Marian Apparitions: La Salette
La Salette, France; 1846
Witness
Melanie Mathieu and Maximim Giraud
Summary
On a Saturday afternoon in the French Alps near the small town of Corps, two shepherds (a boy age 11 and a girl age 14) were
attracted to a billiant light in a ravine. The figure of a crowned woman with a radiant dress and rose-edged slippers gradually became visible. She continually shed tears and
wore a golden crucifix...the youths thought that she was a 'saint'. She spoke first to both of them, then gave each a 'secret' individually. After a final admonition to both to 'make this known' she rose in the air
looking heavenward in joy, glanced momentarily toward Rome, and then gradually disappeared.
Melanie and Maximim told their fellow townspeople of the vision, but met initial derision (with the exception of Fr. Perrin, the parish priest, who announced the event during Mass). As time progressed, conversions (including Maximim's father and a locally known rebellious priest) and over twenty three healings associated with a stream of water which flowed again from a dried-up spring at the apparition site,
made the townsfolk reformed and firm believers. A three-year investigation led to the Bishop's approval of the apparition. Constuction began a year later on a basilica which draws thousands of pilgrims to honor the 'Virgin of Converts', the 'Reconciler of Sinners'.
Messages/Prophecies
"But you, my child, you must surely have seen some once when you were at the farm of Coin with your
father."
Mary reminded Maximim of an event in the recent past only known to him and two others, who discussed the blighted wheat. This gave credibility to her message.
"If my people will not submit, I shall be forced to let fall the arm of my Son. It is so strong, so heavy, that I can no longer withhold it.
For how long a time do I suffer for you! If I would not have my Son abandon you, I am compelled to pray to him without ceasing; and as to you, you take not heed of it."
"
"Six days I have given you to labor, the seventh I had kept for myself; and they will not give it to me...
Those who drive the carts cannot swear without introducing the name of my Son. These are the two things which makes the arm of my Son so heavy.
If the harvest is spoilt, it is all on your account..."
France had documented bad harvests from 1846-1848, with the 1853 poor harvest and war creating hunger for three years.
"May the Vicar of my Son, the sovereign Pontiff Pius IX, no longer leave Rome after the year 1859; but may he be firm and generous, may he fight with the weapons of faith and love; I will be with him. "
In 1860, rebellious Italian forces united the 'Kingdom' of Italy, bringing the de facto end of the 'Papal States' and leaving the Pope as limited leader the region surrounding Rome (Latium). The Pope turned intensified his definitive, theological writings (including the
'Syllabus of Errors' in 1864), and called the First Vatican
Council which defined Papal Infallibility (1870. These were the 'weapons of faith' that Pius IX wielded.
"May he be wary of Napoleon; his heart is double...soon God will withdraw from him: he is this eagle who, wanting always to raise himself up, will fall on the sword which he wanted to use in order to force the peoples to raise him up."
The Emperor Napoleon III (who was not in any government capacity at the time of the vision) provided some troops and protection for Pius IX until 1870, when
personally leading the French forces in the Franco-Prussian War. He was captured by the Germans. He was deposed and went into exile after the triumphant German 'Emperor' was crowned in Versailles...the ultimate act of humiliation.
"France, Italy, Spain and England will be in war; blood will flow in the streets; Frenchman will fight with Frenchman, Italian with Italian;"
Spain was in 14 wars (including several Civil 'Carlist' Wars) from 1859-1900; Italy 7 (four of which were Italian civil wars); France 25 (inclduing the bloody civil war of 1871); England 40 (mostly colonial wars). (Source: www.onwar.com)
"A forerunner of the antichrist with his troops from several nations will fight against the true Christ, the only Savior of the world; he will spill much blood, and will want to annihilate the worship of God in order to make himself be looked upon as a God."
"Germany has been transformed into a great house of the Lord where the Fuhrer as our mediator stands before the throne of God." (Joseph Goebbels, 1936) Pope Pius XI condemned Adolf Hitler for "placing himself on the same level as Christ." (1937)
Future Prophecies: Many of the 'secrets' relate to events which have yet to be and which parallel Biblical prophecies about the Last Days. Two secrets are worth noting:
"Rome will lose the faith and become the seat of the antichrist." (Another secret states the Pope shall be faithful to the end.)
"Fight, children of light, you the small number who can see; for behold the time of times, the end of ends."
Additional Online Resources
Complete Text of the Secrets
Detaled Account of the Event
Books About the La Salette
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