The Apparition at Pontmain

The year was 1871, and Prussia was raging war against France.  Pontmain was a small village situated 200 miles west of Paris.  Its people were simple and hard working country folk.  Times were quite difficult and many of the French had sons or relatives fighting in the army, away from home.  Pontmain, although guided spiritually by the parish priest, Abbe Michel Guerin, had grown tired and discouraged.

It was Tuesday, January 17, 1871.  Abbe Guerin who lived an uncommon devotion to Mary would express hope in the midst of his congregations’ great despair.  That morning he told his parishioners, “God will have pity on us.  His mercy shall surely come to us through Mary.”  Not a day passed before his words actualized in a vision of Our Lady.

That very evening about 6 o’clock, two boys were helping their father in the barn when the eldest, Eugene Barbedette, walked over toward the door to look out.  As he gazed out at the star-studded sky he noticed one area particularly free from stars.  Then suddenly, he noticed in that dark space, a beautiful woman appeared smiling at him.  She was wearing a dark blue gown covered with golden stars, and a deep purple-blue (almost black) veil under a golden crown.  

When others came out to look, only Eugene’s brother, Joseph, could see the apparition.  But their mother believed the boys and suggested it might be the Blessed Virgin, and that they should all say five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys in her honor.  Sister Vitaline, the local schoolteacher was sent for; so she thought to bring a couple of other children along.  Most were adults who joined in the crowd of about sixty people.

The two girls immediately expressed their delight upon seeing Our Lady, and they described her just as the boys had.  Although none of the adults could see Mary, they all began to say the Rosary. Then the children saw a blue oval frame with four candles, two on each side, being formed around the Lady, and a short red cross had appeared over her heart.  The frame grew to twice life size and the stars around Mary began to multiply and attach themselves to her dress until it was covered with them. 

The priest prayed the Magnificat and requested all to sing the Litany of Our Lady.  As their prayers progressed, words appeared beneath the Lady.  The message read, “God will soon answer your prayers . . . My Son allows Himself to be moved.”  The children were overjoyed at the beauty of the Lady and her smile, but her expression then changed to one of much sadness, as she beheld a large red crucifix that had suddenly appeared before her.  The figure of Jesus on it, was a darker shade of red.   One of the stars lit the four candles on each side of Mary; the crucifix vanished, and the group began night prayers.  As these were being recited, the children reported that a white veil was rising from the Lady’s feet and gradually blotting her out, until finally, about 9 o’clock, the apparition was over.

Three of the four children later entered the religious life.  The Roman Catholic Church investigated this apparition thoroughly and has given its full approval.  And, January 17 is the celebrated feast day of “Our Lady of Hope”.

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