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Summary
Benoite Rencurel, a poor shepherdess, was born in 1647. The Virgin Mary started appearing to her in 1664 and continued visiting her throughout the rest of her life. Rencurel died in 1718.
During the apparitions, the Blessed Mother asked for a church and a house for priests to be built, with the intension of drawing people to greater conversion, especially through the sacrament of penance. The holy site now draws 120,000 pilgrims annually. Numerous physical healings have also been associated with
the site, especially when oil from a lamp is applied on the wounds according to the directives the Virgin Mary gave to Rencural. |
Photo Gallery
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images from Laus.
| Sept 16, 1647 |
Benoite (Benedicta) Rencurel is born in Saint-Étienne d'Avançon (in the southern French Alps). |
| 1654 |
Benedicta's father dies. The family suffers financial difficulties with creditors. |
| May 1664 |
Benedicta encounters an elderly man, St. Maurice, who tells her to take her flock of sheep to the valley above Saint-Étienne where she will see the Mother of God. |
| May 1664 |
Benedicta was caring for the animals of some neighbors and praying the rosary when she saw a dazzling lady standing on a rock, holding a beautiful child in her arms. “Beautiful Lady!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing up there? Do you want to eat with me? I have some good bread which we can soften up at the fountain.” The girl’s simplicity brought a smile to the Lady’s face, but she said nothing. “Beautiful Lady! Could you give us that child? He would make us so happy.” The Lady smiled again without responding. After remaining a few minutes with Benedicta, she took the child in her arms and disappeared into a cave.
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For four months, the Lady appeared to Benedicta every day, talking to her and preparing her for her future mission. Benedicta told the woman
who owned the flock that she cared for about the visions, but she did not believe her. One day, however, the woman secretly followed her to
the Fours valley. She didn’t see the vision, but she did hear Mary’s voice, who told Benedicta to warn her that her soul was in danger. “She
has something on her conscience,” Mary said. “Tell her to do penance.” The woman was deeply moved by the message, returned to the
sacraments and lived piously for the rest of her days. |
Aug 29, 1664 |
Benedicta asked the Lady what her name was. She replied, “My name is Mary.” |
| 1664-1665 |
During the winter, Benedicta went up to Laus frequently, each time receiving a vision of the Blessed Mother, who told her to
“pray continuously for sinners.” News of the apparitions spread throughout the entire region. |
| Sept 18, 1665 |
The apparitions were officially recognized by the diocese and that fall, construction began on a small church to receive the hundreds of pilgrims coming to visit. |
| 1669-1679 |
Benedicta received five visions of the suffering Christ. On a Friday in July of 1673, the suffering Jesus told her: “My
daughter, I show myself in this state so that you can participate in my Passion.” She received the seals of mystical union with Christ, the holy stigmata. |
| Dec 28, 1718 |
After more than two decades of living lived as a hermit on the site of the apparitions and suffering and continual apparitions of the Blessed Mother, Benedicta received Communion on Christmas Day 1718. Three days later she made a confession, received the last rites and around 8p.m. said goodbye to those around her. Benedicta then kissed a crucifix and passed away peacefully. |
1855 |
Pope Pius IX celebrated the coronation of the Virgin Mary at the hand of the Cardinal of Bordeaux. |
| May 4, 2008 |
Bishop Jean-Michel de Falco of Gap officially approved the apparitions: “I recognize the supernatural origin of the apparitions and the events and words experienced and narrated by Benedicta Rencurel. I encourage all of the faithful to come and pray and seek spiritual renewal at this shrine." |
Messages
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to read the messages of Laus.
Mary revealed herself in Laus as the reconciler and refuge of sinners, and therefore she offered signs to convince them of the need to repent. She told Benedicta that the oil from the sanctuary lamp would work miracles with the infirm if they received the anointing with faith in her intercession.
Benedicta took the mission she received from Mary seriously and dedicated herself to preparing sinners to receive the sacrament. She encouraged the two priests at the shrine to receive penitents with charity and kindness in order to help them convert.
Mary asked Benedicta to admonish women and girls about living lives of scandal, especially those who commit abortion, the unjust wealthy and the perverse. She also encouraged priests and religious to be faithful to their vows.
Miracles and Signs
During the apparitions, the Blessed Mother asked for a church and a house for priests to be built, with the intension of drawing people to greater conversion, especially through the sacrament of penance. The holy site now draws 120,000 pilgrims annually. Numerous physical healings have also been associated with the site, especially when oil from a lamp is applied on the wounds according to the directives the Virgin Mary gave to Rencural.
Approval
During a Mass on May 4, 2008, attended by Roman Curia officials, Bishop Jean-Michel de Falco of Gap noted these are the first Marian apparitions to be approved in the 21st century by the Vatican and the Church in France. He called it the most singular event to take place in France since the apparitions of Lourdes in 1862.
“I recognize the supernatural origin of the apparitions and the events and words experienced and narrated by Benedicta Rencurel. I encourage all of the faithful to come and pray and seek spiritual renewal at this shrine,” the bishop said.
In this homily Mass broadcast throughout the country by France-2 Television, the bishop said, "344 year ago, Our Lady chose to address a simple shepherdess to open the way of penitence and conversion, to invite pilgrims to reconcile themselves with the world and with God."
Read official Church statements about the apparitions at Le Laus.
Books
R. de la Briolle, Benoite, la bergiere de Notre Dame du Laus, Saint Etienne du Laus, 1967, 304 p.;
R. de la Briolle, Histoire critique du pelerinage Notre Dame du Laus et de la vie de Soeur Benoite Recurel, Laus, 1977, 4 volumes mimeographed.
Links
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Laus (French)
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