The Kingdom of France was once called Mary’s Kingdom

The Virgin Mary, Mother of God, under the title of her Assumption into Heaven, was on many occasions named the main patroness of all France. ...

According to an old adage, the Kingdom of France was called Mary’s Kingdom, and rightly so: from the first centuries of the Church to our time, Irenaeus and Eucherius of Lyon, Hilary of Poitiers, Anselm (who left France to serve in England as Archbishop of Canterbury), Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis de Sales, and many other holy doctors of the Church, have celebrated Mary and helped to promote and spread devotion to the Virgin Mother of God across France.

In Paris, at the famous University of the Sorbonne, we have historical reports proving that from the 13th century the Virgin was proclaimed to be conceived without sin.

Even the sacred monuments vividly attest the ancient devotion of the people to the Virgin: thirty-four cathedral churches are named after the Mother of God, among which are the famous cathedrals of Reims, Paris, Amiens, Chartres, Coutances and Rouen.

The great number of pilgrims who came and continue to come from distant places to visit Marian shrines every year, show how the people’s devotion towards the Mother of God is still very much alive. For example, several times a year the huge basilica of Lourdes cannot hold the crowds of pilgrims.

Pius XI, Apostolic letter Galliam Ecclesiae Filiam, March 2, 1922 (excerpt)