Our Lady of La Salette

ocation: La Salette, France
Date: 1846

Summary:
Our Blessed Mother appeared to Maximin Giraud (11) and Melanie Calvat-Mathieu (14) while they were tending their livestock in the French Alps near La Salette.  The children encountered a glowing ball of light and eventually saw a beautiful women sitting on a rock weeping.  She told the children that she had secrets and news to tell them.  Mary spoke of how bad the sin of man had become: swearing, working on Sundays, etc.  She said that if the people did not obey God, she would be forced to let go of the hand of her Son.  Mary asked the children to tell the people to change their ways, do penance and pray.  Melanie’s secret was written down and eventually revealed in 1851 as Mary had requested.

Interesting Facts:
-Melanie described Our Blessed Mother as ravishingly beautiful, crowned with roses too beautiful to describe.  Her voice was soft, enchanting, warming to the ears.
-During the initial inquiry of the apparition, a man broke off a piece of rock from the apparition site.  A spring began to flow, and many healing miracles have been attributed to this spring.
-In July 1851, Maximin and Melanie recorded the secrets given to them in the presence of Church officials and delivered it to the Bishop.
-Maximin died March 1, 1875