The Madonna diden’t appear only in Lourdes but much earlier ,in the years back to 1647 on up to 1718 when Benedette- this is the name of the seer- dies on December 28th after a long way offered to Mary wich lasted for over 54 years.

The progression was hard for the girl who had to do penance, to suffer terrible mortifications and struggle with Satan’s vexations.
First the apparitions of Our Lady take place in the “Vallon des Fours” in the region of the Alpes at the Vallèe de L’Avence in Saint Etienne.
The story begins on September 17th 1647 when Benedetta, God’s illiterate, is christened and later on when on her beloved father’s death she will have to shepherd the flock at the jullien’s -a well-off local family.
 

She grows up in gentleness and being timelessly raptured whit the rorary in her fingers and in the soft whis of the Hail Mary. But her swetness doesen’t affect her firm will and determination to doing good. On the other hand she is quite an ordynary girls. Benedetta often leads the flock to pasture at the Vallon des Fours. Here,one day, she notices a beautiful lady with a child by the hand. After a while, without answering Benedetta’s questions the Lady disappears.

The Mother of the Lord behaved in a special way: she would menifest herself this way for a long time; so that Benedetta could ripen and face the mistery with an ecstatic and contemplative attitude. Gradually the Lady gets familiar with Benedetta, takes her in to questions and answers, guides her, comforts her, encourages her and askes her to do someting , helps her to understand people more and to love God more. Even if she was told to be humble and meek she couldn’t hide wath was happening to her for long and very soon the authorities too got involved and Mary who appeared asked for esplanation.

The Madonna, because at the Vallon des Fours it was the Virgin-tells the people she wants them all to come in procession and at the point of arrival she reveals her name:”My name is Mary”! “I wan’t be here for a bit of time”! The Holy Vergin comes back a month later at Pindreau Benedetta can speak to her:”My daugther, go to Laus. You will find a chapel and you will recognize it by its scent.
And there from now on joce will see me and you will be able to talk to me”.

The chapel easly found by Benedetta opens the doorway timorously and can perceive the Mother of our Lord wating for her: I want a church to be built here in honour of my beloved son. It will be a place of conversion for many sinners.
And here, in this place I’will appear to you very offen. Laus becomes a pilgrimage site for people coming even from Embrun.

To a clergyman who demands miracles so that he can believe the Vergin makes Benedetta answer:”For the power given to you by the Lord, you are able to make Jesus take bodily form in the Eucharist but you have no power to give orders to the Holy Vergin who does what she wishes”!