Our Lady of Le Puy
| Reported event | 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 |
|---|---|
| Place | Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France |
| Dates associated with the event | Fourth or fifth century, traditionally 11 July |
| Witnesses | Unnamed woman suffering paralysis or fever |
| Ecclesial status | Public devotion authorized; supernatural authenticity not determined |
| Public devotion | Authorized |
| Competent authority | Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay and Pope Pius IX, local diocese and Roman Pontiff |
| Judgment date | 1856-02-11 |
Our Lady of Le Puy is a Catholic Marian title and manifestation tradition associated with Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. Its exact ecclesial status is public devotion authorized; supernatural authenticity not determined; that status governs what may truthfully be said about the reported event and the devotion connected with it.[1][2]
Reported event
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.[1][3]
The identified witness or witnesses are Unnamed woman suffering paralysis or fever (traditional visionary and recipient of healing). The tradition is presented according to its competent ecclesial sources; later devotional embellishments, attributed messages, and anecdotes outside the authoritative judgment remain distinct from the approved material.[1][4]
Ecclesiastical judgment
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]
Devotion and reception
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]
Relation to Catholic faith
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]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Back to citation occurrence 1.4 Back to citation occurrence 1.5 Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay: Notre-Dame du Puy — Official Catholic source supporting eventTradition, witness, healing, shrineFoundation, dedicationAnniversary, pilgrimage.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Back to citation occurrence 2.4 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1978 norms on presumed apparitions and revelations — The earlier procedural norms under which many historical favorable judgments and permissions of public devotion were made.
- Back to citation Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay: 11 July: dedication of the cathedral — Official Catholic source supporting eventTradition, liturgicalCommemoration, publicDevotion, qualification.
- Back to citation Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay: The cathedral-shrine of Notre-Dame du Puy — Official Catholic source supporting eventTradition, traditionalCentury, cathedralShrine, papalBasilica, publicDevotion.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena — The current law governing investigation and the six possible prudential conclusions, including the exact limits of a nihil obstat.
- Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 65–67 — Catholic doctrine on the definitive fullness of Revelation in Christ and the subordinate role of private revelations.
- Back to citation Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum — The dogmatic constitution on Revelation in Christ and its transmission in Scripture and Apostolic Tradition.