Saturday, April 7, 2007

Our Lady of La Salette XI


A Holy Place of Pilgrimage
La Salette, a small town of 200 people about 50 miles south of Grenoble, was the site of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1846. The Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette remains a minor place of pilgrimage today.
The shrine of La Salette is located in a high alpine pasture at an altitude of about 6,000 feet, about 9 miles from the nearest town. Now easily accessible by car, bus, and taxi, the shrine operates a hospitality service with a range of accommodations.

The mountain scenery around the shrine is spectacular and it is surrounded by a network of walking trails, making La Salette an ideal place for spiritual retreats and day hikes.
The Basilica of Our Lady of La Salette was begun in 1852, completed in 1865, and designated a basilica in 1879. It is a large, rather austere church, with a facade flanked by two strong towers.

Inside, the basilica's nave is bordered by two rows of Byzantine columns supporting the Romanesque vaulted ceilings. A mosaic of Christ crowns the apse. The transept has three medallions representing the stages of the apparition (the weeping, the message, and the departure). The basilica also includes a small museum documenting the history of La Salette.
Outside the basilica, pilgrims can take a walking path leading to the apparition site, the "Valley of the Apparition." Bronze statues erected in 1864 depict the three stages of the apparition.
Pilgrimmage to the site of apparition is encouraged and approved as a pious offering by the Catholic Church:
Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
Address: 38970 La Salette, France
Phone: 04 76 30 00 11
E-mail: infos@nd-la-salette.com or reception@nd-la-salette.com
Hours: Daily 7am-11pm. Open all year, weather permitting, except during November.
Feasts: September 19 - Feast of Our Lady of La SaletteAugust 15 - Assumption of Our Lady September 8 - Nativity of Our Lady
Tours: Guided tours in English available; book one at reservation.
(Above information taken from Sacred Destinations Travel Guide available here.)
There is also a site of pilgrimmage here in America, internet information here or:
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
947 Park Street Attleboro, MA 02703
Hours of operation
Monday - Sunday
9AM - 5PM
Phone: 508-222-5410 Fax: 508-222-6770

1 comment:

Cathy_of_Alex said...

Sanctus Belle: Thanks for all the information! Now, if I ever get to France...

You've piqued my curiosity about La Salette with this series. I had never heard of it before.

Thank you.