An apparition in France over 300 years ago…
Is finally approved…
I have never heard of the apparitions of Notre Dame de Laus. They occurred in the 17th century in the French Alps, to a young shepherdess, Benoîte Rencurel, and continued on and off for fifty four years. At times on a daily basis, at other times separated by weeks and months. For many who thought the “unprecedented” duration and frequency of the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje indicated that they may be false, news of this apparition may change some minds. How providential!
I found this message from the events at Notre Dame de Laus:
… At Laus, France, when Benoîte Rencurel [1647-1718] a modest shepherdess and a Dominican tertiary enjoyed apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary for some 50 years. These apparitions have been recognized by the Church and Laus has become a fairly important place of pilgrimage up to our time. The Holy Virgin granted many graces of conversion there.5
In Abbé Roger de Labriolle’s book, Benoîte, La bergère de Notre Dame de Laus6, on page 7, we may read the following account of an event which occurred in 1668.
One of the punishments suffered by Benoîte merits being underlined in our ecumenical era. She was taking a child to be baptized at Remollon, where some Huguenots (i.e. Protestants) asked her if she believed that they were able to save themselves in their religion. ‘I leave that to the judgment of God’, she replied.
The Virgin - Gaillard affirms - corrected her saying that she had too much human respect and that she had not told the truth, because, if she had said no, some of them would have been converted. This they have not done.
As a penance she did not appear to Benoîte for a month. It was no doubt a matter of pastoral tact which did not involve a truth of the faith.
We will leave the responsibility for the last sentence with the author. - Source
Links:
French Alpine Shrine Gets Vatican Approval
(Thanks to Danielle for the story.)
May 5th, 2008 at 8:57 am
This is what I was thinking when I saw the 2,500 Apparitions. Those who were against Medjugorje, this was one of their major criticisms.
Frankly, I never understood what they were saying. It was like there was some hidden law that the Blessed Mother could not appear so many times. Who Says?
May 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Juan - my biggest problem with Medjugorje has been the frequency and duration of the visions, as well as the criticism of churchmen. This apparition of Our Lady of Laus is very similar in many ways and causes me to be more humble in my judgements. What pride on my part to think I could know anything about the veracity of Medjugorje.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:09 am
That’s why we need to follow the lead of the bishops, who have said there’s no evidence of anything supernatural at Medjugorje.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Would the criticism of churchmen be a sign of a false apparition or an authentic one? (How many mystics in the Church were not persecuted by the church authorities? If someone similar to Joan of Arc appeared again, would the church authorities go along with her? I think not.
The frequency and duration are easy to see. This world has the A-Bomb now. We’ve been through two world wars, a third would be apocalyptic. So how can one possibly believe that there is not something like Medjugorje in this world?
The traditional view is possibly that she appears a few times and then goes back to heaven with a nice message. But see that kind of nice “angelic story” is not going to stop the hordes of hell against the church that we can see the edges reported in the blogs every day.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Terry,
Meditate, think about this question.
Do we need Medjugorje?
It’s already for sure it’s an ongoing situation. So, if true, her presence is continual, calling, etc. And one think if the world is really that bad or has it been just as bad in times past. Can humanity take or leave Medjugorje? Can the Church?
May 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
One more time:
If Medjugorje was found to be definitively false, and the children claimed that they made up the whole thing!
Do we need Medjugorje?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Terry, Did you notice that Our Lady said Laus would gain attention as the “end times” near?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Thanks Juan - you are such a joy to Our Lady - I’m convinced of it.
Susan - I didn’t read that, but I believe it - it just strikes me as so odd they would approve the matter after 300 years when we all could have gone on without knowing about it. Personally, I attach great importance to this.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I went to Medjugorje back in 1987! I felt such a wonderful peace there and I think it gave me the courage to follow my vocation! All of these apparitions are an ongoing miracle and a reminder of the providence of God. Let’s continue to pray that we might be open to really receive the blessings that they offer us. God bless! Padre Steve, SDB
May 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
And look at this quote.
“Tell the Vicar General that he can very well make God come down from Heaven by the power he received when he became a priest, but he has no commands to give the Mother of God.”
http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/laus.htm
One thing the Medjugorje Critics had was a Litmus Test when the Bishop in Medjugorje called on everyone involved to stop. The Critics said that if Mary was really appearing, she would obey the Bishop. I saw something from JPII where the “litmus test” would actually go against the Church.
However, with this little quote it looks like their “Litmus Test” even here just went up in smoke.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Terry, I read your two comments with great sympathy. I’ve never been a great believer in Medjugorje, but have been quite interested in them. But if the apparitions of Notre Dame de Laus are true, that certainly would give credence to those of Medjugorje.
But. . . .
I am suspicious of a diocesan Bishop giving his “imprimatur” to Notre Dame de Laus after almost 400 years. Is this an economically deprived area that could use a “jobs program?”
I would like to see somebody in the Vatican concurring. Although I have been told on Fr. Z’s blog that that is not necessary for public veneration to be authorized.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I agree wholeheartedly with Jeffrey’s comment on this being precisely the reason we need our bishops and the Holy Father - so that they may prudently make these judgements for us. These matters are for them to discern and for us to obey. Personally, I give no ear whatsoever to any apparition/message/etc unless its been approved by the Church. You cannot possibly go wrong in this way. There has been no time when our Blessed Mother showed anything but respect and deference to the local ordinary - we ought to follow her holy example. Amen+
May 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Sanctus - I’m with you.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
This is the last thing I want to say on this here.
Sanctus Belle, your thinking is not in line with the Church. You are thinking your view is Safe. The Pope is always safe but not necessarily a Bishop. A Bishop could theoretically have you worshipping the devil himself. Hence one of the dangers of your assumption.
What the Church wants is the “Obedience of Faith” where we obey the Lord whether in an apparition or another revelation as he reveals Himself to us. If one waits, then this is not the “Obedience of Faith” which is in both scripture and the teaching of the Magisterium.
Then look at this from the LAUS story.
“A few members of the metropolitan Chapter who were prejudiced against Laus took advantage of the authority they exercised in the interim to issue an interdict against the holy girl; they posted their document on the doors of the cathedral of Embrun, and threatened with excommunication any priest who celebrated Mass in the Laus chapel. They also posted a sign on the church door at Laus forbidding public devotions on the site. The Blessed Virgin commanded Benoite, “Remove that paper… and let Mass be said here as it was before.” She was obeyed.”
http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/laus.htm
It says they had legitimate interim authority? That would be interesting to investigate further.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Terry
As sf mentions…In the article from The Remnant Mr. Matt talks of a prediction of “End Times” when Laus re-surfaces. Could you please ask him where he gets this prediction..Benoite or where does it come from? It is causing a huge amount of speculation on the internet, and I believe you know Mr. Matt.PLEASE post the result.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
“These apparitions are the last apparitions of the Blessed Virgin on earth. That is why they are lasting so long and occurring so frequently.”
Tomislav Vlasic’s Letter to Pope John Paul II
http://www.medjugorje.ws/en/articles/medjugorje-priests/tomi slav-vlasic-letter-pope-john-paul-ii/