Our Lady of Laus
Europe · France
What happened
In Laus, in the diocese of Gap, the young shepherdess Benedicta—Benoîte—Rencurel claimed to have received apparitions of the Virgin Mary, beginning in 1664 and continuing for many years. Mary's presence in this humble shepherdess's life lasted for much of her life, until 1718, in a spiritual guidance that gave the sanctuary its name and character. The chronological details of each apparition are not recorded in the verified documentation available, but the general context—location, visionary, and long time span—is clear.
The message of the Virgin
The devotion to Laus centers on the conversion of sinners, confession, and reconciliation with God; hence, the site is known as the sanctuary of reconciliation. The message invites repentance and a return to grace through the sacrament of forgiveness, a devotional feature well-attested to by the sanctuary's tradition.
The sanctuary today
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Laus stands on the site of the apparitions, renowned for its emphasis on confession and conversion. It houses many votive offerings commemorating conversions and healings, and attracts pilgrims seeking the sacrament of reconciliation.
The Church's recognition
In 2008, the Bishop of Gap officially recognized the supernatural nature of the Laus apparitions. It is, therefore, an apparition whose supernatural character was recognized by the local bishop, a decision predating the 2024 Norms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which today would generally reserve a judgment of nihil obstat.
A grace that touches the heart
Laus is best known for the fruits of conversion: numerous votive offerings attest to reconciliations and healings attributed to the Virgin's intercession. The emphasis placed on confession has made this sanctuary a place where the most palpable grace is that of the heart returning to God, a spiritual fruit abundantly documented by tradition.
Link with the Rosary
The shepherdess Benoîte Rencurel lived a life of simple and constant prayer, a spirit characteristic of the Rosary. Praying the Rosary in Laus is to prepare one's soul for the conversion and reconciliation that the Virgin Mary so insistently requested there.