Mary reveals herself as a refuge for sinners

In the same year that Archbishop de Quelen of Paris authorized the making and distributing of the Miraculous Medal requested by the Virgin Mary through Saint Catherine Labouré at the convent of Rue du Bac in Paris (1832), a French priest called Father Desgenettes was appointed the new pastor of Our Lady of Victories Basilica, another church in Paris dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Father Desgenettes soon felt discouraged by the lack of faith in his parishioners, who belonged largely to the business world. On December 3, 1832, while he was celebrating Mass, he heard an interior voice inviting him to consecrate his parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He then created the Fraternity of the Heart of Mary, essentially a prayer group centered on Mary’s intercession. This new addition produced a wave of conversions. It seemed as if Mary, the All-Pure, wanted to show everyone that she was a refuge for sinners (1).

It was King Louis XIII of France who had renamed the church of the Discalced Augustinians "Our Lady of Victories" (Notre-Dame des Victoires) in thanksgiving to Mary for the capture of the city of La Rochelle (1628). But after the numerous conversions obtained by the Heart of Mary from the prayers of the fraternity members, this title evokes much more Mary's victories over sin and her maternal solicitude that she reserves for sinners.

(1) In Provence (France), the Virgin Mary also appeared under the title of "Refuge of Sinners" to Benedicta Rencurel from 1664 to 1718. The site is known as Our Lady of Laus Shrine.

Adapted from: Paris Catholique