Our Lady Of Nanteuil
Country : France
Year :
This shrine dates from late in the 1st Century, making it one of the oldest in France. According to legend, some of the first Christians in the area discovered the statue residing on the branch of an oak tree. They placed it on a nearby wall near a fountain and went to summon the neighbors. On returning they found that the statue was gone. Since this was an isolated spot, they wondered who had taken it. Later the statue was found once more where they had first seen it, on the branch of the oak tree. The first chapel was, accordingly, built around the tree, the branches with the statue, being on the upper floor.
A parish church, later built next door, shows late 12th century architecture, but the shrine was already very old at this time.
The religious upheavals of the 16th Century left Our Lady of Nanteuil undisturbed, but before the French Revolution, a change came over the statue. The smiling face became sad, and many pilgrims testified to seeing tears on the cheeks. The revolution indeed brought sorrow to the shrine. One of the pilgrims threw a rope around the neck of the statue and pulled it to the ground, breaking all but the head. A woman who carelessly tossed the head aside and looked for better loot was punished by almost instant death. Another woman took up the mutilated head and hid it until the destruction was over and a new body could be made to go with it.
The religious upheavals of the 16th Century left Our Lady of Nanteuil undisturbed, but before the French Revolution, a change came over the statue. The smiling face became sad, and many pilgrims testified to seeing tears on the cheeks. The revolution indeed brought sorrow to the shrine. One of the pilgrims threw a rope around the neck of the statue and pulled it to the ground, breaking all but the head. A woman who carelessly tossed the head aside and looked for better loot was punished by almost instant death. Another woman took up the mutilated head and hid it until the destruction was over and a new body could be made to go with it.
One of the many miracles recorded of our Lady of Nanteuil is the cure of a little boy who was completely crippled. His mother carried him on her back for three pilgrimages, and the third time he returned home entirely cured. The shrine was famous for the cures of sick children.
This shrine had a privileged altar, highly indulgenced. It was a favorite of the Venerable Olier and of that saintly vagabond, Benedict Joseph Labre.
