Our Lady Of Pellevoisin
Estelle Faguette lay dying of tuberculosis in Pellevoisin, a small French village. It was February 1876.
In the early days of the illness, Estelle had asked God how could He have let this happen to her who was the sole support of her father and mother, and an orphan niece. Eventually, however, she perfectly abandoned herself to the will of God, offering up her sufferings in expiation of her sins.
Then on the night of February 14, 1876, a demon appeared at the foot of her bed. Just after Estelle spied the demon, she saw the Blessed Mother at her bedside. Our Lady rebuked the demon and he immediately departed. Our Lady then looked at Estelle and said to her, "Fear nothing, you are my daughter."
Mary told her to have courage for she was to suffer five more days in honor of the five wounds of Christ. On Saturday she would either be dead or be cured.
The next night Mary appeared to Estelle to inform her that she was to live. But Our Lady reproved Estelle for her past sins. Though Estelle had not lived a worldly life, she was overcome with remorse for her failings.
The following evenings the Holy Virgin continued to appear to Estelle as she lay in her sickbed. Mary told her that, "I am all merciful." On the fifth night Estelle asked Mary if she should change her state of life. Mary replied:
One can be saved in every state. Where you are, you can do a great deal of good, and you can publish my glory.
After Our Lady left that night, Estelle was cured.
In July of the same year the Holy Virgin visited Estelle for three consecutive days. Mary Immaculate explained that, "I have come especially for the conversion of sinners."
On September 9th, Our Lady again came to visit Estelle. Mary showed Estelle a Scapular of the Sacred Heart that she wore and said, "I love this devotion." She paused and said, "It is here I will be honored."
A week later Our Lady visited Estelle announcing, "Let them pray and let them have confidence in me." And she prophesized that "France will suffer."
In November, Our Lady once more came to visit Estelle. Mary told her that, "I choose the little ones and weak for my glory."
On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1876, the Blessed Mother appeared to Estelle for the fifteenth and last time. Mary Immaculate instructed her to go to the bishop, show him the Scapular of the Sacred Heart, and enlist his aid in promoting it. Mary said to Estelle, "See the graces I will bestow on those who will wear it with confidence, and who will assist in propagating it." As Our Lady spoke she stretched out her hands and raindrops fell from them. In each drop Estelle read the names of different graces such as piety, salvation, confidence, conversion, health. Mary explained, "These graces are from my Son; I take them from His Heart; He can refuse me nothing." A little later Mary left, never again to visibly visit Estelle in this life.
Pope Leo XIII, in May 1894, approved the Archconfraternity of our Mother All Merciful of Pellevoisin. The Congregation of Rites in a decree issued on April 4, 1900 granted approval to the Scapular of the Sacred Heart.
Estelle Faguette continued to live humbly in Pellevoisin until her death in 1929.
© Ignatius Press 2000.
This item 4446 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
