(Image: Monastery of La Guiche)
Devotion to Our Lady of Bonne Guard at La Fraudais: The Story
In
1268, The Count and Countess of Blois, Jean de Châtillon, and his
wife Alix de Bretagne, made a vow to build a Poor Claire monastery
in Coulanges, near Blois. The next year in 1269 a strange
apparition manifested on a pile of stones and thorns – a flame of
fire appeared to a group shepherds that kept the flocks at the place
called La Guiche, or 'Small Scrap'. At first, the shepherds tried
to approach the flame for warmth, but the flame put out no heat, and
dimmed in brightness when they approached. This happened for several
days, and at last the Count and Countess were informed of the
occurrence. They took this to be a sign marking the place where they
should build the promised monastery.
After
the pile of stones and thorny brambles were removed from the site, a
stone arch was discovered, then, the ancient statue of Our Lady was
also discovered. The Count took the statue into his keeping until
the monastery was built. It was finished and consecrated on August
5, 1273 on the feast of Our Lady of the Snows. The statue was placed
on the main altar of the monastery chapel, which was situated right
over the site where the statue was found.
(Image: the chapel at the monastery of La Guiche)
The
statue remained there for the next 500 years until the ravages of the
French Revolution. The monastery was closed, then partly destroyed.
(You can visit the official historical site here.) By a providential intervention the statue
was taken from the monastery of La Guiche and kept safe from the
anti-religious mobs by many pious families in the region of Tours who
guarded it in their homes, that is, until it came into the possession
of a lady named Madame Rose Le Camus.
Madame
Le Camus was a pious widow who did not have any children of her own
and became the 'adoptive mother' of Marie-Julie Jahenny, and who was also a
generous patron.
One day she heard an interior voice asking that she
send the statue to Marie-Julie Jahenny and the future Sanctuary of
the Cross that would be established. She obediently gave up the
treasure.
On Friday November
8, 1878 the miraculous statue was delivered to Marie-Julie's cottage
as she suffered the Passion. (See post #95, click here.) The statue was delivered by a Mr. Hermary
from Tours according to the “Friends of Marie -Julie / Sanctuary
Website”. Our Lady declared later to Madame Le Camus through
Marie-Julie on November
28, 1878: "Oh,
if you knew how my Divine Son and I, we are happy with this gift! I
reward this generous soul, your adopted mother.'
Our
Lady then revealed the rest of the history of the statue (November
28, 1878):
“My
child, this is my history. I was sculpted by a poor cripple who,
after bodily pains, became lame and deformed. He was poor, but
heroically religious. Not being able to live without work, he offered
himself with ease to guard the flocks of a rich family. While he was
in the pastures he would often say to himself: 'I have never done
anything to extol, to honour the Holy Virgin who spared my life, in
spite of so much suffering.'
One
day he asked his master for the heart of a tree and the master
fulfilled his wish. He carved the piece of wood, each day he
advanced in his work. I helped him and he finished the statue. He
lodged me in his poor habitation where he slept. After his death,
the statue stayed for a long time with the family of his masters.
In
the early days, I had my little oratory, poor, but rich in visits,
Christian mothers came to consecrate their little children to me,
many priests kissed my statue. Very often I averted the dangers and
perils that were coming upon my children.
Afterwards
I was given to an old priest who kept me until his death … but
shortly beforehand I told him three times: 'My son, your heirs are
not Christian, they will not render me the veneration that I merit;
before dying you will carry me to a marsh a few miles from here –
you will turn my head toward Nazareth – you will make me a little
sanctum in the form of a sepulchre. Without revealing your secret
you will carry me in the silence of the night while reciting a prayer
to me. You will conceal me and you will die with your secret. You
will sow some thorny plants, they will grow rapidly, and I shall
remain entombed in this site.'
Our
Lady then added that after many years, the time in which she would
emerge would arrive. It is then that her Divine Son would throw from
Heaven, on the site where the statue was buried, a luminous torch
that would attract attention. The sealed up stone was opened with
respect and we maintained a great veneration for the site.
Our
Lady declared: “I was (found) intact. On this land prayers were
recited immediately and I manifested my glory in giving health to a
little child. My name is OUR LADY OF BONNE GARDE”
Note:
the closest translation we have of the title in English is “Good
Council”, although there are more literal translations from the
French: “Good Watch”, “Good Protection”, “Good Guard”, or
“Good Care”.
(*)
Later, on August 16, 1880, Our Lady said she wished that a
special medal to be struck with her title as Our Lady of Bonne Garde,
which would carry a special grace and protection of Faith and purity,
especially for children. Click here to learn more about the medal.
Then,
on
August 26, 1880 Our Lady explained to Marie-Julie the meaning of the
title:
“Before
having come
the first time to speak here, I was invoked under the name of
Notre-Dame of the Garde (Care/Watch), but I wanted to assert 'Bonne'
garde, because I had in mind to (certain) protections so bright that
the word 'Good' belongs to me and is more honourable.”
Of
interest, there is also a famous
pilgrimage site devoted to Our Lady as Notre-Dame de la Garde in
Marseilles shown in the image, but at La Fraudais it appears Our
Lady also wishes this ancient title of 'Note-Dame de La Gard' to be
amended to "Notre-Dame de La Bonne Garde". Does she also
wish it to be amended at Marseilles as well? Click here to find out more about the shrine and devotion in Marseilles.
Our Lady of Bonne Garde
also revealed on October 23, 1880 to Marie-Julie regarding the future procession of the statue to the Sacntuary of the Cross that will be built in La Fraudais:
"I
have not yet done all my wonders My beloved child, when the sanctuary
will be built in La Fraudais, (i.e the great Sacntuary of the Cross)
I will be carried in procession, to burst forth my marvelous power.
In regard to two stubborn criminals, possessed of the devil, (i.e.
two sinners who are possessd will be present at the procession.) I
will deliver them, I will stir the hand that carries the scepter, and
I will touch those two criminals who will return to grace and a Mass
of thanksgiving will be said, I will sing aloud, and my voice will
be heard in the sanctuary, and the angels will sing with me. My
beloved children, I am all powerful and a Mother Protectress ."
In
1883, as a reward for her generosity in donating the ancient statue
to the Sanctuary at La Fraudais, Our Lady further revealed to Madame
Le Camus through Marie-Julie the extent this devotion would spread:
Our
Lady: "My dear child, you shall bring to my Rose, (I.e. Madame
Rose Le Camus) your dear mother, my words. My cult, (I.e Our Lady
of Bonne Garde) my daughter is going to be flourishing, my name will
spread everywhere, my heart will open as an inexhaustible source for
all the pilgrims of the Cross. My daughter, I will be greatly
honoured by all visitors of the work, starting my devotion (by the
people) ... The people will venerate* me, beg
me, giving me votive offerings of gratitude.”
(*
CORRECTION/ CLARIFICATION: A bad literal translation of the
French text appeared in the book "We Are Warned", ie. "worship
me" instead of "venerate me". The French word in the
text is "vénérer" = to venerate. I apologise for the
previously bad translation via Google Translate!)
Marie-Julie:
“With these words, my Good Mother rose radiantly on a beneficial
cloud, so wonderful that Our Lady of Bonne Garde was as lost in the
songs of thanksgiving and gratitude (sung by) the poor humans ... She
said: "I see at my feet, the whole of France with its
sovereigns. My daughter, this devotion will start with the favour of
the last days of your life on Earth." (I.e. the devotion
would begin to spread just before Marie-Julie's death).
The
October Devotion to Our Lady of Bonne Garde
Ecstasy
of October 1, 1935
Our
Lady of Bonne Garde to Marie-Julie Jahenny:
“During
this beautiful month, (I.e.
October)
recite to me three
'Hail Marys' in the morning, midday and evening.
To obtain my assistance during your life and death, you will say:
“I
salute you, beloved Daughter of the Father, Lily of Purity, pray for
us.
I
salute you, Mary...(Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.)
I
salute you, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Violet of Humility, pray for
us.
I
salute you, Mary, (Hail Mary, etc.)
I
salute you, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, Rose of Charity, pray for
us,
I
salute you, Mary, (Hail Mary, etc.)”
(Apparently,
this must be said, morning, mid-day, and evening for the whole
month.)
Divine
Providence Intervenes in the Coronation of the Statue of Bonne Garde
at La Fraudais:
In
1990 the “Friends of Marie-Julie” desired to honour Our Lady of
Bonne Garde by commissioning a special crown for the statue in gold
and gems and wished to present it in 1991 in hour of Marie-Julie's
50th
Anniversary
of her death (she died 1941), and also in honour of the 90th
birthday
of the 'Marquis' de Franquerie, the man Our Lady instructed to guard
Marie-Julie's texts, and who later founded the “Friends of
Marie-Julie Society”.
They
finally were able to secure a Catholic goldsmith capable of this
commission and had already chosen the stones for the crown when
unexpectedly on November 11, 1990 a certain section of the texts in thier archives fell
to the floor: lo and behold, it was dated May 10, 1904 and featured
Marie-Julie's prophetic description of a 'crown'.
“Marie-Julie:
"I
see rising to the top of the Heart of
Mary, Our Good Immaculate Mother,
a crown from
which detaches a dazzling burst of glory, formed by rays of white
diamonds interspersed with emeralds."
The
Blessed Virgin: "My children, this crown is interlaced with the
most abundant riches of my maternal heart."
The
“Friends of Marie-Julie” were stunned to see this text drop at
their feet: they observe if it had fallen a mere twenty-four hours
later it would have been too late to change the commission to fit the description they found as the
stones would have passed into the hands of the smelter and no change
to the crown could have been made in time, and, they also note if
this text had fallen a year earlier they would not have seen the
signs regarding the work of the crown that they were currently
undertaking, for the project would not have been envisioned then let alone
undertaken. The “Friends” immediately saw the work of God in
this, especially as the Feast of the Immaculate Heart had not yet
been established when the ecstasy took place. Following the
directions they believed were now given to them on how the crown should look, the statue was
solemnly presented with the emerald and diamond crown on the Feast of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary August 22, 1991.
The story
does not end there, for the prophetic text of the first crown dated
1904 contains other predictions—the 'first crown' was a sign
more crowns were to come, and that “paths” from Heaven to earth
were about to open. The “Friends of Marie-Julie” at the time
believed this was not only a prediction of Marie-Julie's crown after
her death, but also that once the statue itself was crowned, the
prophecies of La Fraudais would commence in earnest, vis, the spread
of devotion to Our Lady of Bonne Garde, the path of the Great Monarch
and Angelic Pope would be opened, and that the Sanctuary of the Cross
would soon be more the just a prophecy, La Fraudis would become a
place of great pilgrimage, and that plans for the construction of the
Sanctuary and the Age of Peace would not be long in coming:
(Continuation
/ excerpts from the May 10, 1904 text):
Marie-Julie:
"There is in the suns where is imprinted
the Face of the Divine Redeemer, where shines the face of the Holy
Immaculate Virgin, where there are lights intertwined with pearls and
beads so beautiful and white we read in the burst that go out: love,
generous rewards, suffering crowned, battles ended."
"Oh
Heaven do not delay any more!"
"This
first crown, oh, what a burst of beauty! It is the announcement, it
is like a predecessor burst that prepares the way, sanctifies
it, fills it with lights and dazzling jubilations. It is the
sun a future dawn that comes, radiant, radiant with glory,
preparing the way from Heaven to Earth. "
"This
rich crown, it is a blessing that
is spreading (the) ways to be followed by others.
It is (this one) that
comes first to prepare the thrones where must repose all those that
follow it.
The way is resplendent, it is a light similar to the lights of
Heaven; we
understand in this very large way harmonious songs that make the soul
tremble with joy, a joy that is intoxicating, a joy which fills one
in a transport that it can not describe,” and she said: "To
suggest my sublime exclamations, I wait for the hour that is even
closer; this close (approaching) hour will make me exclaim with
jubilation and joy. In an ecstasy of delight and happiness, I will
leave my exile of sadness and tears. In the most pure breast my
Beloved Spouse, I will plunge and become inebriated."
"The
hour is coming and Heaven is
already decking with flags the radiant path that comes from Heaven to
Earth."
The
“Friends of Marie-Julie” also note the insistence of this
prophecy, that in this text of the 'first crown', “...we read 11
times it prepares the way, the path, track, and it also comes, to
advance the paths (mentioned 7 times).”
Then,
as if to confirm their thoughts, only three days after the Coronation
of the statue, on the feast of King Louis IX (August 25), 1991, the
following texts regarding Our Lady of Bonne Garde, which
had been lost among their great number of files,
fell under
their eyes,
again by what seemed to be chance, but which the “Friends of
Marie-Julie” also believe to be Providential considering the
timing! (It appears from the context they had no idea about this part
of the history of the statue regarding Marie-Julie and therefore were
learning about it for the first time.) The texts refer to Madame Le
Camus and how the Devotion to Our Lady under the title of Bonne Garde
would spread and that miracles were destined to follow:
(September
15, 1883) Marie-Julie: "My good adoptive mother, (Madame Camus)
be ready to come see Our Lady of Bonne Garde, she leaves Heaven, she
comes to comfort us. I never saw her so beautiful and stunning, my
Good Mother and of Good Garde (Care/Watch).”
Our
Lady: "My beloved child, Rose, (Madame Le Camus) if you knew how
I love you, how more pleasing you are to me, because my Rose, you do
everything to please me and console me. My dear child, I tasted so
many charms under your blessed roof, in leaving, to come establish me
as Mistress, Governess, Director of the work of the Cross".
(i.e. Our Lady recognised Made Le Camus special devotion to her
statue under her roof, and although the statue was a treasure for
her, was generous in giving the statue to Marie-Julie when requested.
The generosity was a pleasing consolation.)
Marie-Julie
says: "My dear adoptive mother, June 26 this year, I was so
unwell that I could not move. Our Lady of Bonne Garde in the morning
of that day, without disturbing the top of her stall (shelf?), shook
my hand, her soft hand seemed so (gossamer?) and burning with love.
She spoke to me and I could sit a little on my couch, and she said:
"My
daughter, great graces will soon be brought about by my name."
On
August 15 she told me to tell you these beautiful things that will
delight you and also the father, good mother. (I.e Fr. David, her
confessor). For some time a considerable number of friends of the
Cross (will) call upon the Cross, pray and salute Our Lady of Bonne
Garde, up to the letters that are addressed to it, many. Our
Lady of Bonne Garde gave me many revelations, she said:
Our
Lady: "My dear child, you shall bring to my Rose, your dear
mother, my words. My cult, my daughter is going to be flourishing,
my name will spread everywhere, my heart will open as an
inexhaustible source for all the pilgrims of the Cross. My daughter,
I will be greatly honoured by all visitors of the work, starting my
devotion (by the people) ... The people will venerate me, beg me,
giving me votive offerings of gratitude.”
With
these words, my Good Mother rose radiantly on a beneficial cloud, so
wonderful that Our Lady of Bonne Garde was as lost in the songs of
thanksgiving and gratitude (sung by) the poor humans ... She said: "I
see at my feet, the whole of France with its sovereigns. My daughter,
this devotion will start with the favour of the last days of your
life on Earth."
"My
daughter, I work great wonders for my First Victim (I.e .Fr. David,
her confessor) and its father preach the glory of the Cross, Rose
will be there with my other friends."
"My
daughter, I will be gloriously crowned more than I am today, crowned,
my daughter, by the Holy Church immortal and infallible in its
lights. (Note:A prediction of the establishment of the Feast of
the Immaculate Heart, which happened in 1944? It could also be a
prediction the title of Bonne Garde will also be formally recognised
by the Church). My First Victim and my Rose will be at my feet on
this solemn day when the Church will make me a crown of prayers and
hymns.”
Marie-Julie:
Here, my good adoptive mother, a speech that put all Heaven in
harmony of praise and glory to Our Lady of Bonne Garde. The Holy
Virgin, our dear Mother told me again:
"I
have to go triumphantly to get my beloved First Victim. (A prediction
of Fr. David's death? He died two years later in 1885.) In my power,
with (her), I will joyously bring many more imprisoned victims, and
my Rose with other friends, to sing the Te Deum. It is there, my
daughter, that I will descend from the podium to fly into their arms
and I will rise on a throne much broader and more worthy of my name."
Marie-Julie:
“When I am no longer with you, my dear mother, (Madame Camus) on
Earth, she will give you a comforting sign of her sweet love by the
lifting her right hand, as if to bless you with the workers of the
work. She asked me to tell you seven different times. She said to me
again, the Holy Virgin; "she had all three of our hearts” and
that she wanted, my good mother, they are never removed, not even for
the solemn coronation of the Church. She said, the Holy Virgin, that
our father was a saint … that no soul knew the holiness of this
Father, First Victim (I.e Fr. David) … in how little time there
will be (accomplished through) him great things and great miracles.
She told me he was a bright light planted in the designs of the three
Divine Persons.”
Our
Lady: "My daughter, my heart rejoices in ineffable joy
because of the great things that will be accomplished! My Son will
break forth His wonders and I, I will break forth mine."
Julie
Marie: "How beautiful, Jesus and Mary accomplishing miracles
in the same time, how beautiful!"
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