Our Lady of Pontmain

The Evening of January 17, 1871

The sky opened… In the barn, the only sound was the conversation between César Barbedette and Jeanne Détais, who had brought some news of the soldiers gleaned at Saint-Ellier where Jeanne had been preparing a corpse for burial. César's son Eugène (12 years old) went out “to check the weather.” It was then that he suddenly noticed up in the sky, above and behind Augustin Guidecoq’s house, a beautiful Lady.

First phase of the apparition

“She has a blue dress with golden stars, gold-ribboned slippers, a golden crown widening towards the top with a red band around it, and a black veil.” The beautiful Lady smiled at him as she did at his brother Joseph (10), who joined him a few moments later, followed by Marie Lebosse (9) and Francoise Richer (11). “Maybe it’s the Virgin Mary” said Victoire, their mother. While the events of the first phase were taking place, other things were happening. Victoire went to fetch Sister Vitaline, who in turn went to fetch Françoise Richer and Jeanne-Marie, two young boarders and Sister Marie-Edouard who went to fetch the parish priest. The villagers ran to the barn and started to pray with Sister Vitaline.

Second phase

The parish priest arrived amongst his parishioners. The crowd was talking, discussing, moving about. “Let us pray” said the parish priest. Sister Marie-Edouard started to say the Rosary. The crowd began the Magnificat.

Then Joseph Babin, a carter by trade, came back from the market at Ernée. You’re right to pray,” he shouted to the crowd, “the Prussians have arrived at Laval.” At the parish priest’s invitation the villagers sang the litanies of the Virgin Mary. They sang ‘Inviolata’. At the invocation ‘O Mater Alma Christi Carissima’, the crowd ended ‘Inviolata’ and sang ‘Salve Regina’. The crowd prayed fervently, in silence. 

A blue oval with four unlit candles appeared around the beautiful Lady. Also, a small red cross was to be seen on her dress at the place where her heart was. The beautiful Lady became sad. A few minutes later, she smiled again and as the prayers became more fervent, she grew slowly in size. The oval also grew and the stars multiplied.

A big white banner unrolled under the feet of the beautiful Lady and then a word appeared letter by letter ‘BUT’.

At that moment the word ‘PRAY’ was written on the banner and then two other words ‘MY CHILDREN.’ Other words appeared, forming a phrase: ‘GOD WILL ANSWER YOU VERY SOON' More followed: ‘MY SON ALLOWS HIS HEART TO BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION’ Our Lady, for they were all sure that it was her, continued smiling gently.

Third phase

The villagers sang the hymn, “Mother of Hope Whose Name is So Sweet Protect Our Land of France Pray, Pray for Us.”
“Oh, how lovely she is”, the children said again and again. “It’s as if a roller, the same colour as the sky has passed over the words” said the children. Then they sang another hymn, the one they had sung at school that afternoon. The Virgin Mary lifted her hands to the level of her shoulders and moved her fingers in time to the hymn as if to accompany an invisible instrument. Mary was still smiling. The banner and the message disappeared. Then, Our Lady’s face showed great sadness. She seemed to speak but her voice was not heard.

Fourth phase

Seeing the sadness in the Virgin Mary’s face, the people then prayed for forgiveness from Our Lord Jesus “My gentle Jesus At hast the time has come to pardon our penitent hearts. We will never again offend Thy supreme goodness, O gentle Jesus.” The Parce Domine (Spare us, O Lord) served as the response. After this, Our Lady seemed to look sadder. “Look, she’s becoming sad again” said the children. The silent crowd prayed intensely to comfort Our Lady and to gain the favor of her smile once more. A red cross with ‘Jesus Christ’ written in white appeared in front of her. It bore a corpus of the same colour. The Virgin took the cross in both hands and tilted it towards the children. A small star came to light the four candles inside the oval, just as the priest did at church on the Holy Virgin’s altar. The star then took up a position above the Virgin’s head.

Fifth phase

Sister Marie-Edouard started the hymn “Ave Maris Stella.” “My dear friends, said the parish priest, we will all say the evening prayer together.” Everyone kneeled down where they were. When they reached the examination of their conscience, something new happened.

The red crucifix disappeared. A small white cross appeared on each shoulder of the Virgin and she smiled again. A large white veil appeared at the feet of the Virgin. It rose slowly in front of Her, making her disappear from view little by little. It reached the face, then the crown. No more was to be seen.

“Do you still see her?” asked Father Guérin. “No Father, it’s all over.” It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. Everyone went home. Minds were at rest and all fear was gone.

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY RETREATS

The Prussian soldiers, who were steadily advancing, halt their advance across France when the Prussian commander encounters a "Celestial Lady barring the way."

May 10, 1871 – Peace Treaty signed between France and Prussia.

February 2, 1872 – Mgr. Casimir Wicart, bishop of Laval, declares: “We judge that the Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, has truly appeared on January 17, 1871, in the hamlet of Pontmain.”

Pope Pius IX later confirmed the decision of the Episcopal court and granted a Mass and Office proper to Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain.


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Prayer to Our Lady of Pontmain

Most gracious Virgin Mary, by your apparition at Pontmain, you remind us of the importance of prayer, you fortified in our hearts the hope and trust in God, and you gave us peace. Listen now with favour to our fervent prayers, so that peace may be restored in our hearts, in our families, in our country and in all nations: Peace, the fruit of justice, truth and charity. Inflame in our souls the wish to live fully our Christian faith, without any compromise, in all circumstances of our life. Help us to understand our brethren and to love them in God from the depth of our hearts. Amen.  

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The 4 Visionaries: Eugene, Joseph, Marie & Francoise