Our Lady of Hope / Madonna of the Crucifix
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Summary
During the devastation of the Franco-Prussian War, Mary appeared
on a farm to students at the nearby convent school. Mary's message
was written on a banner that unfurled from her feet: "But pray
my children. God will hear you in a short time. My Son allows Himself
to be moved by compassion." |
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Timeline
| Jan 17, 1871 |
Eugene Barbedette (12) encounters a beautiful lady suspended
in air above a neighboring house. The nearby adults could not see
anything but when Francoise Richer (11) , Jeanne-Marie Lebosse (9),
Eugene Friteau (6) all claim to see the woman, a nun in the crowd,
Sister Marie Edouard, leads everyone in prayer. |
| Jan 17, 1871 |
The Prussians halt their advance across France when the Prussian
commander encounters an "invisible Madonna barring the way" |
| May 10, 1871 |
A peace treaty is signed between France and Prussia. |
| Feb 2, 1872 |
Mgr Casimir-Alexis-Joseph Wicart, Bishop of Laval, declares: "We judge that
the Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, has truly appeared on January
17th, 1871, to Eugene Barbedette, Joseph Barbedette, Francoise Richer,
and Jeanne-Marie Lebosse, in the hamlet of Pontmain."
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October 1900 |
The church was consecrated. |
1905 |
Pope Pius X elevated the Sanctuary to the status of a basilica. |
September 1908 |
The Basilica of Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain was solemnly dedicated in the presence of two archbishops, four bishops, six hundred priests and 1,500 pilgrims. |
Dec 18-20, 1920 |
One of the seers, Jeanne-Marie Leboeuf, who became a religious, retracted herself on . She said: "I lied. I never saw the apparition." The retraction was held secret until in 1971 it was discovered by Fr. Renee Laurentin. |
1932 |
Pope Pius XI confirmed the decision of the Episcopal court and granted a Mass and Office proper to our Lady of Hope of Pontmain. |
July 16, 1932 |
Cardinal Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, passes a decree from the Chapter of St. Peter's Basilica that the statue of the Mother of Hope be solemnly honored with a crown of gold. |
July 24, 1934 |
The statue of Our Lady is crowned in the presence of archbishop, bishops, priests and the laity by Cardinal Verdier, Archbishop of Paris |
Photo Gallery
Click here to view
images from Pontmain.
Messages
A white scroll appeared under the Lady's feet and words of gold
started to form on them: "But pray, my children". In the next
phrase, a larger cross appeared in her hands and a banner with the name
of Christ hung from it. Yet another sentence appeared on the scroll: "God
will soon grant your request." In the final phrase, a third sentence
appeared on the scroll, "My Son allows himself to be moved."
Description of the Virgin
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Our Lady wore a blue robe embroidered with numerous golden stars.
On her head she had a black veil and a gold crown and on her feet
blue shoes with gold ribbons. The Lady was tall and beautiful and
looked about eighteen; "smiles of ineffable sweetness played
about her mouth." When the cross with Christ appeared in her
hands, Joseph Barbedette recalled that "her face was marked
with a deep sorrow... the trembling of her lips at the corners of
her mouth showed deep feeling... But no tears ran down her cheeks."
The apparition was motionless at first for the inital two hours.
After the Rosary began to be prayed, a small red cross appeared
over heart and a blue oval frame with four candles appeared around
her while the stars in her robe seemed to increase. When the Magnificat
was prayed, she elevated her hands with the palms outward in a protective
gesture. The candles in the oval frame were lit by a a star, and
when the Lady lowered her hands, two white crosses appeared on her
shoulders. When the parish priest began his prayers, a white veil
rose from beneath her feet and covered her until she disappeared.
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Miracles and Signs
At 5:30 on the night of the apparition to the children, the Prussian
army halted their advance through France when the Prussian commander claimed
to have seen an image of the Lady in the sky. General Schmidt reported:
"We cannot go any further. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany,
there is an invisible Madonna barring the way." A peace treaty between
France and Prussia was signed eleven days later. All the soldiers from
Pontmain returned unharmed.
Approval of the Church
Casimir-Alexis-Joseph Wicart, Bishop of Laval, immediately requested a detailed inquiry after the events occurred and came personally to Pontmain to question people. Other investigations and questioning took place subsequently, but on February 2nd 1872, by means of a very definite canonical act, the Bishop gave his decision. He recognised the authenticity of the apparition, approved the cult of our Lady of Hope of Pontmain and called for the building of a sanctuary.
IHe declared: "We judge that
the Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, has truly appeared on January 17th,
1871, to Eugene Barbedette, Joseph Barbedette, Francoise Richer, and Jeanne-Marie
Lebosse, in the hamlet of Pontmain."
Pope Pius XI gave a final decision regarding the mass and office in honor of Our Lady of Hope of Pont-Main.
The feast of Our Lady of Pontmain is celebrated on the anniversary of the first apparition, January 17th.
Shrines
Pastoral Center of the Shrine
Our Lady of Pontmain
3, rue Notre-Dame
53220 Pontmain
France
Tel: 011 (33) 243.05.07.26
Email: contact@sanctuaire-pontmain.com
Website: Sanctuary of Pontmain - The Official Website
Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain Chapel
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
(Funds for this chapel were donated by Bob Hope and his wife Dolores.)
Prayers
Novena To Our Lady of Hope
I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth; in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come to me all that desire me and be filled with my fruits (Sirach 24:24-26).
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Grace, Hope of the world.
Hear us, your children, who cry to you
Let Us Pray
O God, who by the marvelous protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary has strengthened us firmly in hope, grant we beseech You, that by persevering in prayer at her admonition, we may obtain the favors we devoutly implore. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of Hope
O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before you with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fears and temptations of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death.
O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress. You are all-powerful with your Divine Son. He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart. Show yourself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of the Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not you?
Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God's Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus. Beg of His Sacred Heart the special favor that I ask in this novena.
(Make your request.)
But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life's darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Savior, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.
Mary, our Hope, have pity on us.
Hope of the Hopeless, pray for us.
3 Hail Marys
Books
Bessiere, Helene. La prophetie de Notre-Dame à Pont-Main. Montsurs (France): Editions Resiac, 1988.
Foisnet, Chanoine, Auger, Raoul. Notre-Dame de Pontmain. Fleurus
1995
Galvin, Nairn. Pontmain and Marian apparitions. , 1970.
Laurentin, René. Pontmain, histoire authentique. Paris:
Apostolat des editions, P. Lethuelleux, 1970.
Laurentin, René. The apparition at Pont-Main: A short account
for pilgrims. R. Madiot; New ed edition (1987).
Porte, Cheryl A. Pontmain, Prophecy, And Protest: A Cultural-Historical
Study Of A Nineteenth-Century Apparition (American University Studies
Series VII, Theology and Religion). Peter Lang Publishing 2004
Richard, M. What happened at Pontmain. Ave Maria Institute (1971)
Société française d'études mariales. La
figure de Marie, lumière sur la femme: 44e-45e Session de la Société
française d'études mariales, Pontmain, 1988 (La figure de
Marie, lumière sur la femme). O.E.I.L (1989)
Sullivan, Thomas S. Our Lady of Hope: The story of the apparition
at Pontmain : a devotional treatise. Grail Publications (1955)
Windeatt, Mary Fabyan . Our Lady of Pontmain. T A N Books &
Publishers (May, 1992)
Videos
Mary at Pontmain, France
The Woman Clothed With the Sun
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