9 March - Our Lady of Savigny, France (1112)

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9 March - Our Lady of Savigny, France (1112)

The Abbot Orsini wrote: “Foundation of Savigny, in the Diocese of
Avranches, in Normandy, in honour of the Blessed Virgin, about the
year 1112, by the blessed Vitalis, hermit, who was its first Abbot.”

About the year 1112, in the Diocese of Avranches, the Blessed Vitalis
(Vital de Mortain) established the foundation of the Abbey of Savigny
(Abbaye de Savigny) in honour of the Blessed Mother. This day
commemorates the event.

The Abbey was founded near the village of Savigny-le-Vieux in the
north of France and Blessed Vitalis became the first Abbot. It was
initially Benedictine but soon was given over to Cistercian Monks.
Within only 30 years it had over 30 daughter houses.

Initially, Vitalis had gone into the forest of Savigny to become a
hermit. His fame for sanctity, however, drew disciples to him. These
disciples needed shelter from the elements and soon Vitalis found
those crude structures had become a kind of Monastery requiring a rule
of life. When the Lord of Fougeres granted the land to Vital, the
Monastery was founded, and the hermit became the reluctant Abbot. In
1119 Pope Celestine II took the Abbey under his protection.

Serlo, also known as Serlon, was the third Abbot of Savigny. During
his period of office, one of the monks was known to have a deep and
tender devotion to the Blessed Mother and while he was saying Mass in
honour of Our Lady, he beheld the Virgin’s hand making the Sign of the
Cross over the Chalice at the consecration of the wine. At the same
time, a deliciously sweet odour surrounded the Monk. Thereafter, as
often as he recalled this, he was refreshed by the sweetness of the
scent which had encompassed him at the time.

Mary’s presence was frequently experienced at this Shrine,
particularly during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and numerous
miracles were wrought, prayers answered and graces bestowed for the
asking.

During the 16th century the Abbey was pillaged and burned by
Calvinists but it was not until the French Revolution that the Abbey
was reduced to a pile of ruins.

Unlike the Abbey, the Church Our Lady of Savigny, still stands.
According to an inscription on one of the capitals in the choir, the
Church was dedicated to our Lady in 1128 and it is believed, that
there is no Church in the district, that is older. It was restored in
the year 1869 and serves the surrounding areas to this day..


Saint Quote:
Place before your eyes as models for imitation, not the weak and
cowardly, but the fervent and courageous.
--St. Ignatius of Loyola

Bible Quote:
Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is,
there also is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)


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Prayer

How lovely, O God, are Thy tabernacles! My soul longeth and fainteth
for Thy courts, O living God, Who art the crown and reward of the
saints, and repayest their sufferings and sorrows in this world with
eternal joy. How blessed are all they who, in this life, have served
Thee faithfully! They behold Thee and the Lamb of God face to face;
they bear Thy name on their foreheads, and reign with Thee forever. We
therefore beseech Thee, O God, through their intercessor, to grant us
Thy grace to serve Thee after their example, in sanctity and justice;
to follow them in poverty, humility, meekness, repentance, in ardent
longing for all virtues, in peace-making and patience, and one day,
like them, to share in the joys of heaven. Amen.
--Goffine's Devout Instructions