Our Lady of Laus

Benoite Rencurel was a poor, illiterate shepherdess who began seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary in May 1664 at age 17. The apparitions continued for 54 years until her death in 1718, making this one of the longest series of Marian apparitions in history. Our Lady first appeared in a valley called the Fours, then directed Benoite to the hamlet of Laus where she requested a church be built. A chapel was constructed in 1666, and it became a center of reconciliation and conversion. Benoite received the stigmata and was given the charism of reading souls, which she used to help penitents prepare for confession. The sanctuary became known as a place of extraordinary graces for the sacrament of reconciliation.