OUR LADY OF ROUEN, OF BAYEUX, OF  ÉVREUX, OUR LADY OF GOOD NEWS, OUR LADY OF SUCCOUR, OUR LADY OF GOOD HELP

 52   Moving across into Normandy, we shall note the large crowds continually flocking to Our Lady of Rouen which is one of the most magnificent and most frequented Churches in France. We shall also take in Our Lady of Évreux, of Bayeux and many more. At various locations we shall come across places consecrated to the Holy Virgin where she occasionally gives proof of her presence and the pleasure she derives from the devotion shown towards her. This is the case, for example, with Our Lady of the Meadows which adjoins the city of Rouen. Near the same city we shall observe countless members of the faithful who go to Our Lady of Good News every day but especially on Saturdays. The place is frequented by all manner of persons but especially by women and they receive many extraordinary blessings, especially to help with problems of child-birth. Three leagues outside Caen we come to Our Lady of Succour where each year there is a procession for the townsfolk who make their way to the Church as to a refuge. In the small province of Perche next to Normandy there is a town called Roumalard and not far away is a little Church called Our Lady of Good Help where people suffering from various afflictions go in search of consolation and where they often find a remedy for the problems besetting them.

OUR LADY OF BOULOGNE, OUR LADY OF THE FOREST, OUR LADY OF BIACHE, OUR LADY OF MOYEN-PONT, OUR LADY OF AMIENS & OUR LADY OF NOYON

 53   In Picardy, they will show us more places dedicated to the sacred Virgin than in any other province of France. Let us begin with the County of Boulogne which was given to her in perpetual fief by King Louis XI. Our Lady of Boulogne was built by Clotaire II and since his reign several of his successors have shown their strong devotion to her, including Henry II. The Church is one of the most ancient sites of Marian devotion in France and below is the traditional account of its origins, as will be shown at greater length in a book which will focus on this and the miracles that have occurred here.

It is believed this statue was brought to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the year 633 on a ship steered by Angels; it was received by wondering crowds of townsfolk and subsequently honoured not only by people from neighbouring districts but also  from countries and foreign peoples far distant from France. The miracles that began to occur drew countless souls to this devotion.

In 1544 King Henry VIII of England captured Boulogne-sur-Mer and carried off the statue of Our Lady back to England, a country already suffering from the depredations of heretics. King Henry II of France retook Boulogne from the English and persuaded the English King to return the statue of Our Lady. This was duly placed back in its original position and the received the customary honour and devotion as before, but this did not last long. Amongst other problems in France at this time was that of the Huguenots, sworn enemies of pious beliefs and devotions. When they saw what was happening in this Church, they seized the statue of the Holy Virgin and abused it with such insolence and in such a criminal way that they were worse than savage barbarians. They tossed the statue into the fire several times but it never burned, despite being made of wood. They tried to chop it into pieces with axes, but their efforts were in vain. Finally, unable to tolerate its presence in the Boulogne any longer, they took it to a Huguenot house on the coast not far from the same town and threw it into the well of the château of Honnau. The Lady of this château was a Catholic and rescued the statue secretly from the well, placing it in a hidden spot where she could offer her devotions privately. Here, this virtuous Lady, kneeling before the statue she had preserved, implored the Queen of the world so insistently that in the end she obtained the conversion of her husband followed by a host of spiritual and temporal blessings. The statue stayed in this house for around forty years until in 1609 a holy hermit called Vespasien de Fontaine was inspired by God to go in company with a secular priest to the gentleman’s house. I heard this story from the lips of the priest himself. The statue was returned for the third time to Boulogne and was there for the space of twenty years, despite every obstacle hell was able to put in the way of its restoration.

 

Finally, in the year 1629, Claude Dormy the Bishop of Boulogne rebuilt the chapel of Our Lady of Boulogne which the English had sacked. He was succeeded as Bishop by Victor Boutellier who had many strong qualities and was particularly devoted to the glorious Virgin. He obtained advice from the Doctors at the Sorbonne and from a most honourable Congregation that he summoned to the Bishop’s hall. Present were Royal representatives alongside Deans, Cantors and other important figures from the Chapter. Then to the delight of all the townsfolk and amidst much public rejoicing the statue was borne solemnly to the Church on Easter Saturday, the 30th of March 1630. This poor statue had been mistreated in so many ways and it was repaired and restored before being returned to its place in the Church. A small part had broken off and the priest I already mentioned agreed to take this to the Fathers of the Third Order of St Francis to be placed in their Church called Our Lady of Grace, which is near Paris. Our Lady is shown in a small boat with two Angels who are shown as steersmen.

In the same County of Boulogne, you will hear them speak about the chapel called Our Lady of the Forest as being famous for the crowds of faithful who flock there to show their devotion. Near the town of Péronne on the river Somme, we find Our Lady of Biache, which is the name of an Abbey of Cistercian Sisters which is dedicated to the glorious Virgin. Two leagues away from this town, on the French side, is Our Lady of Joy which is very well-known in that region.  Another two leagues away, but on the Flemish side, is Our Lady of Moyen-Pont. Its history and miracles have been described by Fr Jean Le Boucher, of the Order of Minims.

He says that the shepherd of a certain farmer in the locality was leading his flock to graze near the ponds there used to be where now you find the meadows of Hamelet. He suddenly saw unexpectedly an image of the glorious Virgin. He pointed it out to his neighbours and then to others who rushed to the spot. They all agreed that the MOTHER OF GOD wanted to be honoured and served at that place. This explains why from the beginning there was a sturdy little chapel here which was later considerable enlarged until, in 1612 it was rebuilt entirely in the way we see it today.

At Amiens, the famous Church of Notre-Dame is celebrated not only for its beauty but also for the wonderful graces it enjoys and which it shares with the faithful who come to visit. The Church of Our Lady of Noyon is famous for similar reasons.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.48-50

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF CHARTRES & OUR LADY OF LA BRESCHE

 48   In Beauce we are making our way to see Our Lady of Chartres which is a name celebrated not only in the whole of France but also among foreign countries. Sébastien Rouillard, a learned man with an inquisitive mind, has written a history which he drew mainly from panels, inscriptions and archives at Chartres.

According to an ancient tradition, the image venerated here was carved in the sacred forest situated in the middle of the plains of Beauce. On the authority of Priscus, King of the Chartresians along with the Princes and Lords of the Kingdom, it was placed in the cave where they offered their sacrifices through the hands of the Druids who were the Priests and the Wise men of the ancient Gauls. This was around 100 B.C. and was done to honour the Virgin who was to bring forth the Saviour. They had learned of this mystery through the sybilline and other prophetic oracles as well as through some particular revelation given to them, as seems credible enough. St Potentien was later sent on a mission to France by St Peter and he brought with him St Albin et St Édoald. Those Chartresians who were open to the Gospel received Baptism from them and St Potentien blessed the altar and the image using Christian ceremonies, transforming the cave into a Church. Quirinus at that time governed the province in the name of the Emperor and when he heard of what was happening he ordered a large number of Christians to be thrown into a well near the Altar of the Virgin, including a young woman named Modesta. The well was known thereafter as the well of the Strong Saints. Through their example of strength and courage, the Christian Religion became so deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chartresians that they despatched Ambassadors to the Virgin in Jerusalem. They wanted to explain their ancient devotion to her service and how their late King Priscus had chosen her to be Lady of their city which he placed under her dominion. Because of this, she has been known since and is still called today by the title Lady of Chartres.

 The Church currently on the site of the ancient grotto is said by some to have been built through the royal largesse of Charles the Bald around 870 A.D., but others give this honour to St Fulbert, Bishop of Chartres. He is said to have done this 1000 A.D., with the help of the generosity of Canut, King of England, who was encouraged by Edelvod[1], Archbishop of Canterbury. I believe it is more probable that St Fulbert simply refurbished and restored the Church. Finally, mention must be made of the Holy Tunic or shirt of the glorious Virgin. This had been given by Charlemagne along with some other relics to Aix-la-Chapelle but his grandson, Charles the Bald, made a present of it to the Church in Chartres. In his history of the Church (which is called the Parthénie), Sébastien Rouillard describes in some detail the various miracles God performed through the Virgin, including the impact on the city of Chartres. 

In the same city, you can find the small Chapel known as Our Lady of the Breach, which I shall be covering in Part III when discussing what has been preserved of Chartres.

Footnotes

[1] Possibly Aethelnoth (Ethelnoth, Egelnodus, or Ednodus) Dean and later Archbishop of Canterbury.

OUR LADY OF GOOD NEWS & OUR LADY OF CLÉRY

 49   In Orleans there is a parish church called Our Lady of Good News and it is testimony to the pious faith of King Robert who built it on the spot where he received the good news that his father Hugh Capet had escaped death. Two short leagues away from there is Our Lady of Cléry founded by King Louis XI and was loved by him more than any other centre of devotion. He also expressed a wish to be buried there at the feet of the Holy Virgin, for after God in her alone did he place all his hope. Numerous miracles have occurred there but here is one worth describing because it is so extraordinary as well as being perpetual. 

There is a large candle standing in front of the Virgin’s image, attached to a heavy iron chain to which God has given a particular power: any pilgrim who, finding himself in danger of death by land or sea, seeks his life by making a vow to go to Our Lady of Cléry, then the candle will make one or two turns with such a loud noise that the local people can hear it. If they run straight to the Church they will see it turning unaided, which is something even ten men together could not achieve. This has been reported more than a hundred times and it has always been found that the movement starts at the same time the vow was made.  

For more than six hundred years, Our Lady of Avenon has been famous for miracles, as is reported in the compilation made by Hugh Farsy, Canon of Laon.

OUR LADY OF ARDILLIERS, OUR LADY OF BEHUARD, OUR LADY OF THE OAK & OUR LADY OF CHEF-DU-PONT

 50   In Anjou we shall pay our respects firstly to Our Lady of Ardilliers (or of Argilliers, as some say it should be called). The name is famous throughout France not only because of the great devotion seen there but also because of a spring which cures all manner of illnesses. Near the city of Angers we find Our Lady of Behuard which has seen numerous miracles, as may be seen in the history of Louis XI. Moving on we come to Our Lady of the Oak which is near Sablé where the Holy Virgin showed over a dozen years that it was her pleasure to be served there, and this is what happened.

In the middle of the fields, where all you can normally see are animals being led out to pasture, there was a poor abandoned chapel in ruins, with an old and simply carved statue of the glorious Virgin. There was a wealthy man who had a child who was deformed and he wanted to be rid of the sight of him which he found unpleasant and upsetting. He gave the child to be nursed by a poor woman who used to lead her cattle near this chapel. One day when she noticed the chapel, she felt herself drawn inwardly to go in with the child she was carrying in her arms. Having knelt down in front of the statue, she addressed her prayers to the holy Virgin telling her quite simply that she would never cease to pray for this little child to be healed. She continued with these devotions for the space of around six weeks, repeating every day the same prayer. At the end of this time, while she was in the chapel one morning praying from the bottom of her heart, she saw the child was no longer marked by any deformity. At first she could scarcely believe her eyes, and she was not quite sure that this could be the same child that she had brought in; but some of the features of his face made her realise that it was definitely him and she could not conceive that there could be two boys in the chapel, and so she concluded that this must be the same child. She looked at him very carefully and she could not be in any doubt about it. The news of the miracle spread through the village and people ran to the chapel where in less than six months ten other remarkable miracles took place and all of them were confirmed. The devotion of the people was growing every day towards this place, so the Marshall of Bois-Dauphin, realising the favour that the Holy Virgin was granting to him with her wish to take up residence on his lands, and knowing this could only bring all sorts of blessings to them, ordered the building of a beautiful church on the spot where the chapel had stood, with a hostel to receive pilgrims.

This devotion has spread to the cities of Angers, Le Mans, Durtal, la Flèche and the whole country round about. The Church is called Our Lady of the Oak because, as I have been told, there is a great oak tree next to the Chapel.

In  La Flèche we shall visit another site of Marian devotion known as Our Lady of Chef-du-Pont which is known for the great numbers of people who come, especially the young who are studying. Here too many miracles occur even if they are not advertised, as is attested by the number of images hanging around the altar.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.46-47

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF CHARITY, OUR LADY OF LA RUE AUX OURS

 46   Passing along the street called la rue des Jardins, you may feel moved by a spirit of holy curiosity to visit the priory or conventual house called Our Lady of Charity. This is referred to in common speech as Billets because a Jew once had his premises there and hanging outside were three or four billets[1] advertising the nature of his business. The foundation of this priory and hospital came about as follows[2]:

At Easter in the year 1290, the fifth in the reign of Philip the Handsome, there was a Jew living in premises on the site where the monastery is now located who agreed to loan a sum of money to a poor woman. In return he made her promise to bring him the Host she would receive at Holy Communion. The woman duly brought the Host to him and he then did everything that a demon could think by way of mistreatment and abuse. Firstly, he stabbed it with a pocket-knife and then he pressed the point of a large nail into the Host and hit it several times with a hammer. After that, he contrived to scourge the Host but, seeing that blood started to pour from it, he tossed it in fury on to the fire. The Host emerged unscathed and began to float around the room. This so enraged the wretched man that he seized a large kitchen knife and tried to cut the Host into pieces. His planned act of sacrilege also came to nothing and so he chose the dirtiest place of his house and taking a lance he drove it hard into the Host. This opened a sizeable wound causing a stream of blood to flow. This did nothing to assuage the man’s bestial fury but rather drove him wild and he threw the Host into a pot of boiling water which was on the fire. The Host emerged triumphant from this torment as from the others, for it filled the pot with blood and then rose miraculously upwards, leaving the Jew so overwhelmed that he was unable even to cover up the evidence of his crime, with the result that he was arrested and burned alive, so that he might begin to experience in this life the flames of God’s anger that would consume him in the next.

The Jew’s house was sequestered and given by Philip the Handsome to the brothers of the Charity of Our Lady and a Church was built called Our Lady of Charity. This and the house were soon found to be too small and were later rebuilt on a larger scale, being dedicated on the 13th of May 1408. 

At the corner of a street called la rue aux Ours, you will see an image of Our Lady. Every year after hanging a tapestry before the image, they light a bonfire and fireworks. This is because of the following[3]:

In 1418, a wastrel emerged from a nearby house where he had gambled away all his money and was left with just the clothes he was wearing. He slashed out at the image of Our Lady with his knife and this opened a wound which bled profusely. Justice was not slow in coming and bringing a punishment for his crime. He was strapped to a stake and flogged from six in the morning until his guts spilled on the ground from the force of the beating.

The following Churches in Paris are similarly famous:

    • the Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto in the Temple district;

    • the Chapel of Our Lady of Montserrat which is in Saint-Jacques de l’Hôpital; and

    • the Chapel of Our Lady of Good-Deliverance, which is in  Saint-Étienne des Grecs.

Footnotes

[1] Billets : rectangular shapes representing bars or ingots of gold or silver. See billet in Complete OED: 3. A small bar of metal, & 6. Heraldry. A bearing of the shape of a rectangle placed on end. Cf. The three golden balls outside a pawnshop.

[2] Jac. Du Breul, in Antiquit. Parisiens, ex vet. monum.

[3] Du Breul, loc. cit

 47   If we were to visit all the places where our Queen of Heaven is honoured here, we would never leave this great and devout city. What is still more remarkable is that whichever side we choose to leave Paris, you will find only places of devotion dedicated to her service. In the great road of Saint-Denis where there was once a wood, you will see the Chapel called Our Lady-of-the-Woods, next to the Church of Sainte-Opportune. Neart to Chaillot, is the Church of the Minim Fathers which is called Our Lady of all the Graces.  Princess Anne of Brittany was wife to two Kings, namely Charles VIII and Louis XII. Her devotion was such that she donated her ancient house in Brittany, the old Chateau of Nigeon, to the glorious St Francis de Paul as a place of devotion for the Holy Virgin and to provide a house for his Order.

In the village of Haubervilliers you will see numerous people going to the Chapel of Our Lady of Virtues. It has acquired this beautiful name because of the great miracles reported there and some of the main ones are represented in the paintings which hang the length of the Chapel. 

You will also hear people speak about the following places of devotion:

    • Our Lady of Chelles which was founded by Queen Bathild or Baudour, wife of King Clovis II;

    • Our Lady of Long-Champ, sometimes referred to as Our Lady of Humility, founded by the Blessed Isabelle of France, sister of the glorious St Louis;

    • Our Lady of Long-Pont, where there is a Benedictine Priory;

    • Our Lady of Hierre, so called from a little river of the same name overlooking which the Church is located;

    • Our Lady of Footel;

    • Our Lady of Boulogne which citizens of Paris and others who had been on pilgrimage to Our Lady of Boulogne on sea built on their return in the village of Menuz, near Saint-Cloud;

    • Our Lady of Grace, outside the Saint Anthony Gate in Piquepuce, which is in the care of Fathers of the Third order of St Francis;

    • Our Lady of Vincennes, where there are tow images of the Holy Virgin for which the Parisians have had a great devotion since the reign of Louis the Younger and Philip Augustus, who were the founders;

    • Our Lady of Malnoue, four leagues from Paris;

    • Our Lady of Argenteuil;

    • Our Lady of Maubuisson, called Royal;

    • Our Lady of Good News, a Chapel of St Victor; and 

    • Our Lady of Miracles, which is in the Cloister of the Church known as Saint-Maur des Fossés. On the altar near the tomb of St Babolin, first Abbot of this Monastery, there is an image of the Virgin which was made miraculously by an invisible land as the master sculptor called Rumolde was applying himself to the work.

 

There are several other places of devotion that I might mention but I shall pass over them so as not to burden the reader with too much detail. Ten leagues from Paris, near Senlis in Valois, you would find Our Lady of Victory which Philip Augustus built in honour of the Blessed Virgin around 1240 having finally brought to a happy conclusion the long and difficult troubles he had with the English and the Flemish. He also donated two silver lamps which were to lit before the image of the Holy Virgin.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.44-45

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS & OUR LADY-IN-THE-FIELDS

 44   We are now on our way to the Queen of cities, source of laws for the rest of France : the noble city of Paris, where we will find  traces everywhere of the ancient devotion this people had towards the Queen of Heaven. From antiquity the city has been dedicated to the Holy Virgin, as we learn from the monk Abbo in his description[1] of the siege of Paris by the Vikings. The great Church of Notre Dame stands higher than all the other buildings, just as the cedar of Lebanon is taller than other trees. 

The pious and inquisitive Benedictine monk, Jacques du Breul, wrote about the Church in his Antiquities of Paris. He reveals the beauty, the grandeur and the majesty of the site to all who are curious to read about it. Anybody taking the time to visit will see great crowds flocking there every day, for miracles frequently occurred here which although interrupted for a time have recently started to be reported once more. In the beginning, Notre Dame was built adjoining the Church St Denis du Pas and still occupies this site where the great St Denis, Apostle of France, was tortured on a gridiron. Building the Church was one of pious projects undertaken in 522 by Childebert I, son of Clovis and the Church was dedicated to the sacred Virgin MOTHER OF GOD. We have this from Venantius Fortunatus, poet and Bishop of Poitiers. Later, King Robert, son of Hugh Capet, took the plans forward and they were continued by Henry I, Robert’s son, and his successors Philip I, Louis le Gros, Louis le Jeune and the finishing touches were applied under the reign of Philippe-Auguste, also known as God-given and the Conqueror.

The Church known as Our Lady-in-the-Fields is more ancient than Notre Dame de Paris – at least in its first foundation. It is said to have originated on the site of a Temple to Mercury or, according to some, to Ceres[2]. St Denis performed a miracle there and cast out for ever the demons who had been infesting it. He dedicated the Church in honour of God and the glorious Virgin Mary. In his history of Navarre,  André Favin relates how St Denis came from the Gauls bringing with him the image of the Holy Virgin holding her Son who is seated on her lap. Over this portrait was another on a small square stone about a foot in width which was enamelled and had vivid colours. Set in another, larger stone, it may still be seen outside the Church of Our Lady-in-the-Fields on the southern side, near the little cemetery, and its history is explained by the inscription under the stone. Favin adds that this painting was the first to be copied from the original of St Denis and that another was made from this original in relief and later taken to the cathedral of Notre Dame which I have just described. There it was placed in the great nave where Our Lady is honoured to this day as the principal patroness of the noble city of Paris. This Church of Our Lady-in-the-Fields was rebuilt with underground chapels (known popularly as the cellar) under the blessed reign of Robert I. Today it is in the possession of the Carmelites who live in the Monastery of the Incarnation.

Footnotes

[1] Urbs id honore micat celsæ sacrata Mariæ.

[2] Du Breul, loc. cit.

THE SAINTE CHAPELLE (HOLY CHAPEL) IN PARIS & OUR LADY OF VAUVERT

 45   In the courtyard of the Palace, on the spot where the ancient chapel called Our Lady of the Star was located, King St Louis built in 1242 the beautiful Sainte Chapelle. The Holy Relics he had brought back from his trip overseas were carried here in a solemn procession and there can be no doubt that the Holy Virgin, to whom this site had been dedicated, retained the suzerainty she held in the beginning. 

In 1259 St Louis built the Charterhouse of Our Lady of Vauvert in the Saint-Germain quarter, site of the ancient palace of the French Kings. Here is the story.

There was formerly in this place an evil spirit called by everyone the devil of Vauvert which, with God’s permission, tormented and greatly afflicted people passing through the quarter. Apart from terrifying people with its dreadful cries, it did not allow anyone by without attacking them or wounding them. One result was that the entrance to the University was called the gate of Hell and we can still see today the road that leads from the University to Our Lady-in-the-Fields is called the street or passage of Hell. While people were looking for ways of dealing with this problem, a nun who was said to have the gift of prophecy told the Parisians that, if they wanted to be freed of this demonic infestation, they would have to build a house for the Carthusian Fathers on the same spot. When her advice reached the ears of King St Louis, he set about the project with his whole heart, and this was helped in no small way by the affection he had always felt for such a Holy Order. He wrote accordingly to this effect to the great Charterhouse and assigned the religious who were immediately despatched to a house in Gentilly not far from Paris. After a few days, Dom Joceran who had been named prior, sent a message to His Majesty requesting use of the his empty house in Vauvert, because this was well situated and had plenty of room. To begin with, the King was unwilling, explaining that he had already allocated this house to other religious who were unable to remain there because of all the trouble and distress caused to them by demons at that location. The prior replied to the King that by the grace of God and the assistance of His Holy Mother, under whose protection they had placed themselves, they were confident the evil spirits would have no power over them. The King, following the advice of his council, ratified their request and told them they were to go there in the name of God and the Virgin Mary in whom they had placed their trust and who was inspiring them with such great courage.

On the 21st of November 1251, the Prior entered the house at Vauvert with his religious. They spent three days and three nights in continual prayer, processing through all the rooms of the house and imploring Our Lord, through the intercession of His most holy Mother their patroness, to cast out this band of demons who had taken possession of the place, so that thenceforth He would be served and glorified there. During these three days, witnesses including a monk, some servants and some of the locals heard the sound of thunder and frightful noises, they saw fog and clouds of smoke filling and poisoning the air, they felt the earth quaking and some of the servants fell ill. This showed how furious the evil spirits were at having to leave this fine and secluded location. In the end, the religious held their nerve against everything the demons could do. The latter were obliged to leave and their departure was witnessed in the form of clouds of smoke which infected the air with an oppressive stench. All that remains is for me to speak of the acts of thanksgiving rendered unto God and the glorious Virgin, and the public rejoicing in which King St Louis took full part, tirelessly blessing and glorifying God.

Work then began on building the Church in a wise and diligent manner. The first service was held on the very day of the Assumption in 1324 in thanksgiving for the favours received from the most sacred MOTHER OF GOD. From that moment on, the people of Paris held that place in deep affection and several miracles were reported. 

Joinville writes in his history of St Louis that as their ships were returning from the Holy Land,

Argonnes, one of the most powerful lords in Provence, was trying to rest one morning but the sun was shining in his eyes, so he ordered one of his squires to block the porthole which was letting in the sunlight. The squire climbed down to the porthole so as to block it from the outside but he lost his footing and fell into the sea. The vessel, however, was under full sail and so no-one noticed what had happened. A short while afterwards, Joinville’s ship was approaching the scene of the accident and he was not a little surprised to see a man in the water who was floating but apparently without using either his hands or his feet, as though he were like a stone being held up. He immediately gave an order for the ship to be steered towards the man so as to rescue him. Once they had him safely on board their own vessel, Joinville heard the man say that when he fell into the sea, he had placed himself in the hands of Our Lady of Vauvert and the Queen of Heaven had immediately given him her support under the shoulder and had kept him afloat until they arrived. 

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.42-43

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF CHARTREUX, OUR LADY OF THE WAY, OUR LADY OF DIJON or OF GOOD HOPE, OUR LADY OF ESTANG (ÉTANG), & OUR LADY OF LA LEVÉE

 42   We now find ourselves in Burgundy and we are going to visit:

 

• the Church called Our Lady of Graces, known for its devotion to the holy Virgin; 
• below the City of Beaune, the Chapel of Our Lady of Chartreux, ancient seat of the Dukes of Burgundy; and 
• half a league from there, on the Dijon side, Our Lady of the Way.

In Dijon, we shall pay a visit to the Church of Our Lady where we shall pay our respects to the miraculous image which was named Our Lady of Good Hope. I am calling it miraculous not only because of the various miracles that have occurred here since ancient times but also because of what happened through the intervention of the most sacred Virgin in 1513 which is described on panels inside the Church of Our Lady and commemorated by a solemn procession every year.

The Swiss had burned, pillaged and sacked everything around the City, as well as the finest sites in the Province. Finally, they laid siege to the City of Dijon itself, which is the capital of the Duchy of Burgundy. They attacked it violently and besieged it so effectively that the citizens of Dijon were close to despair, all human means they had tried having failed. They decided to have recourse to divine assistance and went to the Church of Our Lady. Taking the statue of Our Lady of Good Hope, they carried it in a procession all around the City, imploring her help in their dire straits. Their Bountiful Mother, always alert to the needs of her children, did not let them down and responded promptly to their prayers. The procession had scarcely got under way when the Swiss began to relent and in fact such was the change in them that three days later they reached a friendly accord with the citizens of Dijon, lifted the siege and withdrew back to their own country.  This miracle took place two days before Our Lady’s feast day in September and so the citizens made a public vow to preserve in perpetuity the memory of their deliverance and to hold a solemn procession on the 6th of September, bearing the image of  Our Lady of Good Hope all around the City, giving thanks to her who had delivered them in such an extraordinary manner.

From Dijon, all you now have to do is join those setting off on pilgrimage to Our Lady of Étang which is two leagues distant from the city. To whet your appetite, I shall explain in a few words the origin of this devotion which goes back to 1531.

There was a cowherd who was watching over his cattle on the top of the hill where the Chapel is now located. One of the oxen left the herd and made its way to graze as is natural at a certain spot on the hill, but when the cowherd went to bring it back, this proved impossible. The more the cowherd tried, the more stubbornly the ox stayed there. What was quite remarkable was that after the ox had grazed there for a whole day, by the next day the grass had grown back and was actually thicker than before. This made the cowherd suspect that something extraordinary was going on and it led him to dig in the ground at that spot. He unearthed a small statue of the Holy Virgin made of terra cotta and he took it into his arms with great joy. He placed it in a nearby tree and the villagers from the locality came to honour the image. The news spread and a great many people came from all parts to witness the miracle.

 43   Please be patient, dear Reader, if we stay a little longer in this holy Chapel to hear about something which is full of consolation and which you will find all the more interesting since it happened no more than six months ago in this year 1631.

A gentleman had done an act as base as it is possible for someone of his rank and station to commit – he had seduced a religious sister, removed her from her convent and he was now taking her to a location they had agreed upon for their assignation. As they were riding into a wood, three robbers sprang out in front of them. As the gentleman was preparing to defend himself, one of the robbers shot him in the head with an arquebus and left him for dead. The nun who had been riding pillion behind the gentleman fell to the ground with him. The robbers started to search her, took everything she had and then asked where she came from. She had taken out a medal of Our Lady of Estang which she wore around her neck and had started to pray to her for help as soon as she saw danger threatening. She now openly confessed her sin, declaring she was at fault and deserving of punishment for what she had done. 

There was one of the robbers whose heart was touched by her situation and he asked her whether she wanted to return to the place she had left under such shameful circumstances. She replied that she had made herself totally undeserving of such a favour; but that if such a blessing should ever be granted her, she would count it among the greatest she had ever received from heaven – showing that she might indeed hope in the mercy of God. The robber helped her up onto the saddle behind him and took her back to the monastery, warning her to show greater wisdom in future. The young lady burst into tears, full of gratitude for the infinite goodness of God and the sudden change of heart he had brought about in this man, wondering how she thank him for his extraordinary kindness. The Mother of Love who was guiding her provided an answer. The young woman produced the medal with the image of Our Lady and offered it to the robber as the richest jewel she possessed, one to which she owed her deliverance and all the hope of salvation which she still had.

The robber took the image and set off at a galop back to his friends but he experienced a miraculous change of heart as soon as he took possession of the medal with its tender image. While he was riding, he felt so strongly the pressure to change his way of life and he could suddenly see so clearly what a wretched state he was in that he could find no rest until he had formed a resolution in his heart to face a painful death rather than put off taking steps to assure himself of salvation. In the end, he could resist the promptings from heaven no longer and he gave in : he took leave of his companions in crime and went to the very place where Our Lady of Estang is honoured, offering her his prayers with endless tears and sighs, declaring himself the servant of mercies for ever.

A quarter of a league outside Auxonne, people have since ancient times been visiting a Chapel called Our Lady of la Levée which takes its name from the impressive road stretching from Auxonne to the Chapel of the Virgin. Here, pilgrims have found relief not only for their bodily afflictions but also for their spiritual needs.

In Châtillon, we can see the holy image of the Virgin at whose breasts St Bernard was once suckled and which still give milk from time time to time. This happened once some forty years ago when the statue was being carried from its position next to the Chapel’s high altar (and where she may be seen today). The priest who was carrying her found himself covered with milk.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024 

The Crown of Excellence : Chapter 12 : § 5.40-41

Chapter 12 : The Eleventh Star or Splendour of the Crown of Excellence of the Mother of God

Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré's Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).

Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac.(Poggi, 2020)

She has been and is still recognized and called blessed by all generations in the world

§ 5. She was recognized  and honoured by all Nations everywhere in the world

France

OUR LADY OF MONTDEVERGUES, OUR LADY LA BRUNE OR OF NAZARETH

 40   [continued] About half a league distant from Avignon is the Church called Our Lady of Montdevergues[1]. Its Chapel was in ruins until recently restored by the local lord whose warm devotion to the Holy Virgin was soon rewarded by the blessing she gave to the whole region. The chapel of Our Lady of Nazareth, otherwise known as Our Lady la Brune because her image is olive brown in colour, is located in Barroux which is in the diocese of Vaison. It is venerated not only by reason of the site’s antiquity but also because of the great miracles that have been occurring here on a daily basis and also because of the remarkable victory over the Iconoclasts in our own day. At the beginning of the troubles in the County of Venaissain, the heretics seized the villages along with the town and the château of Barroux. They then lit a great bonfire where they tossed all the papers and legal documents of the Church and the Chapel, along with wooden statues and any other images they could find. They had the satisfaction (which would later cost them most dearly) of seeing all the images of the Saints reduced to ash – with the exception of Our Lady’s statue which the flames were unable to destroy despite the best efforts of the sacrilegious vandals, although it did suffer one or two cracks. Once these troubles were over, the statue was put back in place and Our Lady received great veneration by crowds of the faithful coming from all parts. There have been frequent miracles thanks to the intercession of the Mother of Mercy, especially towards those, for instance, suffering from the “falling evil” or epilepsy, from heart problems, from dizziness, from “goulette” (which is a violent fluxion causing suffocation in babies), and such like illnesses. The normal practice for those seeking help from the Virgin was to offer up their prayers in the Chapel on the five principal feasts of the Virgin. It would often happen that as soon as they entered Barroux, or even while they were praying in the Chapel, they would experience a violent episode in their illness for the last time before being delivered completely from their condition from that point on. It was also common for still-born infants to regain life or, at the least, to show sufficient signs of life to receive along with Baptism their inheritance as children of God.

Footnotes

[1] The French text has Montdevergnes but this would seem to be a misprint for Montdevergues, which derives from mons virginum, the "hill of virgins," referring to a convent once located on the summit.

OUR LADY OF THE PLAIN, OUR LADY OF THE ISLE, OUR LADY DE MONTAIGU & OUR LADY OF BOURG-DIEU

 41   In Dauphiné mention may be made of the Churches in Embrun, Grenoble, Die and others which are all filled with the holy Spirit; but a great many people visit a Church called Our Lady of the Plain which is in the middle of a beautiful stretch of fertile countryside and is cared for by Sisters of the Benedictine order. Just under a league away from Vienne we come to the Church called Our Lady of the Isle where devotion has started to grow again recently as the Religious of the Society of Jesus who are now in residence have begun to introduce improvements. Crossing the  Rhône and entering Vivarais, we come to Tournon where we may note the devotion apparent in the Church of the College of the same Society, in the Chapel of Our Lady of Montaigu. Crowds flock here from all parts and their fervent prayers are an unmistakeable sign of the the favours granted there. In Forez not far from  Saint-Germain-Laval, there is a beautiful Church of Our Lady which is located in the middle of a large field. It is frequently  thronged by people coming from all over, either in processions or as individuals, praying for rain or good weather depending on what their land needs according to the season of the year. 

In Berry near Bourges on the river Indre, we find the ancient Abbey of Our Lady of Bourg-Dieu, mother house for forty-three Priories and which is at present a Collegiate Church. It was founded long ago in honour of the most glorious Virgin by Elbon, lord of Berry and son of Lambert, who was one of those with Charlemagne's army at Roncevaux. It was subsequently re-established around 1095 and dedicated by Urban II. The miracles reported here have been so numerous that the Church of Bourges nowadays commemorates them every year on the last day of May. The following example is well worth recounting. It happened around the year 1202 and was recorded in writing by a credible eye-witness[1]. 

A woman was prostrate before the stone statue of the Holy Virgin and was offering fervent prayers to the Queen of heaven when two men arrived, full of fury and profanity. They not only mocked the woman but also uttered blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin and their verbal assaults went further for they threw a large stone against the statue and it broke the arm of the infant Jesus. Those who were witnesses to this outrage saw blood coming from the wound whereupon the wicked man who had done this dropped down dead on the spot. His companion in crime wanted to remove the body but was seized by the evil spirit therein and the very next day he too was called before God to render an account for his misdeeds. In the meantime, the news of this miracle had spread far and wide and the Church was soon packed with people of all conditions, coming from all parts to see what had happened. Then, in the presence of this great multitude of people, something happened even more miraculous than what I have described thus far. They saw Our Lady’s statue break with her own hands the necklace she was wearing and then she rent her garment and exposed her breast in token of just how much she hated the wicked sacrilege of the man who had made so bold as to attack her beloved Son. It is impossible to overstate how much this served to renew and increase the devotion of all the people in that locality where the MOTHER OF GOD produced signs so evident of her presence and her maternal affection for all her children.

Footnotes

[1] Auctor speculi historiarum.

OUR LADY OF FOURVIÈRE, OUR LADY OF L’ÎLE-BARBE, OUR LADY OF VALFLEURY, ETC.

In the great and prosperous city of Lyon, we discover the ancient Church called Our Lady of Fourvière. It is located on the highest point and is like a fortress for this city where devotion has been on the increase in recent years. There are numerous other Churches here dedicated to the glorious Virgin and particular mention must be made of the Church of the College of the Trinity (belonging to the Society of Jesus) where there is a wonderful little Chapel where the people of Lyon offer their prayers to Our Lady of Montaigu and very frequently experience favourable help from the Empress of Heaven.

About a quarter of a league from Lyon is the ancient Abbey called Our Lady of l’île-Barbe which was founded by the Emperor Charlemagne and benefited greatly from the masses of people of the locality who went there to show their devotion. 

Seven leagues from Lyon is the famous place of pilgrimage known as Our Lady of Valfleury. This name was chosen[1] because the statue of the Virgin now on the Chapel’s high altar was found by shepherds at this location, hidden among broom plants which were in flower even though it was nearly Christmas. When visiting this holy Chapel, I heard a wonderful story which bears repeating.

Some years ago, a man who had not the power of speech came to offer his devout prayers silently to Our Lady of Valfleury. He was miraculously cured after his novena of prayers and received the power to speak and to express himself. The miracle did not stop there for he had made a vow that if he received the power of speech he would return every year at the same time to pay his homage to the Holy Virgin in her Chapel at Valfleury, and that if should fail to do so he would immediately be struck dumb again and not recover his speech until he kept his promise. This indeed happened on several occasions because of various accidents which meant he was unable to come. In the whole of the country around Valfleury there is no-one who does not know what I have just recounted to you.

Seven leagues from Lyon in the direction of the Auvergne, you have the Montromant pilgrimage. Eight leagues from the same city is Our Lady of Pity. Nine leagues from Saint-Clermont is Our Lady of Cézelle.  Close to Bourg-en-Bresse, the provincial capital, is the magnificent Church called Our Lady of Brou, begun by Marguerite of Bourbon and completed by Marguerite of Austria, both of whom were duchesses of Savoy. Just under a league from Belleville may be found the ancient Church and château of Our Lady of Montmerle, presently cared for by Minim Fathers.

Footnotes

[1] Valfleury = val fleuri: i.e., a small valley with flowers.

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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

© Peter Bloor 2024