Saint-Étienne-le-Laus

Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
Saint-Etienne-le-Laus - (vue de l'église).JPG
Coat of arms of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus is located in France
Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Hautes-Alpes
Arrondissement Gap
Canton La Bâtie-Neuve
Intercommunality Avance
Mayor Gaston Disdier
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 699–1,266 m (2,293–4,154 ft)
(avg. 735 m or 2,411 ft)
Land area1 8.66 km2 (3.34 sq mi)
Population2 297  (2008)
 - Density 34 /km2 (88 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 05140/ 05130
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 44°30′11″N 6°09′46″E / 44.5031°N 6.1628°E / 44.5031; 6.1628

Saint-Étienne-le-Laus is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Besides being a popular vacation spot, the region is probably best known for the lengthy series of Marian apparitions which are said to have occurred there between 1664 and 1718, reported by shepherdess Benoîte Rencurel [1] The church that was established around these Marian apparitions, Notre Dame du Laus, has been described as "one of the most hidden and yet powerful treasures in the history of Europe." [2]. The apparitions were officially recognized by the diocesan authority of the Roman Catholic Church on September 18, 1665.[3]

The "Laus" (formerly spelled "Laux") in name of the commune, Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, and that of the church, Notre Dame du Laus, means "lake", in the Alpine Provençal dialect, which was a local derivation from the Latin word "lacus". [4] Interestingly, on votive offerings and some older stones, the indication is Latin "Sancta Maria Lacensis", which translated means: "St. Mary of the Lake". [5]

Starting in 1664, and lasting for fifty four years, in and around Laus, Benoîte Rencurel saw the Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of Laus Our Lady of Laus or Notre Dame du Laus, along with Christ on the Cross, St. Maurice, St. Barbara, St. Joseph, St. Gervais and St. Protais, the infant Jesus, St. Catherine of Siena, the angels and the devil. [6] As a result of these appearances, within a few years, a crowd of pilgrims arrived at Laus, estimated at 130,000 within the first two years. [7] In 1666, construction was started on a church to enclose the little chapel at Laus where Lady Mary had appeared to Benoite Rencurel. [8]

On May 4, 2008, Bishop Jean Marie di Falco, the Bishop of Gap and Embrun, officially recognized the supernatural nature of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Benoite Rencurel. [9] This recognition by the Catholic Church marks the first approved Marian apparition in the 21st century, and the first in France since Lourdes was recognized, a century and a half ago. [10] Consistent with that recognition, Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco has supported the beatification of Benoîte Rencurel. [11] Under the auspices of Bishop Rene Combal, six experts (a theologian, a historian, a biblical scholar, a psychoanalyst, a psychologist, and a magistrate) have studied for several years the historical, and scientific and medical facts, from manuscripts written contemporaneously with Benoîte Rencurel's life. [12]

The basilica today. The church at Notre Dame du Laus, or Our Lady of Laus, contains:

Two items that are unique to Notre Dame du Laus are worth mentioning in more detail. The first is the oil from the sanctuary lamp. The oil lamp glows continuously in the sanctuary in front of the tabernacle. Oil is the means chosen by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Laus to grant physical and spiritual healings. [14] Many healings (and alleviation of symptoms) have been reported by people who apply the oil from the lamp to the afflicted area, with faith and in prayer to the intercession of Notre Dame du Laus. [15] The oil has been described as having the equivalent healing powers of the waters of Lourdes. The oil is free, and is sent to anyone who requests it from the website of the Sanctuary of Notre Dame du Laus (in French only at this time). [16]

Laus is also a place of famed "suave odors" or "exquisite fragrances". [17] The inhalations of these olfactory delights are reported to bring a sudden, calm joy to the senses. The beneficiaries of these fragrances retain a deep impression from the experiences which often encourages them to better prayers. It was reported of Benoîte Rencurel that she always smelled these perfumes when she saw the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the scents, which impregnated everything, persisted even after the apparition of Our Lady ended. Indeed, the sculpture Honoré Pellé (alternatively, Honoré Pela) gave the marble statue of Notre Dame du Laus, noted above, after being immersed in these exquisite fragrances during a pilgrimage to Laus. [18]


Population

Historical population of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus
Year 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856
Population 242 241 260 266 298 302 309 331 319 320
Year 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906
Population 316 337 329 325 327 325 232 240 226 235
Year 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 1968 1975
Population 213 209 196 262 249 205 221 155 153 157
Year 1982 1990 1999 2008
Population 149 177 215 297

See also

References

  1. ^ Our Lady of Laus, told in the form of a hagiographic legend. Webpage found 2008-04-06.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "My Name is Lady Mary", on the Mary of Nazareth website, found 2008-04-06.
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ [4]
  7. ^ [5]
  8. ^ [6]
  9. ^ [7]
  10. ^ [8]
  11. ^ [9]
  12. ^ [10]
  13. ^ [11]
  14. ^ [12]
  15. ^ [13]
  16. ^ [14]
  17. ^ [15]
  18. ^ [16]

External links


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