Une Minute avec Marie
Faire connaître et aimer Marie
During the devastation of the Franco-Prussian War, Mary appeared on a farm to children in Pontmain (French department of Mayenne in northwestern France) at the nearby convent school in Brittany. Mary's message was written on a banner that unfurled from her feet: "But pray my children. God will hear you in a short time. My Son allows Himself to be moved by compassion."
On November 7, 1871, Eugene Barbedette (12) encountered a beautiful lady suspended in air above a neighboring house. The nearby adults could not see anything but when Francoise Richer (11) , Jeanne-Marie Lebosse (9), and Eugene Friteau (6) all claimed to see the woman, a nun in the crowd, Sister Marie Edouard, led everyone in prayer.
Our Lady wore a blue robe embroidered with numerous golden stars. On her head she had a black veil and a gold crown and on her feet blue shoes with gold ribbons. The Lady was tall and beautiful and looked about eighteen; "smiles of ineffable sweetness played about her mouth." When the cross with Christ appeared in her hands, Joseph Barbedette recalled that "her face was marked with a deep sorrow... the trembling of her lips at the corners of her mouth showed deep feeling... But no tears ran down her cheeks."
The apparition was motionless at first for the initial two hours. After the Rosary began to be prayed, a small red cross appeared over heart and a blue oval frame with four candles appeared around her while the stars in her robe seemed to increase. When the Magnificat was prayed, she elevated her hands with the palms outward in a protective gesture. The candles in the oval frame were lit by a star, and when the Lady lowered her hands, two white crosses appeared on her shoulders. As the rosary progressed the figure and its frame grew larger, until it was twice life size; the stars around her began to multiply and attach themselves to her dress until it was covered with them.
As the Magnificat was being said, the four children cried out, "Something else is happening!" A large scroll on which letters were appearing unrolled beneath the feet of the Lady, so that eventually the phrase, "But pray, my children," could be read.
Fr. Guérin then ordered that the Litany of Our Lady should be sung, and as this progressed new letters appeared, making the message, "God will soon answer you." As they continued to sing, another message was formed, one that removed any doubt that it was the Blessed Virgin who was appearing to the children; "My Son allows Himself to be moved." When the parish priest began his prayers, a white veil rose from beneath her feet and covered her until she disappeared.
At 5:30 on the night of the apparition to the children, the Prussian army halted their advance through France when the Prussian commander claimed to have seen an image of the Lady in the sky. General Schmidt reported: "We cannot go any further. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible Madonna barring the way." A peace treaty between France and Prussia was signed eleven days later. All the soldiers from Pontmain returned unharmed.
On November 18, 1871, a peace treaty was signed between France and Prussia.
Mgr Casimir Wicart, Bishop of Laval, immediately requested a detailed inquiry after the events occurred and came personally to Pontmain to question people. Other investigations and questioning took place subsequently, but on February 2nd 1872, by means of a very definite canonical act, the Bishop gave his decision. He recognised the authenticity of the apparition, approved the cult of our Lady of Hope of Pontmain and called for the building of a sanctuary.