Our Lady of Laghet

Marian title of La Trinité (Provenza-Alpes-Costa Azul)

According to the traditionIn the place of Laghet there was a small rural chapel dedicated to the Virgin, where the peasants came to pray and ask for its protection. Many devotional narrations report that, from the 17th century, many cures and favors, the origin of this sanctuary's fame as a place of miracles and thanksgiving, began to be attributed to the intercession of the Virgin of Laghet. These traditions are reflected in the abundance of exvotes that cover the walls of the place.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the traditionIn the place of Laghet there was a small rural chapel dedicated to the Virgin, where the peasants came to pray and ask for its protection. Many devotional narrations report that, from the 17th century, many cures and favors, the origin of this sanctuary's fame as a place of miracles and thanksgiving, began to be attributed to the intercession of the Virgin of Laghet. These traditions are reflected in the abundance of exvotes that cover the walls of the place.

As for the documented historythe existence of a first chapel in Laghet already in the 12th century, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This chapel was restored in 1625, and from the mid-17th century the place began to be officially recognized as a Marian sanctuary by miracles and graces attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Laghet. Over time, the sanctuary was established as an important pilgrimage centre for the faithful of Nice, the region of the Maritime Alps and the neighbouring Principality of Monaco.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of Our Lady of Laghet It is seen as a miraculous image of the 17th century, very surrounded by exvotes offered by the faithful in thanks for the favors received. The sources consulted point to their character as an image of Marian devotion and their antiquity, but they do not offer with certainty technical details about the material (wood, stone or other) or a precise iconographic description; therefore, no consta in documented form the exact type of support or all its iconographic features.

The place of worship is the sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Laghetlocated in a quiet valley of the municipality of La Trinité, near Nice. The sanctuary is organized around a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, surrounded by a cloister of white walls, enhanced by cross vaults, which offers an atmosphere of recollection and silence. The architectural complex, which includes chapel and reception units for pilgrims, has developed around the ancient place of medieval and modern devotion. In the revised sources it does not appear that the church has been elevated to the title of minor basilica, ni que sea National sanctuary; if trata of a diocesan Marian sanctuary y regional de gran importancia, no consta officially another top title in accessible documentation.

Sponsorship and coronation

La advocación de Our Lady of Laghet enjoy particular devotion in the area of Nice and in the Principality of Monaco; the Monegasca principality family professes special devotion and goes to the sanctuary as a place of prayer. The sources thus point to their importance as Marian sanctuary for the faithful of the region of the Maritime Alps and Monaco, but no consta a formal decree declaring her the principal patron of a diocese or a nation in the documents consulted.

On the coronationit is indicated that the image was crowned in 1934, in recognition of the antiquity of devotion and the numerous testimonies of graces and miracles. However, the open sources used do not specify with absolute certainty whether it was a formal pontifical canonical coronation or the name of the Pontiff or the delegate who made it, and therefore, strictly, it must be stated: does not contain a documented canonical coronation with all your official data in the sources consulted.

Party and devotion

The main feast of Our Lady of Laghet is celebrated the September 8, coinciding with the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Around this date, solemn celebrations, Masses, processions and acts of popular piety are organized, which attract many pilgrims from Nice, the region and the Principality of Monaco.

The sanctuary is known for the great amount of exvotes (tablets, paintings, objects) that the faithful have left over the centuries in gratitude for healing, conversions, protection in danger and other graces that attribute to the intercession of the Virgin of Lagchet. This accumulation of devotees constitutes a true "visible memory" of the popular piety and miraculous character that the devotees recognize to the sanctuary. Throughout the year, there are pilgrimages organized by parishes, movements and families, which find in Laghet a privileged place of confession, Eucharist and silent prayer.

Link to the Rosary

In the specific documentation on the shrine of Notre-Dame de Laghet no consta a unique historical link of this advocation to the prayer of the Rosary (for example, a Rosary fellowship originally founded there or an official title explicitly associated with the Rosary). However, as in most Marian shrines, the prayer of Holy Rosary It is a regular part of devotional life: pilgrims and groups pray to the image, especially in the vigil, processions and strong times of the liturgical year.

The Rosary, by meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life in the company of Mary, helps the faithful to welcome the grace that so many witnesses have wanted to express in the exvotes of Laghet: Mary always leads to Jesus Christ, the source of all healing and consolation. In this sense, even if there is no unique historical relationship documented, the Rosary deeply accompanies devotion to Our Lady of Laghet, integrating the requests and thanksgiving of the pilgrims into a confident contemplation of the Gospel with the Virgin.

Sources: tradition of the sanctuary, diocesan information and Wikipedia in Spanish. The distinction between popular piety and documented ecclesial history is specific to this fact sheet; extraordinary accounts are presented as devotion and not as doctrinal pronunciation.