Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette

High on a mountain near Corps, two children stumbled upon a weeping woman. This is the story of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette. Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette isn’t just a name. It’s a vision, a sanctuary, and a story woven into the fabric of Marseille. It all began in 1846, near the village of La Salette-Fallavaux. Two young shepherds, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, reported seeing a “beautiful lady” bathed in light. She was weeping, and she spoke to them. Imagine the children, fifteen-year-old Mélanie and eleven-year-old Maximin, tending to their flock on that fateful day. They shared their incredible story with their masters. One of them, known as Widow Pra, suggested they had encountered the Virgin Mary. Urged to recount their vision, the children spoke to the local priest. He was moved to tears and documented their account. Word of the apparition at Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette spread like wildfire. The Bishop of Grenoble, Philibert de Bruillard, launched a canonical inquiry. After a thorough investigation, he declared the apparition authentic. Years later, in 1855, another Bishop of Grenoble, Jacques Ginoulhiac, confirmed this decision after yet another inquiry. The church at Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette was consecrated in 1879 and later elevated to the status of a minor basilica. Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette became a beacon of hope, drawing pilgrims seeking solace and connection. The sanctuary was built on the site of the apparition. It stands as a testament to faith and the power of shared belief. The missionaries of Notre-Dame de la Salette were founded to care for the sanctuary and its pilgrims. They continue to share the message and devotion to Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette around the world. The sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette continues to welcome visitors, offering a space for reflection, prayer, and connection with the divine.