Pontmain - Full history of the apparitions
Pontmain, Mayenne, France · 17- January 18, 1871
El 17 y 18 de enero de 1871, durante la guerra franco-prusiana, la Virgen María se apareció en el cielo sobre la aldea de Pontmain ante cuatro niños. La aparición duró tres horas y dejó un mensaje de esperanza: «Pero rezad, hijos míos. Pronto estaré con vosotros.»
The circumstances
In January 1871, France was being invaded by Prussia (today Germany). The Prussian army was moving west, threatening Paris and all of France. Pontmain was a small village in the Mayenne region in the north-west of France.
On January 17, about six in the afternoon, two brothers - Eugène Barbadette, 12 years old, and his brother Josephine Lebernard, 10 years old - were in the barn of his house when they saw a bright light in the sky.
«Vi una luz brillante en el cielo. Era como una estrella grande, pero más hermosa. Luego vi a la Virgen.»
- Eugène Barbadette, witness to the apparitionThe Apparition
Los niños vieron a la Virgen María en el cielo, vestida de negro con un manto azul oscuro. Llevaba una corona con siete estrellas y un mensaje bordado en su manto: «PERO REZAD, HIJOS MÍOS. PRONTO ESTARÉ CON VOSOTROS.»
Junto a la Virgen había dos ángeles que sostenían un cartel con la inscripción: «JESÚS-CHÚS. DEU SEU PUEBLO PERDÓN, A FRANCIA PAZ Y A LA IGLESIA LA LIBERTAD.»
The apparition lasted three hours, from 6: 00 to 9: 00 at night. Hundreds of people gathered to contemplate the show, including the parish priest and local authorities.
The four seers
Eugène Barbadette (1858-1934) - The greatest of the seers. He was 12 when he saw the apparition. He lived a simple life, working as a school teacher. He never sought fame.
Josephine Lebernard (1860-1941) - Sister of Eugène. I was 10. He lived a life of prayer and service.
Jeanne-Marie Lebossé (1860-1941) - Friend of the Barbadette brothers. I was 11. He lived a humble life.
François Cascade (1862-1918) - The least of the seers. I was 9. He died young at age 56.
«La Virgen nos sonrió. Sus ojos eran hermosos, llenos de amor. Nos dio un mensaje de esperanza.»
— Jeanne-Marie Lebossé, testigo of the apparitionThe end of war
On January 18, the day after the apparition, the Prussian army stopped its advance to the west. The Prussian generals, who planned to occupy all of France, met with unexpected resistance.
Historians discuss whether the arrest of the Prussian army was a coincidence or a divine intervention. For the faithful, the apparition of Pontmain was the direct cause of the arrest of the Prussian advance.
The approval
En 1872, el obispo de Laval, monseñor Wicart, declaró que la apparition tenía «signos de autenticidad» y autorizó el culto a Nuestra Señora de Pontmain. Esta decisión reconoció la apparition menos de un año después de que ocurriera.