La Salette: Apparitions, Message, Prayer
On September 19, 1846, the Holy Virgin appeared to two children on the mountain of La Salette (Isère, France). The apparition was recognized five years later by the Bishop of Grenoble, and a sanctuary developed at the site of the Virgin's visit. Crowds have continued to flock there ever since. The Sanctuary of La Salette is now the second most visited Christian site in France, after Lourdes.
The Apparitions of La Salette
The Visionaries
Mélanie Calvat (14 years old) and Maximin Giraud (11 years old) were two poor, uneducated children. Maximin had lost his mother at 17 months and, mistreated by his stepmother, spent his time outdoors with his dog and goat. Mélanie, on the other hand, was the fourth child in a poor family of ten. From a young age, she was tasked with tending livestock and even begging to bring home some money. At the time of the apparition, she was working for Jean-Baptiste Pra.
Account of the Apparition
On September 19, 1846, the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mélanie and Maximin were tending a herd of cows in the alpine pastures above the village of La Salette, at an altitude of 1,800 meters. Waking from a short nap, they saw a ball of fire about 1 meter in diameter in a small ravine. The light began to swirl and then opened, revealing a figure. The children saw a "Beautiful Lady" sitting with her elbows on her knees, weeping. The Beautiful Lady stood up, approached the children, and said: "Come closer, my children, do not be afraid, I am here to tell you great news." She continued, delivering a long message intended for "all her people!" The Holy Virgin wore a large crucifix at her chest, from which all the light enveloping her and the children emanated. The crucifix was surrounded by a hammer and pincers. The Virgin wore a heavy chain on her shoulders, and her head, waist, and feet were adorned with roses. After delivering her message, the Virgin began to climb the ravine, tracing a large elongated "S." Once she reached the top, she rose gently, remained suspended in the air for a moment, and then gradually disappeared.
Upon returning to the village, the children recounted what they had seen and heard, first to Madame Pra (for whom Mélanie worked) and then to the parish priest. These adults struggled to believe the incredible story, but the people were deeply moved.
A thorough investigation was opened by the Bishop of Grenoble, Mgr. Philibert de Bruillard. On September 19, 1851, five years after the apparition, he concluded positively: "The apparition of the Holy Virgin to two shepherds on the mountain of La Salette [...] bears within itself all the marks of truth, and the faithful are justified in believing it indubitable and certain." His successor, Mgr. Ginoulhiac, after a new investigation, confirmed these conclusions in 1855. He declared: "The mission of the shepherds is over; the mission of the Church begins."
Message Given by the Virgin Mary at La Salette
Full text of the message:
"Come closer, my children, do not be afraid, I am here to tell you great news. If my people do not submit, I will be forced to let go of my Son's arm. It is so strong and heavy that I can no longer hold it back. For so long I have suffered for you! If I want my Son not to abandon you, I am charged with praying for you without ceasing. But you pay no heed! No matter how much you pray or do, you will never be able to repay the pain I have taken for you. I have given you six days to work, I have reserved the seventh for myself, and you refuse to give it to me. This is what weighs so heavily on my Son's arm. And also, those who drive carts do not know how to swear without putting my Son's name in the middle. These are the two things that weigh so heavily on my Son's arm. If the harvest spoils, it is only because of you. I showed you last year with the potatoes, but you paid no attention. On the contrary, when you found spoiled potatoes, you swore, putting my Son's name in the middle. They will continue to spoil, and this year, by Christmas, there will be none left. (Up to this point, the Beautiful Lady has spoken in French. She anticipates a question from Mélanie and finishes her speech in patois.) You do not understand, my children! I will say it another way. If the harvest spoils... If you have wheat, do not sow it. Whatever you sow, the beasts will eat, and what grows will turn to dust when threshed. A great famine will come. Before the famine, children under seven will tremble and die in the arms of those holding them. Others will do penance through famine. The nuts will be empty, the grapes will rot. (At this moment, Mélanie sees the Beautiful Lady say a few words to Maximin, but she does not hear them. Then it is Maximin's turn to understand that she says a few words to Mélanie, which he does not hear either. Then she continues.) If they convert, the stones and rocks will become heaps of wheat, and the potatoes will be sown in the fields. Do you pray well, my children? - Not much, Madame. Ah! My children, you must pray well, morning and evening, even if you only say an 'Our Father' and a 'Hail Mary.' And when you can do better, say more. In the summer, only a few older women go to Mass. The others work on Sundays all summer, and in the winter, when they have nothing to do, they only go to Mass to mock religion. During Lent, they go to the butcher shop like dogs. Have you not seen spoiled wheat, my children? - No, Madame! But you, Maximin, my child, you must have seen it once, at Coin, with your father. The field's owner told your father to come see his spoiled wheat. You went. Your father took two or three ears in his hand, crushed them, and they turned to dust. On your way back, when you were half an hour from Corps, your father gave you a piece of bread, saying: 'Here, my child, eat bread this year, for I do not know who will eat it next year if the wheat continues like this.' - Ah! Yes, Madame. I remember now. I did not remember earlier. Well, my children, you will pass this on to all my people! Go, my children, make sure to pass it on to all my people!"
Prayer to Our Lady of La Salette
Remember, Virgin of La Salette
"Remember, Virgin of La Salette,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary.
Remember also the pain,
which you constantly endure for your people,
so that in the name of Christ they may be reconciled with God.
And see if, after having done so much for your children,
you can now abandon them!
Comforted by your tenderness,
Mother, we come to you in supplication,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude.
Do not reject our prayers,
O Reconciling Virgin,
but turn our hearts to your Son:
grant us the grace to love Jesus above all else,
and to console you
by a life given for the glory of God
and the love of our brothers. Amen.
V. Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of Sinners,
R. Pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to you."
Discover many beautiful prayers to Mary on Hozana!
With Hozana, Pray and Live the Calls of the Virgin Mary!
- to "enter into the Joy of the Kingdom!" With this novena, let Mary speak to your heart to bring the Kingdom of Heaven into your life and discover its profound joy!
- . It was through the recitation of the rosary that the Immaculate Conception entered into a relationship with Bernadette Soubirous. You too can discover this powerful prayer that unites us with the Virgin Mary.
- If you are struggling and suffering, entrust the knots of your life to the one who can do all things with the Lord!
