The Pilgrimage of Cotignac
Cotignac is a unique place in Provence where the Holy Family appeared. The first time, on August 10, 1519, the Holy Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus appeared to Jean de la Baume on Mount Verdaille with Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux at their side. This event led to the construction of a church, completed on March 27, 1521, which received many indulgences from Pope Leo X.
A few years later, on November 3, 1637, the Mother of the Savior appears to Brother Fiacre, who relays a message to him intended for the Queen of France.
On February 21, 1660, it was King Louis XIV who went on pilgrimage to Cotignac, showing the importance of this place of devotion.
Only a few months later, on June 7, 1660, Saint Joseph appears to Gaspard Ricard, a thirsty shepherd, on Mount Bessillon.
Cotignac is a place of graces, of spiritual pause, where one can lay at the feet of the Holy Family one's marriage, one's children, one's work, one's joys and sorrows, one's supplications and thanksgivings. Each year, many pilgrimages are organized, for the youngest as well as the oldest.
Pilgrimage for Men, Husbands, and Fathers
"This fraternity of fathers is beautiful, in that it awakens the pilgrims and makes them discover the boldness of being missionary Christians. It is BEAUTIFUL."
- Alexis, pilgrim of Cotignac.
The most famous pilgrimage for fathers is certainly Cotignac. It was created, in 1976, somewhat by chance, by a young father whose wife was experiencing a very difficult pregnancy. The doctors were not optimistic about their baby's health. So, the couple went to Cotignac at the end of winter to pray to the Holy Family there. The future father promises to return, walking from Aix-en-Provence if the delivery goes well. And a little girl, Emmanuelle, was born in perfect health. Her father decides to keep his promise.
In July 1976, accompanied by one of his friends, younger and not yet married, the new father leaves from Aix, heading for Cotignac. His wife and their baby are waiting for them there. The two men leave, without a precise itinerary but with a rosary in hand. They pray on the road to Saint Joseph, the Holy Virgin Mary, and their Son. A few days later, they meet the wife and daughter of the father. They give thanks to God and to Mary for having answered their prayer.
The following year, the father returns to Cotignac, with another friend this time. And, the following year, they are five or six leaving, of different ages and marital and family situations. They entrust on the way everything that concerns them: desire for a child, marriage, work, health, cancer, wayward child, lasting unemployment, wife gone, family conflicts... The pilgrimage of fathers was born. Each year the group grows and, starting in 1982, the pilgrims are welcomed at Notre-Dame de Grâce by the community of the Brothers of Saint John, to whom the sanctuary has been entrusted.
The pilgrimage for men, husbands, and fathers generally takes place late June - early July. The 2024 edition gathered 1900 men and had the theme "My grace is sufficient for you". In 2025, it will take place on July 4, 5, and 6.
Pilgrimage for Women, Wives, and Mothers
After a few years, seeing their husbands leave on pilgrimage to Cotignac, several women decided to also go pray to the Holy Family at the end of a pilgrimage among women only, in order to exchange about their great mission as women, wives, and mothers.
Each year, nearly 1500 women from all corners of France converge, each on their own route, towards the sanctuaries of Cotignac to respond to the invitation of the Holy Virgin Mary: "let them come in procession to receive the gifts I wish to bestow there".
This highlight of the year is an enriching experience to live which allows sharing moments of joy and renewal, under the benevolent and maternal gaze of the Holy Virgin Mary. It allows one to set aside daily life and routine to focus on the essential. All these women come to recharge their batteries, to ask, to give thanks, to take stock, to discern, to be consoled, advised, to give time to God and to carry the entrusted intentions.
The walk (between 15 and 20 kilometers per day, for two or three days) is punctuated by daily Mass, spiritual teachings, times of sung prayer, times of silent walking, convivial times. It is possible to sleep under the stars and bring one's own tent. The group is accompanied by a religious sister and a priest.
Here is the testimony of a mother after the Cotignac pilgrimage:
"It is the 'extraordinary' experience of leaving one's habits, one's comfort (sleeping under the stars, a cat's wash, picnic, no gas, no electricity), of cutting the cords (including that of the phone) to go to the essential: an invitation to live the spirit of poverty.
Like the Holy Family, it is a school of life in simplicity, delicacy, charity, and prayer. It is the great school of abandonment and silence. We come to recharge our batteries, to ask, to give thanks, to take stock, to discern, to be consoled, advised, to draw from the Source, to give time to God and to carry the entrusted intentions."
In 2025, the pilgrimage will take place from May 16 to 18 and from June 13 to 15.
Pilgrimage for Couples
Couples, of all ages, are also invited to come pray at the triply blessed sanctuary of Cotignac. Take the time to recharge, to find each other again as a couple before the Lord, to dialogue, to confide, and to fill up on Love. It is a highlight of sharing, prayer, and hope. Couples are invited to register with one of the routes. Each route walks on its own before meeting at Cotignac on Saturday evening, after two days of walking. On Saturday evening, a prayer vigil is organized. Sunday is a time for sharing and prayer.
In 2025, the pilgrimage will take place from September 19 to 21.
The pilgrimage for couples hoping for children will take place from June 20 to 22. Couples can thus exchange with other couples living the same situation and discern an important choice to make.
Pilgrimage for Singles
Several pilgrimages are organized depending on age. Thus, a pilgrimage for those over fifty is organized in early October 2025, another for those aged 35-50, from November 7 to 11, 2025. Finally, one last one for those aged 25-35, which will be organized from June 6 to 9, 2025. This allows adapting the pilgrimage to the age groups and related expectations. This time of walking, prayer, sharing, teaching, and singing is centered around the theme "You are precious in my eyes... and I love you" (Isaiah 43:4).
Mother-Daughter Pilgrimage
The aim of this pilgrimage is to adapt the model of the pilgrimage for mothers so as to experience it in a mother-daughter pair and thus be able to live an exceptional moment of sharing, gentleness, and prayer, under the Loving gaze of the Holy Family.
The recommended age range for daughters is 15-20.
This pilgrimage will take place on May 3-4, 2025.
Father-Son Pilgrimage
Under the benevolent gaze of the Holy Family, father and son live a privileged moment. The pilgrimage allows them to take time for each other, to pray together or simply side by side in silence, to speak to each other in Truth, to confide, and to share with other fathers and sons.
The recommended age range for boys is 15-20 years old.
In 2025, the father-son pilgrimage will take place on May 24 and 25.
Father-Daughter Pilgrimage
Cotignac also invites fathers and their daughters to walk, pray, place their relationship in the hands of the Holy Family and recharge for two days, under the Lord's benevolent gaze. The recommended age range for young women is 18 and older.
In 2025, the father-daughter pilgrimage will take place on September 6 and 7.
Pilgrimage for Grandparents
From September 11 to 14, 2025, grandparents will also be able to entrust their prayers to the Holy Family. This pilgrimage will certainly allow many of them to find ways to transmit the faith and Love of Christ to their descendants, usually the main concern of grandparents! For three days, they are invited to meditate on the theme of Prayer. Father Paul-Marie Cathelinais, O.P., will accompany them during this beautiful moment of sharing.
Prayer to Our Lady of Graces, who appeared at Cotignac on August 10, 1519
"Mother of divine Grace, in your apparition on Mount Verdaille, you invited us to seek your favors. We hasten with confidence to implore your help. Grant the just perseverance, sad souls consolation, downcast hearts courage and trust, the sick health, sinners repentance and pardon, souls in purgatory relief and deliverance, each of us your maternal protection. We implore above all your assistance at the hour of our death. Be our advocate at God's judgment. We wish to tell you eternally our gratitude in heaven. Our Lady of Graces, pray for us!"
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