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

At 10 years of age, John Claude Courveille suffered from small pox, which damaged his eyes, making him almost blind. His mother consulted many doctors who all told her that her son was incurable. Once a young man, he had a great desire to become a priest, but his bad eyesight made it nearly impossible for him to study. In 1809, he felt the strong inspiration to make the pilgrimage to Notre-Dame du Puy, which was only 5 miles away from his home, and take oil from the lamp that burns in front of the statue of Our Lady and rub it on his eyes. As soon as he had done that, he could see even the smallest objects in the cathedral perfectly and since that day he always enjoyed excellent eyesight. In 1810, in the same church, in front of the same miraculous statue, he promised the Blessed Virgin to consecrate his entire life to her, to do everything that she would like for the glory of Our Lord, for her own honor and for the salvation of souls. He only thought about becoming a priest and to busy himself, by the exercise of sacerdotal zeal, to realize his triple vow. John Claude renewed his promise to Mary in 1812, at the foot of the same altar, where he received an interior message of which there are several versions. According to the version transmitted by the Venerable John Claude Colin, founder of the Marists Fathers, the Blessed Virgin entrusted a marvelous promise to him: “I supported the early Church and I will support the Church until the end of time; my womb will open to all those who wish to enter.”