The Marian Apparition of La Salette picks up where the revelations of Christ to Sr. Marie St. Pierre leave off. They are linked not only in content, but in manner, for they came as a direct plea from Sr. Marie St. Pierre to Our Lady, asking her to inform someone else of the messages for fear that her bishop would not approve the devotion.[1]
This apparition was not better known, even in its day, though immediately approved, due to the influence of blasphemous ideology which had already infiltrated the Church in France[2]; it was not until Pope St. John Paul II re-introduced the apparitions during their 150th anniversary in 1996 that more today are familiar with them.
Our Lady of La Salette conveys the extreme offense that sins of blasphemy and the profanation of Sunday give to Our Lord and how His Hand of Justice will not be held back forever. The La Salette messages echo the revelations of Sr. Marie St. Pierre in which reparation for sins of blasphemy—the opposite of fear of God—is demanded of the faithful for themselves, and especially for others.
The interweaving of these and other Church-approved revelations of Christ and Marian apparitions help put into spiritual context the current, declining state of human morality and especially, of our beloved Church—as well as an inevitable period of correction. They do, however, also give us hope for better times to come, a time of great peace and purity which Our Lady has promised will follow.[3]
To usher in that time, we all have an essential part to play in drawing down mercy for ourselves and others; there is a responsibility for each of us to help save as many souls as possible by way of reparation, while hopefully lessening the degree of “correction” needed. The Holy Face Devotion is no less than a necessary[4] means, demanded by God Himself, in reclaiming our Church and times for Christ!
[1] Ibid., 277-78.
[2] La Salette was a very unpopular apparition among the corrupt clergy and hierarchy, since it brought to light their offenses as part of the messages themselves; it is pertinent for this reason today, as well.
[3] These themes of a chastisement of mercy to help convert the masses, as well as a great period of peace following, are common to many, if not most, modern, Church-approved Marian apparitions and will be discussed in the main body of the book.
[4] Sister Mary St. Peter, Life of Sister Mary St. Peter, ed. M. L’Abbe Janvier (France, 1884), 269. The word “necessary” is used repeatedly in reference to this work of Reparation in the salvation of mankind; this citation is but one example.
The Marian Apparitions at Fatima, Portugal are essentially linked to the Holy Face Devotion: both request and provide the spiritual means to defeat Communism. The first provides the spiritual method to make reparation for sins against the Virgin, while the latter is concerned with making reparation for sins against the the Godhead. Both convey the urgency and obligation of man to pray for the conversion of sinners. They are complementary requests from Heaven and are more relevant than ever in our time.… (More to come.)