Whispers of a miracle echo within these walls. We are standing before the \u00c9glise Notre-Dame-des-Vertus. This church stands as a testament to faith and answered prayers in Aubervilliers.
Let’s step back to 1336. A long drought devastated the village. Crops withered. The people despaired. On May 14th a young girl prayed to the Virgin Mary in the chapel. Suddenly tears streamed from the statue’s eyes. At that very moment rain began to fall. The drought ended. This miracle made the site famous. People flocked here.
The Mar\u00e9chal de Toulouse offered candles in gratitude. You can still see these candles today. They are displayed in a case on the left side of the church.
The small chapel couldn’t hold the growing number of pilgrims. In the 15th century a larger church replaced it. This is the \u00c9glise Notre-Dame-des-Vertus. It was built in a rectangular hall style. Look up to see a remarkable hanging keystone. It depicts the Virgin and Child. Unusually the Virgin holds Jesus on her right arm. Most often she holds him on her left.
The stained-glass windows tell stories of pilgrimages. They recount miracles performed by the Virgin. These include the resurrection of a child. They also tell of the healing of the sick.
During the Revolution in 1789 the miraculous statue suffered desecration. Revolutionaries dragged it through the streets to Saint-Denis. They burned it while singing revolutionary songs. A hand survived the flames. It was saved.
The current statue of the Virgin is a copy. It was carved in 1873 from linden wood. The statue is housed in a neo-Gothic frame. Two angels flank it holding scrolls. These recall the miracle of 1582 when the Virgin resurrected a stillborn child.
After his victory over the Protestants Louis XIII showed his gratitude to the Virgin. He commissioned the facade of Notre-Dame-des-Vertus. This was in 1628. It was designed in the Baroque style of the Church of the Gesù in Rome. This facade completed the church three centuries after the miracle of the rain.
Art continued to enrich the interior. The capitals of the central pillars date from the 14th and 15th centuries. An 18th-century oil painting depicts Christ in the Garden of Olives. A portrait of Marie de l’Incarnation dates from the 19th century.
The grand organ is unique. It is the only 17th-century organ in the Île-de-France region. The organ case and its decoration were made around 1630. The instrument was rebuilt in 1770-80 by François Henri Cliquot. He came from a famous family of French organ builders.
Classified as a historical monument the \u00c9glise Notre-Dame-des-Vertus has been completely restored. Pilgrims still come here today. They seek solace and blessings. The church stands as a symbol of hope. Its story reminds us of the power of faith.
Before we move on take one last look. Remember the miracles and the history. Consider the generations who have sought comfort here at \u00c9glise Notre-Dame-des-Vertus.