Peculiar Circumstances connected with the Apparition.
Since the Assumption of our Blessed Lady into heaven, she has often appeared to her children on earth. But Mary appeared on the mountain of La Salette, as she never appeared before.
1. She was seen in grief, with all the signs of the most profound sorrow; she shed abundant tears whilst speaking to the children; she carried on her breast the image of her Divine Son nailed to the cross, with the other tokens of His sufferings.
2. No sanctuary has ever been dedicated to our Lady, under circumstances of such general interest. Nowhere had she ever invited her people to conversion with words so touching, and in so pressing a manner. Never before did she call sinning men back to Christ, by a living representation of the scene on Calvary, where she stood as the Mother of Sorrows at the feet of her expiring Son, all, doubtless, on account of the enormity of our sins in this age.
3. Again, how remarkable that the Apparition should have happened on the eve of the very day, which the Church has appointed to commemorate the Seven Dolours of our Blessed Lady. [Webmaster’s Note: Back then the feast of the 7 sorrows of Mary was celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of September; it was in 1913 that Pope Pius X moved this feast to September 15th.]
4. One curious fact must not be forgotten, as strikingly corroborative of all other evidence as to the truth of the children’s story. The spring, near where our Lady appeared, had been completely dried up previous to the vision; it began to flow immediately after, and has continued to run copiously ever since in a beautiful stream of the clearest water. This is a stumbling-block for scoffers, and for those of small faith, rather inconvenient. As a fact, as evidence, it cannot be got over.
Taken from: Manual of the Confraternity of La Salette, by Rev. John Wyse (Catholic Priest), 1855,
Nihil Obstat, Bishop of Birmingham, June 9th, 1855.
Our Lady of La Salette, Reconciler of sinners,
pray without ceasing for us who have recourse to thee.