Benoîte Rencurel: Visionary of Le Laus - Life, Quotes, and Prayers
For 54 years, the Virgin Mary appeared to a woman named Benoîte Rencurel, beginning when she was a young girl in the Alps not far from Gap. Benoîte Rencurel would become Mary's messenger, and would pursue this mission to the end of her saintly life. Since then, the Our Lady of Laus shrine has continued to welcome large numbers of pilgrims, many of whom receive graces.
"I asked my Son for Laus and He granted it to me", the Virgin Mary to Benoîte.
Benoîte's childhood
In the Alpine village of Saint-Etienne d'Avançon, a little girl named Benoîte was born in 1647. Her parents Guillaume and Catherine Rencurel were a pious couple who already had a little girl named Madeleine. A third daughter, Marie, joined the family. The Rencurel family had little money and lived very simply in the village.
Benoîte grew up in the faith, and was a humble, generous and spontaneous little girl, much loved by her father.
When Benoîte was just 7, tragedy struck when her father died. She lost the man who had loved her so dearly. Her mother found in her family the strength of hope to overcome her grief.
She was a pious girl with a great desire for heaven and the Virgin Mary. In her teens, she asked for a rosary. Her love for the Virgin was strengthened by a sermon preached by the village priest. The next day, Benoîte saw Our Lady.
Apparitions of the Virgin
At the age of 17, Benoîte was tending sheep in the Vallon des Fours, not far from her village. It was here that the Virgin Mary first appeared to her. Benoîte could neither read nor write. For four months, the Virgin taught the young girl daily. On August 29, 1664, Our Lady revealed her identity: "I am the Virgin Mary, the Mother of my most dear son."
Then, for a month, the Virgin made no further manifestations. At the end of September 1664, the Virgin Mary appeared to her again, but on the opposite side of the valley in Pindreau. During this apparition, Mary asked the visionary: "Go to Laus, where you'll find a chapel exhaling good odors, and there you'll speak to me very often." The Virgin showed her the way, and Benoîte obeyed and set off for the chapel.
Benoîte's mission at the sanctuary of Laus
The Lady-in-Law explained to the young girl what her mission at Laus would be: to build a church and a house for priests, as Laus was a sanctuary of refuge for fishermen.
To carry out her mission, Benoîte settled at Laus. Life was not easy for her, but she took the time to welcome pilgrims. From 1665 onwards, there was a huge influx of pilgrims, and the diocesan inquiry in Embrun began, as did the visits of various personalities to investigate the shrine.
Benoîte was particularly fond of taking refuge in the chapel and praying to Our Lady, who always appeared to her, as the apparitions lasted 54 years.
In 1671, Benoîte was ill but refused the operation the surgeon wanted to perform and went to the confessional.
The Virgin Mary was not the only one to appear to Benoîte. She was also tormented by the Devil between 1688 and 1691. At the Chapel of the Precious Blood, she also had 5 visions of Jesus on the Cross. All this made the sanctuary of Laus a place rich in graces and blessed by heaven.
But Benoite was not always well helped and supported in her mission. The priests were not always sympathetic and sometimes left her out in the cold.
Tired from all these struggles, not always well nourished because she put her health aside, Benoite died joyfully on December 28, 1718.
Although the pilgrimage was authorized in 1665, the apparitions were not officially recognized by the Church until May 2008. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI recognized the heroic virtues of the messenger of Laus. She is therefore venerable, pending a miracle for her beatification.
Prayer for the beatification of Benoîte Rencurel
"God our Father, through the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Laus, you made Benoîte Rencurel an instrument in the service of Your mercy and the conversion of sinners. I pray to you for her beatification. Following in her footsteps, give me the gentleness of Mary, make me a being of prayer, nourished by Your word and Your sacraments. Help me to recognize myself as a sinner, to open myself up to Your mercy and become a peaceful, joyful witness to Your love. Grant me, in the midst of life's difficulties, to know how to persevere in trust. Teach me to share. Grant me to comfort and console those in sorrow. I beg you to grant me, through the intercession of Benoîte Rencurel, the grace to.... Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. "
Pray to the Virgin Mary with Hozana
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