Our Lady of Valfleury

Marian devotion

Where is he?

The shrine of Our Lady of Valfleury is in Valfleury, in the department of the Loire, region of Auvergnia-Rhódano-Alpes, France. The mapping location used for the map corresponds to the place of worship identified by OpenStreetMap. The sanctuary itself facilitates the direction of the rue du Genêt d'Or, 42320 Valfleury. It is a place of Marian pilgrimage historically attended by the Congregation of the Mission, the Lazarists.

Documented history

The history of the place brings together an ancient devotional memory and an institutional continuity that can be followed in the sources of the sanctuary. The tradition of Valfleury is related to an image of the Virgin found in a space of retamas or genists; that is why the title of the Virgin of Genêt d'Or appears. This explanation belongs to the narrative heritage of the sanctuary and should not be confused with a contemporary act of the alleged finding.

The Lazarist presence in Valfleury has been documented since 1687, although it suffered interruptions during the French Revolution and after the laws of separation. In the Revolution the communities were dissolved, the buildings were sold and the statue was hidden to protect it. The site of the sanctuary retains the memory that files were also lost, including a record of miraculous facts and thanks attributed to the place. This loss prevents the presentation of those accounts as complete records today.

The cult was restored on December 8, 1802 and the statue returned to its altar. Valfleury was erected in parish in 1809. The current church began to be built in 1840 on the initiative of the Lazarist Lugan; the ship and the façade were completed by its successor. The building was consecrated on May 29, 1866 by the Cardinal of Bonald, Archbishop of Lyon.

The coronation of the Virgin and the Child was held on May 31, 1860 by delegation of Rome. The source of the sanctuary indicates that Father Nicolas obtained authorization for coronation from Pius IX and that the ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of Valence as delegate. This coronation attests to a devotional practice and a concrete liturgical authorization; it does not in itself constitute a decree of supernatural over each account linked to the image.

Tradition

The tradition of Valfleury tells us that a pastor discovered the statue in a Christmas-blossomed grate. When the image would have been moved to Saint- Christo, he returned - according to the story - to the place of origin. A rock called the "Chair of the Virgin" is also remembered. They are elements of local religious memory, transmitted to explain the origin of the sanctuary, and should be read as tradition until contemporary historical documentation is available to prove the prodigy.

Legend

The fall of a first chapel after the eve, without victims, is part of the anecdotes of the place. The extraordinary protection of the image during the Revolution is also reported within the memory of the sanctuary, although the existence of hiding places and the recovery of veneration belong to documented history and do not force a supernatural interpretation.

Ecclesial State

It consists of public Catholic worship, continuity of the sanctuary, coronation of the image and diocesan and Lazarist pastoral care. A formal pronunciation that declares the apparition, the finding of the statue, or the associated wonders, is not recorded in the cross-sectional sources. This fact sheet therefore presents Our Lady of Valfleury as an advocation and sanctuary of allowed worship, without turning her traditions into approved facts.

Anecdotes and stories

The pilgrimages grew during the 19th century. The source of the sanctuary recalls, among others, a march from Saint- Chamond in 1873 with over eight thousand participants and another from Saint- Etienne in 1875. In 1885 a chilli was installed and a set of Rosario stations and a monumental calvary were developed. Spaces were also provided to accommodate pilgrims and work was promoted to care for the sick and orphans.

In 1995, a replica of the statue was blessed to participate in the "Virgin pilgrim" tour. In 1997 the Bishop of Saint- Étienne chose Valfleury as a meeting place for the World Youth Days in France. The sanctuary continues to celebrate an important pilgrimage on August 15 and receives parishes, schools, families and individual pilgrims during the year.

Prayer

Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus and faithful servant of God, accompanies those who come to Valfleury with tiredness, hope or concern. Pray for them before your Son, that they may receive light to discern, strength to persevere, and a heart ready to serve. May all veneration of your image lead to Jesus Christ and to confidence in the Father's merciful love. Amen.

Sources

• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Valfleury: History.
• OpenStreetMap, lugar de culto de Valfleury.
• Wikidata, Notre-Dame de Valfleury.