The Apparition Story ~ Our Lady of La Salette

Summary

On September 19, 1846, two children tending sheep in the French Alps encountered a weeping lady who spoke of the consequences of the people's lack of faith and piety. She warned of a great famine and urged them to pray and attend mass. The children's story of the apparition at La Salette led to a thorough investigation, miraculous cures, and a spiritual revival among the people, culminating in the bishop's recognition of the event as authentic in 1851.

Takeaways

• 📅 On September 19, 1846, two children, Maximin Giraud (age 11) and Melanie Calvat (age 14), experienced an apparition in the French Alps.
• 🏞️ The children were tending sheep in a region that had been deeply affected by the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and increasing secularization.
• 🕊️ They encountered a weeping lady, who was dressed in a distinctive way with a golden crucifix and a crown, seated on a rock and crying.
• 👼 The lady spoke to them in their local dialect, expressing sorrow and concern for the people's lack of religious observance and moral decay.
• ⏳ She warned of dire consequences if the people did not change their ways, including a great famine and the spoiling of crops.
• 🌾 The apparition connected the observance of the Sabbath with the health of the land, indicating that the lack of respect for the Lord's day was causing the problems.
• 🙏🏼 The lady instructed the children to pray regularly, emphasizing the importance of daily prayers like 'Our Father' and 'Hail Mary'.
• 🌱 A miraculous spring of water emerged from the rock where the apparition had been seated, which led to reported healings and increased faith.
• 🔍 The event was investigated by church and government officials, with the children maintaining their story despite threats.
• 🛐 The apparition led to a significant spiritual revival in the region, with people returning to church, confessing their sins, and observing the Sabbath.
• ✝️ On September 19, 1851, Bishop Puyat declared the apparition to be of supernatural origin, marking a significant conversion for the people.

Q & A

What significant event is described in the script that took place on September 19, 1846?

On September 19, 1846, two children named Maximin Giraud and Melanie Calvert claimed to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary while tending sheep in the French Alps.

How did the French Revolution and the subsequent events affect the faith of the people in the parish of La Salette?

The French Revolution and the events that followed, including the rule of Napoleon and the increasing secularization of society, led to a decline in religious observance. Fewer people attended mass, and the sacraments were neglected in the parish of La Salette.

What were the backgrounds of the two children, Maximin Giraud and Melanie Calvert, who claimed to have seen the apparition?

Both Maximin and Melanie came from poor families with little to no religious education. Melanie started working at age seven and had no schooling, while Maximin's mother had died, and he had little religious education due to his dislike for his stepmother.

What did the children see when they approached the brilliant light that was brighter than the sun?

The children saw a beautiful lady seated on a rock, crying with her face in her hands. She was wearing a headdress topped by a loosened crown, a dress with beams of light, and slippers edged with roses, and she had a golden crucifix around her neck.

What message did the lady in the vision convey to the children?

The lady in the vision told the children that she had suffered for them and that if they did not obey, she would be compelled to let go of her son's arm, which was heavy and pressing. She also warned of a great famine and the consequences of their sins.

What were the specific warnings given by the lady in the vision regarding the consequences of the people's actions?

The lady warned that if the people did not convert, there would be a great famine, the potatoes would rot, and the children under 7 years of age would tremble and die in their parents' arms. She also mentioned that the graves would rot and the walnuts would turn back.

How did the people react to the children's story of the apparition?

Initially, several pious people believed the children's story to be an apparition of the Blessed Mother. The children were sent to the parish priests of La Salette, and the government officials began an investigation, during which the children maintained their story despite threats of imprisonment.

What miraculous event occurred at the site of the apparition during the investigation?

During the investigation, when someone broke off a piece of the rock on which the lady had sat, a spring of water emerged in a place that was previously dry, except for when the snows were melting.

What happened to the woman who was suffering from a long-term serious illness after she drank the water from the spring?

The woman, who was suffering from a long-term serious illness, was given some of the water from the spring. She drank a little of the water each day as she prayed the Novena, and on the ninth day, she was cured.

What was the outcome of the investigation into the apparition by Bishop Bruija?

Bishop Bruija initiated a thorough investigation into the apparition. More miraculous cures occurred during this time, and people started to attend mass faithfully and confess regularly, returning to a pious and devotional life. Pilgrimages to the site became increasingly popular.

What conclusion did Bishop Puyat reach on September 19th, 1851, regarding the apparition?

On September 19th, 1851, Bishop Puyat determined that the apparition bore all the marks of truth and that the faithful were justified in believing it to be certain and individual. A real conversion of the people had taken place.