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La Salette in Italy
Editor: We hereby republish sections of the Centennial Booklet, “La Salette—1846-1946: Ten Decades with Our Lady,” edited by Fr. Emile Ladouceur, M.S., describing the first hundred years of making Mary’s message known. This is the sixth of twelve articles.
Before disappearing at La Salette, the Beautiful Lady cast a serene look toward Rome. Like unto her did her missionary sons: first, in answer to the wish of Pope Leo XII, who asked that a certain number of Seminarians from all over the world be sent to prepare for the Holy Priesthood in the Holy City itself:—then again, under pressure of persecution in France, when they sought a safe retreat for the headquarters of the Congregation.
A Winding Journey to Find a Home for the La Salettes
La Salette General House in Villafocchiardo, Italy from 1902 to 1907
- It was in October, 1902, that the General Council came to settle in the quiet corner of Villafocchiardo.
- Five years later they moved to Villa San Pietro in Sousa, in the Upper Piedmont. Here, too, in the wild and austere spot of this old house, the Novices came to receive their initiation in the religious life under Mary's guiding inspiration. The sojourn in Sousa lasted twenty years and proved most fruitful in many ways. The Fathers left in the region a fine reputation of zeal and kindness.
- It was with deep regret that the people of Sousa bade them farewell in 1928. The headquarters were then transferred to Fribourg, Switzerland, and later to Turin, Italy, where they remained until World War II when they were transferred to Alai-Francheville, Rhone, France.
Rome Welcomes the La Salettes
On November 12, 1896, the first group of La Salette students arrived in the Eternal City and were temporarily housed on the Corso Vittorio Emannuele, the very quarter of the city made famous by the zeal of the great Roman apostle, St. Philip Neri. The summer of 1897 was spent at Albano near Lake Nemi and Castelgondolfo. The next scholastic year saw them installed at No. 7 Vicolo della Campana, at the beautiful French Sanctuary of Saint-Yves-des-Bretons.
What is Reconciliation?
The gospel tradition is strong on the universality of Reconciliation. It is interesting to see how the gospel of Matthew, for example, shows Christ's view of salvation at first limited to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24) as Jesus says to the Canaanite woman. As the gospel unfolds, his vision broadens to include all of humankind—"...all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Reconciliation today is becoming more and more universal, perhaps one should say that the world is becoming more actively reconciling. The Church is reaching out to the unchurched, to prisoners and AIDS patients, to those enslaved by various kinds of dependencies, and even to terrorists.
Reconciliation—a lifelong journey
The journey, or pilgrimage, of reconciliation is a slow one. It is a lifelong journey into love. Just as no one can claim to have reached the full potential of love here on earth, so no one can presume to say that he or she has been fully reconciled. A reconciled life is made up of hundreds of small events of reconciliations.
The La Salette Shrine in France in the Shadow of Coronavirus-19
Like everyone else, we have all found ourselves in a completely new and unfamiliar situation—experiencing something very new, a Coronavirus-19 pandemic.
Fr. Antoni Ska1ba, M.S., Director of the Shrine on the Holy Mountain in France
The virus changed almost everything...
In mid-March, literally on the day before the planned opening of the pilgrimage season, in accordance with the recommendations of the French Government and the impending health situation, the confinement probably ending on May 11th. We decided to close the Pilgrim House (Hotel) and the Shrine. At the same time, a special hotline was launched, available from 9:30 am to 10:30 am and 2 pm to 3pm, Monday through Saturday. We informed the pilgrims and our many volunteers that we would remain contact with them via our website and our social networks.
For reasons of safety, some employees of the Shrine were sent “on vacation” and some worked remotely such as bookkeepers and secretarial workers. On the Mountain of La Salette, only the La Salette Missionaries and the Sisters of La Salette remained, and six persons among the employees who decided to stay with us and help us. Some of our Missionaries were not able to go on planned vacation even before the closing of borders and restrictions on our movement.
Read more The La Salette Shrine in France in the Shadow of Coronavirus-19
La Salette in Madagascar
Editor:We hereby republish sections of the Centennial Booklet, “La Salette—1846-1946: Ten Decades with Our Lady,” edited by Fr. Emile Ladouceur, M.S., describing the first hundred years of making Mary’s message known. This is the fourth of twelve articles.
The large island of Madagascar, situated near the southeastern tip of the African continent, is now the most gratifying field of Catholic missionary activity entrusted to the La Salette Fathers. In recent years, so abundant and consoling has been the harvest of souls in that tropical island, that the late Holy Father, Pope Pius XI, Champion of the Missions, lovingly referred to it as the "Paradise of the Missions."
La Salette in Switzerland
Editor: We hereby republish sections of the Centennial Booklet, “La Salette—1846-1946: Ten Decades with Our Lady,” edited by Fr. Emile Ladouceur, M.S., describing the first hundred years of making Mary’s message known. This is the third of twelve articles.
Alpine Chalet of Villa Mont-Planeau in SwitzerlandAlready in 1881, when the persecution against religious Orders first began to raise its head in France, the Fathers of La Salette sought a peaceful retreat in Switzerland. After several journeys, Father Henry Berthier, Treasurer General, stopped in the Canton of Valais and in the name of the Congregation, rented the Chateau of Baron Werra at La Souste, near Loèche.
There was established the first group of Scholastics who had finished their Novitiate on the Mountain of La Salette. They numbered twelve and they immediately began their studies in Philosophy and Theology. This new La Salette group started some time after the Norway venture and like the latter pioneers, they, too, had to endure effects of a crude installation and a rigorous winter climate.
La Salette Finds A Breton Home
The Story of the Madman of the Woods
Salaün ar Foll was born to a poor family in 1310. As a young man, he was considered simple-minded by his contemporaries, begging his bread from farm to farm, after having attended morning Mass. He lived in a forest clearing near Lesneven. He is called "The madman of the wood" (Fol ar c'hoad), because according to legend, he lived in the hollow of a tree in the forest. Throughout the day he tirelessly repeated the phrase, Ave Maria, itroun guerhès Maria (Oh, the Lady, Virgin Mary!).
He died with little notice in 1358. Shortly after, people discovered on his grave a lily on which is was written in gold letters: "Ave Maria". When they opened his grave, they saw that the lily had taken root in his mouth! This "miracle" quickly attracted crowds. The Chapel of Our Lady of Folgoët, now simply referred to as Le Folgoët, was erected as a collegiate church by Duke Jean V in 1423. In 1427, Pope Martin V (1369-1431) elevated the Church of Our Lady of Folgoët to the rank of a Minor Basilica, making it the oldest basilica in Brittany. Unfortunately the basilica suffered a fire in 1708.
La Salette in Norway
Editor: We hereby republish sections of the Centennial Booklet, “La Salette—1846-1946: Ten Decades with Our Lady,” edited by Fr. Emile Ladouceur, M.S., describing the first hundred years of making Mary’s message known. This is the second of twelve articles.
Right Rev. Msgr. Bernard Bernard, Prefect Apostolic of Norway and LaplandThe Mission to Norway was the first hold venture of the Congregation overflowing the frontiers of France, to bring Mary’s Message to all her people. One feels the nostalgia of childhood memories upon rehearsing the epic exploits of these pioneer missioners who left the heights of the Holy Mountain to try their wings in the spread of the Gospel to far-off lands.
Early in 1879, the Right Rev. Msgr. Bernard Bernard, Prefect Apostolic of Norway and Lapland, appealed in person to the Missionaries of La Salette, in the hope of enlisting a handful of apostles for his distant mission. At that time the Fathers had not yet received from Rome the approbation which was to rank the young community among the Congregations of Pontifical right.
Hence, lacking Rome's permission, they were not free to acquiesce to his plea. Nothing daunted, Msgr. Bernard applied directly to Rome, and his negotiations there won singular favors for the Institute. "Holy Father," pleaded the Apostle of the North, "if the heretics have thusfar rejected my cross, they will not reject the crucifix bathed with Mary's tears."
Cardinal Bartolini, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, had already intimated the universal missionary expansion of the thriving community, according to the injunction of Our Lady when she said at the end of her discourse on September 19, 1846, “Well, my children, you will make this known to all my people."
La Salette Chapel in Chérier, France
In France and far beyond, there are many chapels, oratories, statues and other representations of Our Lady of La Salette. Erected in memory of a pilgrimage to the "Beautiful Lady,” on the Holy Mountain of La Salette, they founded the "Little Salettes” in response to Mary’s words to “make this known to all my people.”
In the Loire Department of Central France, there is a small town of 450 inhabitants perched 2,800 feet above sea level. Chérier has a treasure: a small chapel, with its group of statues from the Apparition and a very lively Association, "The Friends of La Salette at Chérier." In the town, there are two churches: Chérier, and Moulins-Chérier and the chapel of La Salette where we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of La Salette on September 19th.
La Salette in Périgord Region of France
We Sisters of Our Lady of La Salette have been present for ten years in the Périgord region of southwestern France. Our community were called to serve here by Bishop Michel Pierre Marie Mouïsse when he was appointed Bishop of this diocese and the community is still composed of three sisters until today.
It is January 4, 2009, the Feast of the Epiphany, that the community was installed, in the presence of Bishop Michel Mouïsse, then bishop of Périgueux and Sarlat, of Fr. Philippe Demoure, parish priest of Saint-Jacques-du-Causse, of Sister Marie-Victoire, Superior General and Sister Elisabeth Guiboux her assistant. Sister Marie-Thérèse was appointed Superior of the local community, and Sisters Lydia and Lalatiana, members of this community, begin the mission.
La Salette in Bhavan, India is Thirty
Since 1990, the Beautiful Lady of La Salette has been present in the hearts of the inhabitants of Parakkadavu, in Kerala, southwest India. The Missionaries of La Salette in India thank God for their house founded thirty years ago. La Salette Bhavan is the first foundation of the La Salette Missionaries in India after their initial establishment two years before.
Thanks to a benefactor and friends, the Missionaries were able to buy this house which served as a base for their activity in India. It began by being used as the Minor Seminary (High School) of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. There were more than forty seminarians accompanied by three priests.
A challenging beginning
The beginning years were difficult. The house was too small to accommodate the many seminarians who wanted to be part of the La Salette Community! Initially, the seminarians lacked sports playgrounds, beds in the dormitory, chairs and tables for the refectory and the study room. This house was used as the Minor Seminary for more than ten years. Most of the members of the Province of India came to this house for their training.