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Bronze of Mary speaking with the children, in the actual place of the Apparition, La Salette, France |
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Mosaic of Our Lady of La Salette, previously in Ipswich, MA, Shrine Chapel. |
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Map of Island of La Reunion, in the Indian Ocean |
Ever Since Mary first told the two children – and all the followers of her Son – to make her message known, the message and devotion to Our Lady of La Salette and her message has spread to the four corners of the earth.
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Fr. Fabien Raharilamboniaina (before he became a bishop) with Bp. Gilbert Aubry of La Reunion |
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Our Lady of La Salette speaks with the two children (window: St. Joseph’s Church, Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii) |
It was September 19, 1846. High up in the stillness of a mountain, a little boy and a little girl spotted a whirling globe of dazzling light. A woman was seated on a stone, her face buried in her hands, and her elbows resting on her knees. She was crying.
The two children looked at each other and then at the Beautiful Lady. At first, they thought that she might be a mother who had been beaten by someone and that had come up to the mountain to weep alone. It turned out that she was a mother and while she had not been beaten physically by anyone, she was deeply hurt by the sins and offenses heaped upon her Son by her earthly children.
Suddenly, the Beautiful Lady arose. The two small children startled, began to move away. But the Lady beckoned them with tender and powerful words, “Come near my children, do not be afraid.”
Learning to Trust
Some time ago, I found a wonderful story in Cardinal Suenens’ book, “Christian Life Day by Day.” This was the story of a roaring fire that started very quietly one night in a house. The moment the flames broke out, the mother, father and children came rushing out and stood gazing in despair at the sight of their home engulfed in flames.
Suddenly, they noticed that the youngest child, a little boy of five, was missing. He had been frightened by the smoke and flames, and just as they were leaving the house he had turned back and run upstairs again. They all looked at each other. There was no possibility of venturing into what was already beginning to be a blazing inferno. Then upstairs a window opened. The little boy was calling for help.
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Painting of a bronze of Our Lady of La Salette
in Attleboro, MA, by Fr. Alfredo Velarde, M.S., Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Las Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina. |
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27). |
I will allure her now; I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak persuasively to her. (Hosea 2:16)
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Fr. Peter Julian Eymard |
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Pope John Paul II with would-be |
Mélanie and Maximin were frightened by the bright light… |
On the mountain of La Salette, Mary wished to address (speak with) Mélanie and Maximin about prayer. But we should not hesitate to open the Bible without fear! About 800 times, God, throughout scripture, begs us not to be afraid! Jesus asks us: “Why are you afraid? Do you not have any faith in me?”
Mary knows what it means “to fear.” Was she not greatly troubled by the announcement of the angel? But the angel counseled her: “Do not fear, Mary.” In fact, Mary was released from her fears once she had given her consent to Him for whom nothing is impossible. She had faith in God’s word. She had confidence; the loving presence of God in her life dissolved all her fears.
Let there be no doubt – at La Salette, Our Lady came to us with the attitude and love of a mother for her children. At the very beginning of her discourse, she wanted to reassure the two hesitant young witnesses who trembled in fear. She did everything she could – like a good mother who wanted to calm her children. Loving she called to them: “Come near, my children, be not afraid.”
A little later in her discourse the Blessed Virgin realizes that her two small witnesses didn’t understand the French that she spoke. “Ah, my children, you do not understand? Well, wait, I shall say it another way.” Then she continued her discourse in the local dialect of their region.
During her entire message, she shed tears, both surprising and touching the hearts of the two children. Who could remain unimpressed by the sincere tears of a loving mother?
Reading her message again, we hear, loud and clear, that she cared for her children. The incident concerning the field of Coin was in truth just a small detail in the life of Maximin. Her question was simple, “Have you never seen wheat that is spoilt, my children?” They quickly replied, “No, Madam.” When she spoke directly to Maximin about this event, reminding him of the incident, characters, and the words spoken by the owner of the field and by his father, his memory finally awakened. He shyly answered: “Oh yes, Madam, I remember now; just at that moment I didn’t remember.”
This small event, hidden from all except the three concerned is the signature of Mary at her apparition. Only a mother could be concerned about such minute but important details. Only a mother could show such delicacy, attention, and genuinely personal concern. She simply wanted to communicate with her children.