I Supported the Early Church and I Will Support the Church until the End of Time (I)

In the year 47 AD according to Ernst, Gamba and Sausseret, or in 70 AD according to Hierzenberger, a woman named Vila (or Villa), originating from Ravessium, was afflicted with a high fever. She asked to be carried up to Mount Anis and laid herself down on the flat stone top of a dolmen, which had the reputation of being miraculous. It was known as the “fever stone”. The woman fell asleep and the Blessed Virgin appeared to her in a dream, telling her to visit Bishop George, the bishop of that diocese, to ask him to build a church. The bishop would be given a sign: Vila’s cure. Early the next morning, Vila was cured and went to find the bishop who received her warmly. The prelate went up to Mount Anis (the date was July 11th), accompanied by his clergy. The precise place where the Virgin had appeared was covered with snow; a stag had traced the contour of the future building there with its antlers. The bishop had a wooden palisade made for this spot. This is the origin of the sanctuary of Puy-en-Velay according to local tradition. It was the first sanctuary dedicated to the Mother of God in Europe. In the 11th century, Saint Leo IX (1002-1054) proclaimed it “the most famous sanctuary in France”. The “fever stone” mentioned in the story was kept in the cathedral until around the year 1000, at which time it was placed outside at the top of the monumental 134-step staircase.