Our Lady appeared, weeping bitter tears, on 19 September 1846 at La Salette in rural South-Eastern France. She appeared to two young people to whom she entrusted warnings and prophecies. She wept for the sins of the world and for the turning-away of the people from God.
Much hay has been made of this apparition by those who would profit from it. In contrast, Pope John Paul II in 1996 gave a hopeful and a joyful message:
“The message of La Salette was given to two young shepherds in a period of great suffering. People were scourged by famine, subjected to many injustices. Indifference or hostility toward the Gospel message worsened. As she appeared, bearing upon her breast the likeness of her crucified Son, Our Lady showed herself to be associated to the work of salvation, experiencing compassion for her children…
La Salette is a message of hope – a hope sustained by the intercession of her who is the Mother of all peoples… The arm of Mary’s Son will not weigh upon, will not condemn, the people who walk humbly in the pathway of the Lord. Christ will take the outstretched hand into his own and lead to new life the sinner reconciled by the grace of the Cross…
At La Salette, Mary clearly spoke of the constancy of her prayer for the world: she will never abandon the people created in the image and likeness of God, those to whom it has been given to become children of God. May she lead to her Son all the nations of the earth”.
Pope John Paul II
May 6, 1996
Image rights here.
Meadowsweet 