Our Lady of Laus

Our Lady of Laus, also known as Our Lady of Happy Meetings or Refuge of Sinners,; refers to the Marian apparitions reported in the small village of Laus in the French Alps between 1664 and 1718. The visionary was a humble shepherdess, Benoîte Rencurel, who began experiencing visions of the Virgin Mary at the age of seventeen. Mary appeared to her as a sorrowful yet tender mother, often holding the Child Jesus or depicted near the cross, emphasizing repentance, conversion, and reconciliation with God.

The central message of Our Lady of Laus was the conversion of sinners, especially through confession. Mary asked that a church be built at Laus and encouraged priests to welcome penitents with patience and mercy. Over time, Laus became a major pilgrimage site, particularly known for spiritual healing and renewed faith through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many pilgrims reported profound interior conversions and peace rather than dramatic physical miracles.

In 2008, after a long and careful investigation, the Catholic Church officially recognized the apparitions of Our Lady of Laus as worthy of belief—the first Marian apparition in France to receive such approval. Today, Our Lady of Laus is honoured as a gentle mother who leads souls back to Christ through humility, repentance, and trust in God’s mercy, making Laus a lasting symbol of reconciliation and hope.