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 seventh of twelve articles.
The devotion to Our Lady of La Salette made an early appearance in Belgium from the first years following the event. The foremost Bishops of the country were quick to endorse the doctrinal judgment of Bishop de Bruillard.La Salette’s extensive complex in Tournai, Belgium including a the gardens, the Chapel, an Apostolic School and a Scholasticate
(for theology students)
The devotion to Mary of La Salette found ready welcome in the brave hearts of the Flemish and the Walloons—from Belgian’s southern region of Wallonia—in this sturdy Catholic Kingdom. Even today shrines dedicated to the Weeping Mother of the Alps abound in the churches and the very wayside of the war-scarred country are strewn with Calvary shrines oftentimes honoring Our Lady of La Salette.
At the outbreak of persecution in France, the Apostolic school at the foot of the Holy Mountain was reorganized in a frontier town of Belgium well known for its generous hospitality towards exiled religious orders. For this reason it has come to be called the Rome of the North. Here at Tournai near the 220-mile long Scheldt River, a kind-hearted priest, Rev. Father Friant, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in that Cathedral City, had offered the use of his Parish Hall as a temporary refuge for the students and faculty of the Minor Seminary of St. Joseph in Corps, near La Salette. Here in Tournai the pupils gathered and resumed their formation for the missionary religious life, inspired by the heroism of their teachers and directors.
Sacred Heart Hall was partitioned into Dormitory, Refectory, Recreation Room and Study Hall, and life at Faubourg Morelle was one of sacrifice animated by a close family spirit. In order to continue to spread the devotion to Our Lady of La Salette and to obtain lands to build a new school from Belgian Catholics and French, they began publishing the monthly Bulletin of La Salette, which they had abandoned when forced into exile. Soon they were able to purchase property on Chemin du Crampon, situated not far from the center of the town. Construction of a new abode began immediately.
In 1903, the Fathers and the Apostolics were installed in their new quarters thanks to the energy of the valiant Missionary who was their Superior, Fr. Louis Comte, M.S. (1860-1934), who had taken upon himself to go a-begging far and wide for Christ and the future Missionaries of Mary's tears. Near the residence, there was erected at the same time a beautiful chapel in Gothic style, which was solemnly blessed, September 14, 1901 by Charles Gustave Walravens (1841-1915), Bishop of Tournai. This Sanctuary became the center of devotion from which the light of La Salette was to radiate through Belgium and back into France, the Motherland, and indeed across the world.
The First World War brought about the German occupation of the Tournai quarters. The students were dispersed, some entering the service and others seeking refuge from the invader in other lands. After the war, all returned and a greater expansion was started. Annexed to the school was the Scholasticate of the French Province which soon became international in character, receiving students from Switzerland, Italy, England. Belgium. Spain, Poland and the United States.
World War II brought a repetition of the former. Twice overrun by the invaders, twice the House and Chapel in Tournai were spared, despite its proximity to vital targets. Our Lady of La Salette kept watch over her favored sanctuary and once more the portals have opened to receive new candidates who will go forth and bring her message of reconciliation to a war-harried world.(top left:) Façade of La Salette Chapel, Tournai, Belgium (left) and residence (right); (top right:) Sanctuary of La Salette Chapel with several paintings (one on either side of altar) showing important La Salette main events; (bottom left:) 1909 celebration of La Salette Feast, Sept. 19th with procession of priests, seminarians and local faithful; (bottom right:) La Salettes religious and students of the La Salette Apostolic School in Tournai, Belgium in 1909