Historical Chronology of the Missionaries of La Salette:
On September 19, 1846, Our Lady appeared to two small children on the mountain of LaSalette in the French Alps. There, she gave them a message for the world to hear and follow. Our Lady tells children to "Make my message known".
- 1846 Sept 19: The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at La Salette in France. (depiction right)
- 1847 Sept 19: at least 30,000 pilgrims go to the mountain. In November and December, the bishop hosts a gathering where eight conferences are given on the truth of La Salette.
- 1850 Sept 25 Maximin meets the Cure of Ars
- 1851 Bishop de Bruillard publishes the Doctrinal Statement of September 19: The apparition is authentic, public worship is authorized, a church will be built on the site of the Apparition.
- 1852 May 25: the laying of the cornerstone of the new church. A community of diocesan missionaries is established called the "Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette".
- 1854 Bishop Ginoulhiac Publishes a Doctrinal Statement confirming Bishop de Bruillard's decisions and refuting objections of the oppositions
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1858 Feb 2: Fathers Archier, Berlioz, Bassan, Buisson and Petit
take their first vows in the bishop's Chapel (depiction to right) La Salettes take first vows - 1860 Father Sylvain-Marie Giraud takes first vows. Widely experienced and a spiritual author he is named master of novices.
- 1865 Father Giraud is elected superior, and he launches the French devotional periodical "Les Annales de Notre-Dame de La Salette"
- 1876 Bishop Fava asks that the Missionaries write new constitutions with each article voted on individually. Father Archier is elected Superior General.
- 1878 Pope Leo XIII invited Bishop Fava and Father Henri Berthier to seek Vatican approval for the Constitutions.
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1879 Fathers Archier, Buissan, Henri Berthier, Jean Berthier, Perrin and Chapuy are the first to take first perpetual vows. The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Saletteassume responsibility for the Norway mission for ten-year duration. Pope Leo XIII approves La Salette rule; April 18: the institute is canonically approved by Pope Leo XIII in Rome; On April 20th and 21st Our Lady of La Salette is crowned and the basilica is consecrated. (depiction to left) - 1881 Laws against the congregations in France take effect against religious schools. The scholastics leaves for Switzerland.
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1892 Fathers Pajot and Vignon find haven at Hartford, Connecticut. The North American experience begins. (see our Seminary, below to left)
- 1896 A La Salette Scholasticate is founded in Rome. In 20 years the number of La Salette sisters has increased from 11 to 150.
- 1899 French La Salette migrate to Madagascar and the Canadian Northwest.
- 1902 The General Administration migrates to Switzerland, then to Italy. The five first La Salette Missionaries arrive in Polan. Father Clement Moussier leaves from the United States to go to Brazil. Marian statue crowned at La Salette
- 1904 Melanie Calvat dies at Altamura.
- 1918 French religious are allowed to reenter France.
- 1926 Final approval of the Constitution by Rome
- 1934 The congregation is divided into provinces: France, Poland, United States, Brazil.
- 1936 La Salette from Poland and the U.S. found a mission in Argentina.
- 1938 La Salette in Switzerland and Liechtenstein become a province.
- 1946 Centennial celebration of the Apparition. Marian Congress in Grenoble. La Salette from Switzerland launch a mission in Angola.
- 1948 La Salette from U.S. launch a mission in the Philippines.
- 1962 La Salette foundation in Italy became a Province.
(Thanks to Fr. Roger Castel, M.S. for the information above)
