Veritas et Lux

Our Lady of La Salette was a Marian apparition that occurred on September 19, 1846, in La Salette-Fallavaux, France. Two young shepherd children, Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud, saw a “beautiful lady” bathed in a brilliant light on a mountain near the village. She was seated and weeping, and entrusted the children with a message to deliver to all people. The message conveyed several key points:

• The Virgin Mary lamented the impiety of Christians, particularly their disregard for the Lord’s Day and their use of blasphemous language.
• She warned of dire consequences if people persisted in their sinful ways.
• She offered hope, promising divine mercy if people would amend their lives, observe the Lord’s Day, and refrain from blasphemy.

During the apparition, the Virgin Mary gave each child a personal secret. These secrets were sent to Pope Pius IX in 1851. Giraud’s secret was never made public, and Calvat’s secret was published, containing apocalyptic prophecies and warnings.

The children’s account of the apparition caused a sensation and prompted numerous investigations. In 1851, the Bishop of Grenoble, Mgr. Philibert de Bruillard, officially declared the apparition as certain and authorized the devotion to Our Lady of La Salette. Also, a religious order, the Missionaries of La Salette, was founded to promote the message of the apparition.

This apparition is a reminder of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s concern for humanity and her call for people to turn away from sin and embrace a life of faith.