“I choose your city as a place of grace.”
Commandeered by Angels, the Miraculous Statue of Our Lady Arrives in Boulogne!
In 633 A.D., in the city of Boulogne-sur-mer, part of the Kingdom of France, some villagers at the seashore witnessed a mysterious boat or ship, come into the *harbor of Boulogne. It
finally came to rest in the estuary of the Liane River, seemingly of its own accord. At first glance no one was seen and on climbing aboard, a man confirmed that the vessel was empty of people and without rudder, oars or sails. The
ship, however, bore a luminous statue
of the Virgin and Child. On bringing the statue on land a voice was heard saying, “I choose
your city as a place of grace.”
*At the same time the vessel came into the harbor
of Boulogne, the Holy Virgin appeared to several faithful in a chapel on the heights of the city, announcing the arrival of the boat in the port and asking them to install the statue in the chapel, so that it could be honored. They gratefully
complied with Her request.
Boulogne-sur-mer became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Catholic Europe;
fourteen kings of France, five kings of England and many Saints came there on pilgrimage.
Miraculous prodigies soon followed and pilgrims from all over Christendom, which included many Kings
and Saints, would travel to venerate Our Lady at Boulogne-sur-mer, where eventually a renowned Cathedral (which was most tragically sacked by French revolutionaries) and then
a beautiful Basilica was later to be built,
from the generous alms of the pious patrons of *Notre-Dame de Boulogne.
*Note: TCW will be adding additional posts in this
sub-section, of the very important place/role Our Lady of Boulogne (also known under the titles of: Our Lady Star of the Sea and Our Lady of the
Grand Return) has had in the History of the Catholic Church, and the Eldest Daughter of the Church [France]. TCW also wants to impress on its readers, the imperative need today, of invoking the miraculous intercession of Notre-Dame de Boulogne, to end this, the worst persecution ever, of the True Papacy (which
is now underground). -ED
Related Links:
"Godfrey of Bouillon Credits His Crusade Victory
to Our Lady of Boulogne"
Reliquary of The Holy Blood - Shed in Jerusalem & Sent by Godfrey (Boulogne Basilica)
Video: Processions for Notre-Dame de Boulogne c. 1900
Illustration of Louis XI in
1479 Presenting Shrine of O.L. of Boulogne with a Solid Golden Heart