Le Laus The Shrine of Notre-Dame du Laus

In May 1664 the Virgin Mary appeared to Benoîte Rencurel, a shepherdess of sixteen, in a valley above Gap, and asked her to have a church built there for the conversion of sinners. Benoîte said she saw the Virgin often for the next fifty-four years, until her death in 1718, and spent her life receiving pilgrims and urging them to confession.

The bishop of Gap recognized the apparitions in 2008, and Benoîte was declared Venerable in 2009. Pilgrims receive oil from the lamp that burns before the Blessed Sacrament, which the Virgin promised would heal those who use it with faith.

Further reading: La Salette: The Apparition of 1846 and the Alpine Shrine; Marian Apparitions of France: A Pilgrim’s Guide.

• The basilicaBuilt from 1666 at the place the Virgin chose.
• The chapel of Bon-RencontreWhere Benoîte first saw the Virgin at the Laus.

• May 21, in Canada and among the Oblates of Mary ImmaculateFeast of Saint Eugène de Mazenod

• Saint Eugène de MazenodFounder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and bishop of Marseille

• Via ImmaculataeThe Way of the Immaculate, ten daysDay V, La Salette and Le Laus

About twenty minutes by road from Gap.

• La SaletteThe Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, about 25 miles as the crow flies
• SénanqueThe Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque, about 63 miles as the crow flies
• CotignacNotre-Dame-de-Grâces and Saint Joseph of Bessillon, about 69 miles as the crow flies
• Le ThoronetThe Abbey of Le Thoronet, about 75 miles as the crow flies