Our Lady of Pontmain

Our Lady of Pontmain refers to a Marian apparition that took place on January 17, 1871, in the small village of Pontmain, France, during the Franco-Prussian War. On that winter evening, the Virgin Mary appeared to four children—Eugène and Joseph Barbedette, along with Françoise Richer and Jeanne-Marie Lebossé—while the adults of the village were gathered in prayer. Mary was seen standing in the night sky, clothed in a deep blue gown covered with golden stars, her hands raised and her face calm and maternal.

During the apparition, a message gradually appeared beneath her in golden letters: “But pray, my children. God will answer you in a short time. My Son allows Himself to be touched.” As the villagers prayed the rosary and sang hymns, the message unfolded, encouraging trust and perseverance in prayer. Notably, Mary spoke no words aloud; the entire message was communicated visually, emphasizing silence, faith, and collective prayer in a time of fear and uncertainty.

The message of Pontmain was soon followed by a sudden halt of the enemy advance, sparing the region from invasion, which many saw as a sign of Mary’s intercession. After careful investigation, the Church officially approved the apparition in 1872. Today, Our Lady of Pontmain is venerated as a powerful sign of hope, reminding the faithful that sincere prayer, even in the darkest moments, opens the heart to God’s mercy and peace.