Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

"The Black Virgin of Rocamadour and the bell that rings by itself"

Rocamadour, Lot (France)

In the department of Lot, the sanctuary of the Rocamadour It seems to be hanging from the sky. There, in its main chapel, the Black Virgin of Rocamadour, a size of polychrome wood darkened by the time and smoke of countless candles. It was one of the great places of pilgrimage in medieval Europe, a known stage of pilgrims to Santiago, mentioned by kings and nobles, and famous for the miracles attributed to Mary's intercession.

The most striking thing, and what you asked for to be counted carefully, is the bell. From ancient times the tradition of a bell of the sanctuary is circulating It sounds on its own.without anyone touching it, to announce that the Virgin has granted a miracle: every mysterious little thing would mean that a ship has been saved on the high seas, sometimes very far, in waters that from this cliff of the interior are not even seen.

It is a beautiful, deeply rooted legendary motif that unites this Inner Virgin with the men of the sea. But we must be honored: in the sober historical sources no consta a documentary demonstration of such unexplained sounds - no books of dated and contrasted miracles, no records of the ships saved -. It is therefore a question of Pious tradition, not in fact verifiable. What is Historically clear is that Rocamadour was a centre of pilgrimage of first order, that the Black Virgin was venerated as a taumaturga, especially in favour of the sick and navigators, and that numerous exvotes of graces received are preserved.

As regards Rosaryin accessible sources no consta a specific historical link of Rocamadour with this prayer (rosarian copradies, own practices). It is reasonable that he is praying there today, as in every great Marian sanctuary, but that fact is not a documented distinctive feature.