January 17th - Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain

[Weedy]

January 17th - Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain

Today marks the 139th anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s appearance
at Pontmain, France. This apparition, under the invocation of Our Lady
of Pontmain, Mother of Hope, is unique in that the Blessed Mother
never spoke, but rather communicated with four young children via
writing.

In 1871, France was at war with German, and not faring well. Paris was
besieged, and most French villages, Pontmain among them, were
starving. It was winter, many of the village men had been called to
fight, and a typhoid epidemic had spread throughout the town. There
was little hope left in the villagers’ hearts, and despair had overrun
the small town of approximately 500.

It was at this time, when things were bleakest and most hopeless that
Our Blessed Mother appeared to four school children: Eugene and Joseph
Barbedette (12 and 10, respectively), Jeanne-Marie Lebossé (age 9) and
Françoise Richer (age 11).

On the evening of January 17, Eugene and Joseph were working with
their father in the family’s barn. Eugene went outside momentarily “to
see what the weather was like” and was the first to see The Beautiful
Lady. Joseph, a typical younger brother, followed Eugene, and
exclaimed moments after Eugene first spotted the apparition, “Oh, The
Beautiful Lady!” Mary was described as dressed in a blue robe with
golden stars covering it.

Eugene’s father could not see The Beautiful Lady his sons were talking
about—Rather, he saw bright twinkling stars in the sky. He pulled them
inside to finish their chores and the three returned home for dinner.
Following discussion at the dinner table, the children returned
outside where Our Blessed Mother still appeared. The children’s mother
traveled to the local convent, informing the Sisters. They, with some
children, traveled to the family’s home. It was then that Jeanne-Marie
and Françoise saw the apparition, describing Mary in an identical
fashion as the boys had. “She has a blue dress with golden stars,
gold-ribboned slippers, a golden crown widening towards the top with a
red band around it, and a black veil.” Another child named Eugene
Friteau (age 6), also reported seeing Mary, as did a neighbor’s
infant, Augustine (age 2), who reached out towards the Apparition
and showed signs of joy.

During what is described as Phase 1, the local Priest and Sisters
immediately arranged a prayer service, during which the remaining four
of the five phases of apparition occurred.

During Phase 2, as a crowd gathered and began praying, a blue oval
with four unlit candles appeared surrounding the Blessed Virgin. A
small red cross appeared over her heart. Mary, however, as described
by the children, appeared sad. As the prayers of the crowd that was
gathering increased in strength, the vision slowly expanded in size,
with dazzling stars appearing. A banner unfurled between the edges of
the oval, with the following words appearing one by one:

“But pray, my children. God will answer you very soon. My Son lets His
Heart by touched.”

During the second phase, a man in the crowd announced that the German
troops were advancing toward the village, leading to further prayer
and hymns. The Blessed Mother, during Phase 3 raised her hands toward
the sky, fingers gently keeping time to the hymns being sung. She
appeared to speak, but was not heard. Her face, which had smiled
during the communication of her message, again appeared sad.

During Phase 4 of the apparition a red cross appeared in Mary’s hands,
bearing the words “Jesus Christ” written in white and a figure of
Christ in red. A star moved in the sky, lighting each of the four
candles, and then resting above the Blessed Virgin’s head. She sadly
tilted the cross toward the children.

In Phase 5, the red cross disappeared, and in it’s place, two white
crosses appeared on each of Our Holy Mother’s shoulders. A white veil
at her feet slowly rose, shrouding her from view, until only her
golden crown remained. And then, that too, disappeared. The vision had
lasted all evening, with the townsfolk praying in the cold until nine
o’clock in the morning. At that, all went home, their minds clear and
at peace.

The German troops, mere kilometers from the town ceased their forward
motion that evening at around 5:30, about the time when the Apparition
first appeared above Pontmain. The General leading the troops is
reported to have said the following morning: "We cannot go farther.
Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible 'Madonna’
barring the way." The armistice ending the war was signed only days
later.

Today, Pontmain remains a holy pilgrimage site, receiving thousands of
visitors each year. The barn and town chapel have been preserved, and
a basilica built for Our Lady of Hope.
--by Jacob


Saint Quotes:
"Whoever sits in solitude and is quiet has escaped from three wars:
hearing, speaking, and seeing. Yet against one thing he must
constantly battle: his own heart."
--Saint Antony Abbot.


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The following prayer might be said today, an invocation to Our Lady of Hope:

O Lady of Mental Peace, Mother of Tranquility and Mother of Hope, look
upon me in this time of my weakness and unrest. Teach my searching
heart to know that God’s Love for me is unchanging and unchangeable;
and, that true human love can only begin and grow by touching His
Love. Let your gentle peace which this world cannot give be always
with me. And, help me to bring this same Peace into the lives of
others. Our Lady of Mental Peace, Pray for us. Amen.