Île Bouchard: Apparitions, Messages, Miracles, Pilgrimage, Prayer
In a tense political context in France, where revolts and sabotage were being carried out by communists or strikers, hostile to the government, which had called on reservists to restore order in the country, the Virgin Mary appeared on the anniversary of the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This marked the beginning of a series of apparitions that would last one week. The young girls were subjected to a battery of interrogations. The apparitions have not been officially recognized by the Church, but veneration has been permitted, as well as the dissemination of the messages given by the Virgin Mary.
History of the Apparitions
The protagonists were four young girls: Jacqueline Aubry, 12 years old; Nicole Robin, her cousin, 10 years old; Laura Croizon, 8 years old; and Jeanne Aubry, Jacqueline’s sister, 7 years old. None of them were particularly pious, except for Jacqueline, who prayed daily to the Virgin in the chapel, alone or accompanied by friends.
First Apparition
Jacqueline went to Saint-Gilles Church to pray to the Virgin, as was her habit, around 1 p.m. on Monday, December 8. She was accompanied by her sister Jeanne and her cousin Nicole. They were reciting a decade of the rosary when suddenly, to their left, "a great light, bright but not dazzling, appeared, and in the midst of it stood a beautiful lady," accompanied by an angel. The other two girls also witnessed this. They left the church, somewhat frightened, and met their friend Laura Croizon and her sister Sergine. They told them what they had seen in the church and decided to return. The Lady and the angel were still there, and Laura saw what her friends had described, but her sister Sergine did not. The children recited prayers, and the Virgin smiled at them before disappearing. Later, the girls decided to return to the church instead of going to their choir rehearsal, and as soon as they knelt before the altar, the Virgin appeared to them again, still accompanied by an angel, who introduced himself as the Archangel Gabriel. She then said to them: "Tell the little children to pray for France, for it is in great need."
The children told their friends what they had seen, as well as the school principal and the parish priest. The latter, though very skeptical, decided to question the children separately and was surprised by the similarity of their testimonies.
Subsequent Apparitions
Each day for a week, the apparitions in the church were renewed before the visionaries, accompanied by an ever-growing crowd.
One day, during a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in Saint-Gilles Church, with Jacqueline as the only visionary present, the Virgin appeared at the altar, visible only to Jacqueline. At the moment of the presentation of the Blessed Sacrament on the altar, the Virgin faded away. The priest, informed of the Virgin’s presence during the service and of her disappearance at the presentation of the sacrament, remarked, "a child could not invent such a thing."
The girls were scolded and called liars by many, including their parents and teachers, while others joined them in prayer in the church, often while the Virgin was present, leading the singing and prayers. The girls were in tears when they were forbidden from going to church to prioritize school, insisting that the Virgin had asked to meet them.
Gradually, the crowd in Saint-Gilles Church grew, reaching 2,000 people packed tightly together, some on ladders and makeshift scaffolding, on the final day. It was then that the solar miracle described below occurred...
Messages and Miracles of Île Bouchard
Messages
The repeated messages of the Virgin at Île Bouchard focused primarily on requests for prayers for France and for sinners. Here are some of her requests and instructions:
"Tell the little children to pray for France, for it is in great need."
"I will tell you a secret that you may reveal in three days: Pray for France, for in these days, it is in great danger."
"Tell the parish priest to build a grotto."
"I did not come here to perform miracles, but to ask you to pray for France."
"I came here because there are pious people here, and in memory of Jeanne Delanoue, who loved you so much and loved to make you pray." (Jeanne Delanoue was a 17th-century nun and founder of a congregation).
Miracles Surrounding the Apparitions
One day, when Jacqueline asked the Virgin for a miracle so that people would believe them, the Virgin replied that she had not come to perform miracles but to ask for prayers for France, which "in these days is in great danger." She added for Jacqueline: "But tomorrow you will see clearly." The next morning, upon waking, Jacqueline noticed that her eyes, which were usually stuck together, were not, and moreover, she could see perfectly without glasses. Her parents knelt and gave thanks. The neighbors were astonished. An ophthalmological examination revealed that Jacqueline’s myopia had completely disappeared.
On the final day of the apparition, when the Virgin had promised, "before I leave, I will send a bright ray of sunshine," and the weather was particularly gloomy and rainy, a ray of sunlight suddenly streamed through a stained-glass window on the right side of the church, flooding part of the nave and the spot where the four girls were standing. Yet, at that time of year, the sun does not enter the church. Additionally, a pillar stood between the window and the spot where the children were, which should have blocked the ray from reaching them. Nevertheless, the girls were bathed in sunlight. Hundreds of witnesses observed this ray, including the parish priests.
By Tuesday, December 9, the day after the first apparition, the political situation eased. The labor unrest, which had been escalating for a month, suddenly found a resolution, and the national strike committee ordered a return to work. The strikes had lasted a month and had violently shaken France. The government had called in the army to restore order. Sabotage had occurred, and deaths were regrettably reported.
Pilgrimages to Our Lady of Île Bouchard
The grotto requested by the Virgin was built according to her instructions, and the Bishop of Tours also authorized pilgrimages, although the Church has never officially recognized the apparitions of Île Bouchard.
On December 8, 2001, the Bishop of Tours officially authorized pilgrimages to Île Bouchard following an investigation. These pilgrimages, as well as the surrounding parishes, are animated by the Emmanuel Community. Pilgrimages are organized annually in September to pray for France.
Relics of Saint John Paul II and Mother Teresa are enshrined in a double reliquary within Saint-Gilles Church.
Prayer to Our Lady of Île Bouchard
Prayer for France
"Lord Jesus, we entrust to you our country, France, and all its inhabitants. We bless you for the many graces you have bestowed upon it, for the variety and beauty of its landscapes, for the saints it has given to the world, for its vocation as the eldest daughter of the Church. May our political leaders be filled with wisdom, may they be selfless and determined to govern with justice and to enact laws that respect life and all people. May they recognize the Christian roots of France. Mary, you who have visited our country many times, you who asked at Île-Bouchard for the little children to 'pray for France,' help us to love our country, to pray for it, and to spread the Gospel of your divine Son. Teach us to remain faithful to the graces of our baptism. Grant us holy vocations to serve the Church, and show us how to say yes to God all our lives. Amen."
Prayer to Holy Mary, Our Lady of Prayer
"You welcomed in faith the message of the angel Gabriel and became the Mother of Jesus, the Only Son of God. Teach us to pray so that we may grow in faith.
At the Visitation, you rejoiced with joy in the Magnificat. Teach us to give thanks to God.
At Cana, you prayed to Christ to provide the wedding wine. Teach us to intercede for our brothers and sisters.
Standing at the foot of the Cross, you suffered with Jesus out of love for sinners. Teach us to welcome the Father’s mercy.
At Pentecost, you prayed with the Apostles when they received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Teach us to ask for the Spirit so that we may bear witness to the Gospel.
You are the Mother of the Church and the Protector of Families. Watch over each of our families. Teach us to love with fidelity.
You are the Mother of humanity and the Patroness of France. Open our country to the universal dimensions of God’s love. Teach us to serve with generosity.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you! Our Lady of Prayer, teach us to pray!"
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!Finally, if you love praying the rosary, which is the Virgin’s greatest request for our time,
