In 1871, France was at war with German, and not faring well. Paris was besieged, and most French villages, Pontmain among them, were starving. It was winter, many of the village men had been called to fight, and a typhoid epidemic had spread throughout the town. There was little hope left in the villagers’ hearts, and despair had overrun the small town of approximately 500.
It was at this time, when things were bleakest and most hopeless that Our Blessed Mother appeared to four school children: Eugene and Joseph Barbedette (12 and 10, respectively), Jeanne-Marie Lebossé (age 9) and Françoise Richer (age 11).
On the evening of January 17, Eugene and Joseph were working with their father in the family’s barn. Eugene went outside momentarily “to see what the weather was like” and was the first to see The Beautiful Lady. Joseph, a typical younger brother, followed Eugene, and exclaimed moments after Eugene first spotted the apparition, “Oh, The Beautiful Lady!” Mary was described as dressed in a blue robe with golden stars covering it.
Eugene’s father could not see The Beautiful Lady his sons were talking about—Rather, he saw bright twinkling stars in the sky. He pulled them inside to finish their chores and the three returned home for dinner. Following discussion at the dinner table, the children returned outside where Our Blessed Mother still appeared. The children’s mother traveled to the local convent, informing the Sisters. They, with some children, traveled to the family’s home. It was then that Jeanne-Marie and Françoise saw the apparition, describing Mary in an identical fashion as the boys had. “She has a blue dress with golden stars, gold-ribboned slippers, a golden crown widening towards the top with a red band around it, and a black veil.” Another child named Eugene Friteau (age 6), also reported seing Mary, as did a neighbor’s infant, Augustine (age 2), who reached out with towards the Apparition and showed signs of joy.During what is described as Phase 1, the local Priest and Sisters immediately arranged a prayer service, during which the remaining four of the five phases of apparition occurred.
During Phase 2, as a crowd gathered and began praying, a blue oval with four unlit candles appeared surrounding the Blessed Virgin. A small red cross appeared over her heart. Mary, however, as described by the children, appeared sad. As the prayers of the crowd that was gathering increased in strength, the vision slowly expanded in size, with dazzling stars appearing. A banner unfurled between the edges of the oval, with the following words appearing one by one:
“But pray, my children. God will answer you very soon. My Son lets His Heart by touched.”
During the second phase, a man in the crowd announced that the German troops were advancing toward the village, leading to further prayer and hymns. The Blessed Mother, during Phase 3 raised her hands toward the sky, fingers gently keeping time to the hymns being sung. She appeared to speak, but was not heard. Her face, which had smiled during the communication of her message, again appeared sad.
During Phase 4 of the apparition a red cross appeared in Mary’s hands, bearing the words “Jesus Christ” written in white and a figure of Christ in red. A star moved in the sky, lighting each of the four candles, and then resting above the Blessed Virgin’s head. She sadly tilted the cross toward the children.
In Phase 5, the red cross disappeared, and in it’s place, two white crossed appeared on each of Our Holy Mother’s shoulders. A white veil at her feet slowly rose, shrouding her from view, until only her golden grown remained. And then, that too, disappeared. The vision had lasted all evening, with the townsfolk praying in the cold until nine o’clock in the morning. At that, all went home, their minds clear and at peace.
The following prayer might be said today, an invocation to Our Lady of Hope:
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