At the Marsat shrine, a perpetual mass founded by King Louis XI

To mark the 600th anniversary of the birth of French King Louis XI (1423-1483), a Louis XI Day was celebrated on June 25, 2023, in Marsat, a French commune in the Auvergne region. Marsat is home to one of the oldest in France and once quite famous Marian shrine.

In 1465, Louis XI, in the difficult early days of his reign, came to Auvergne on a military campaign. He stayed at Marsat on June 22-24. When after skilful negotiations he managed to sign a treaty with the rebel lords on July 4, he credited his diplomatic success to his patroness, the Virgin Mary.

In gratitude to Mary, for whom he had a special devotion, he founded a perpetual mass to be said at 7am every day of the year in the church of Marsat. A painting commemorating this visit was painted in 1891 and is now on display in the Marsat church.

Adapted from www.lamontagne.fr