A Small La Salette in France

Fr. Jean-François Cordier, born in 1809 in Dampierre (Jura), was one of the first pilgrims to arrive at site of The quaint and lovely Chapel of Our Lady of La Salette in the still-small village of town of Lavigny (Jura), in east-central Francethe La Salette apparition on the Holy Mountain. After arriving in Lavigny in 1855, he had the idea to build a chapel in honor of Mary of La Salette. With great determination, he began his efforts to raising a great deal of money – comparable today to US $120,000. It took seven years of work to complete this challenging project, including buying tiles come from a nearby communes and the La Salette bronze statues from nearby forge in Sellières.

It's July 16, 1862, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the new chapel was dedicated. Fr. Cordier died in 1892, after having dedicated himself to providing a beautiful Chapel in which to worship God and honor Our Lady of La Salette.

Celebrating the Feast of La Salette 

This small town of Lavigny with its some 400 inhabitants in the Jura area of east-central France is in a beautiful vineyard region close to Baume-Les-Messieurs, site of a former Benedictine abbey. Built on the slopes of the vineyard, the "little Salette" dominates the surrounding countryside. The local municipality with much dedication has completely renovated this site.

On September 19, 2010, the Missionaries of La Salette were asked to preside at the 164th anniversary of the apparition. Many tourists are struck by the site of this cliffside chapel above the vineyards of Lavigny - Le Vernois. On 19 September 2010, amid the mists of early morning, the cars arrived with many pilgrims, anxiously awaiting the celebration of the La Salette Feast. Bishop Jean Legrez, bishop of Saint-Claude, was joined by Fr. Maurice Vandel, pastor of the largest parish in the area. Mme. Regine Racine, diocesan director of pilgrimages, also was present.

The nearby village of Baume-les-Messieurs, France, is dominated by the site of the former Baume Abbey in the natural site of the steephead valley of the "cirque de Baume".At 10:00AM, the procession winded its way to the chapel, accompanied by the parish choir and musicians with flute and guitar. Soon followed at least 300 people, from even far away places, who gathered in this quaint but small worship place.

The bishop commented during his homily on parts of Mary’s La Salette message: What do we do on Sunday? Today some winemakers are not in the vineyards and hunting groups have asked their members to observe the Sunday celebration. Yet on the roads and rails, the trains and buses make their way, perhaps ignoring the Christian Sabbath. And what about daily prayer? We must learn to pray each day.

After the Eucharistic Celebration, the sun warmed the food as the bishop and the parish priest enjoyed the repast. The members of the association, "The Lavinoise", did all these wonderful things! In the late afternoon all prayed Vespers with about sixty pilgrims gathered in front of the chapel as the sun set. This day will not be soon forgotten.

Thanks go to our Weeping Mother for having responded to the Mayor’s wish that, during a snowstorm in December, he prayed that "The weather will be fair!" Thanks to all who made this celebration a joyous festival in the “little La Salette” in Lavigny, a day of happiness and thanksgiving for the community and their Christian life!

The mayor of Lavigny, France has begun refurbishing the small Chapel to Our Lady of La Salette.

(Reprinted with permission from the La Salette French Publication, Les Annals, Nov-Dec, 2010, pgs. 18-19)