Our Lady of Le Puy

Ancient tradition that Mary appeared to and healed an unnamed woman at the dolmen on Mont Anis and indicated the place as a site of prayer. The tradition locates the event at Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France and associates it with Fourth or fifth century, traditionally 11 July. The date and place are reported according to the official Catholic sources cited for this entry.^[1][3]

The identified witness or witnesses are Unnamed woman suffering paralysis or fever (traditional visionary and recipient of healing). The article reports the tradition according to its competent ecclesial sources; it does not fill gaps with later devotional embroidery or treat every attributed message and anecdote as part of the authoritative judgment.^[1][4]

The Diocese of Le Puy presents the apparition-and-healing tradition as the origin of its cathedral shrine, keeps the cathedral dedication on the traditional anniversary, and records Pius IX's grant of minor-basilica status. The competent authority was Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay and Pope Pius IX, local diocese and Roman Pontiff, acting with respect to Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay. The recorded judgment date is 1856-02-11, and its defined scope is The cathedral shrine, annual dedication, pilgrimage, and public Marian devotion linked to the ancient Le Puy foundation tradition.^[1][2]

The competent ecclesial acts receive or authorize public devotion connected with the tradition, but they do not decide that the reported manifestation was supernatural. Liturgical observance, a shrine, pilgrimage, canonical coronation, patronage, or papal reception must not be converted into an authenticity decree that was never issued. Official diocesan sources present variant fourth- and fifth-century traditions. The liturgical and basilican acts receive the shrine tradition but do not supply a formal supernatural-authenticity judgment.^[2][5]

Public devotion connected with Our Lady of the Annunciation of Le Puy is authorized within the scope expressed by the competent acts. This permits Catholic prayer, pilgrimage, liturgical or shrine life, and pastoral reception only as those acts actually provide; local and universal observance remain distinct.^[1][2]

A devotional permission is not a blank authorization for commercial exploitation, sensational predictions, disobedience, novel doctrine, or every text circulated under an apparition's name. Pastors retain responsibility for sound catechesis, the Sacraments, protection of the faithful, and any qualifications or restrictions attached to the judgment.^[1][2]

Public Revelation is complete in Jesus Christ and transmitted in Scripture and Apostolic Tradition. A Marian apparition cannot add to the Deposit of Faith, correct the Gospel, or create an alternate teaching office. At most, an authentic private revelation helps the faithful live Christ's definitive Revelation more fully in a particular historical setting.^[6][7]

No Catholic is obliged to accept a private revelation as an article of divine and Catholic faith, even when competent authority has made a favorable judgment. Catholics must, however, respect the Church's actual permissions, cautions, and prohibitions. Exact terminology safeguards both legitimate Marian devotion and the primacy of Christ, whose grace alone gives every authentic apparition its meaning.^[6][5]