Our Lady of the Kneeler

One Sunday, September 8th in around 1550, Louise Estivalle was on her way to mass in Azay-on-Thouet, France. She was the lady of the manor of Poupelinière and Leon de Lusivert’s widow, remarried to Mr. Darrot in 1548. On her way, she met a beggar who asked her for some bread. She took pity on him, returned in haste to the castle to collect the necessary food, which she gladly gave to the beggar. Her errand had delayed her and she rushed off without further ado. When she was still two miles from the church, she heard the sound of the bells-it was already the time of the elevation. She knelt down piously and as she stood up she “saw the Virgin in a dim light” holding Jesus’ inert body in her arms. “Look towards the church, my daughter. You will see from here the celebration of the Holy Mystery, as though you were actually present,” she heard the Blessed Virgin say. Louise looked up and “saw an illuminated altar and a priest raising the consecrated host”. Later, Louise had a shrine built on the site of the apparition. Since the middle of the 16th century, believers have venerated the Virgin at this shine as “Our Lady of the Kneeler”. Miracle cures have been claimed and on September 11, 1908, Pius X granted a 300-day indulgence to all those who visited the shrine. Still today, the feast day of September 8th attracts hundreds of believers.