Mélanie and Maximin, the two
children privileged to see Mary in
1846, came from the town of Corps
near Grenoble, in a poor part of
southeastern France. Maximin Giraud
was eleven years old at the time and
Mélanie Calvat fourteen.
On
Saturday, 19 September, they were
looking after their employer’s cattle,
high up on the pasture above La
Salette, a village near Corps, when
they saw a wonderful apparition of Mary.
A globe of light opened to reveal a resplendent woman
seated on a stone with her head in her hands. The children
later described her as very tall and beautiful, wearing a
long, white, pearl studded, sleeved dress, and a white
shawl, with some sort of tiara or crown on her head.
Hanging from her neck was a large crucifix adorned with a
small hammer and pincers, with a brilliantly shining figure
of Christ on it. The whole effect was as if she was made of
light.
Speaking tearfully she told them that unless people
repented she would be forced to let go the arm of her Son
because it had become so heavy. Mary went on to
complain that she had to pray ceaselessly to her Son for
them, but the people still worked on Sundays and
blasphemed. She also spoke of coming punishments for
these sins, including crop blight and famine. She confided
a secret to each of the children, which they were not to
divulge, although eventually these secrets were made
known to Pope Pius. IX.
Finally, she asked the children to spread her message
before disappearing. When the children returned home
they told their story, an account of which was taken down in
writing the next day. They faced much opposition in
making known Mary’s message, but they maintained their
story with resolution. The local Bishop too faced quite a
degree of opposition in investigating the apparition, and it
was only after four years, and having set up two
commissions of enquiry, that Mgr de Bruillard, as Bishop of
Grenoble, approved of devotion to Our Lady of La Salette,
in the following terms.
“We declare that the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to
two shepherds, on September 19, 1846, on a mountain in
the Alps in the parish of La Salette, bears in itself all the
marks of truth and that the faithful are justified in believing
without question in its truth. And so, to mark our lively
gratitude to God and the glorious Virgin Mary, we authorize
the cult of Our Lady of La Salette.”
Shire of Our Lady of La Salette