The parish of La Salette in the diocese of Grenoble
comprises a few tiny hamlets in the French Alps…It was the
scene of an apparition of Our Lady to two rude cattle
herders, Melanie Mathieu, aged 14, and Maximin Giraud,
Aged 11. This took place on Saturday afternoon, September
19, 1846…As they watched, the splendor of the light
intensified, dazzlingly. They were puzzled and fear-stricken
and were about to flee when they observed that the luminous
circle was opening. Gradually they could make out,…the
figure of a woman. She was seated, her face in her hands, in
an attitude of sorrow, weeping. Slowly, with unearthly grace
she arose with her arms crossed on her breast and her head
somewhat inclined, she confronted them. As they gazed in
fascination, the children heard the woman speak in a voice
both commanding and reassuring. “Come to me, my
children. Do not be afraid. I am here to tell you something of
the greatest importance” … “If my people will not obey, I
shall be compelled to loose my Son’s arm. It is so heavy, so
pressing that I can no longer restrain it. How long I have
suffered for you! If my Son is not to cast you off, I am
obliged to entreat Him without ceasing. But you take no least
notice of that. No matter how well you pray in future, no
matter how well you act, you will never be able to make up
to me what I have endured for your sake.” … “I have
appointed you six days for working. The seventh I have
reserved for myself. And no one will give it to me. This it is
which causes the weight of my Son’s arm to be so crushing.”
… “The cart drivers cannot swear without bringing in my
Son’s name. These are the two things which make my Son’s
arm so burdensome.”
A Woman Clothed in the Sun, from pages 89 & 92-94