OUR LADY OF ARDENTS

Day 19: May 29

In 1105, Arras was hit by the fire disease, which had already affected part of Europe, and invaded the Artois region. Fiery disease, also known at the time as “hellfire”, was one of the infectious diseases that ravaged the West in the Middle Ages. Those who suffered from it had a burning sensation and saw their limbs turn black and decay. The bishop of Arras, Lambert, seeing his city decimated by the terrible disease, implored the protection of the Virgin. He was granted.

During the night of May 24th to 25th 1105, the Virgin appeared successively to two minstrels, Itier and Pierre Norman. They lived far from Valenciennes, the former in Brabant and the latter in the castle of Saint-Pol en Ternois, and they hated each other because Norman had killed Itier’s brother. The Virgin appeared to Itier and gave him a message that the chronicle, written less than 20 years later, reports as follows: “You are sleeping, are you sleeping? Listen to what I have to say to you: Get up and leave for the holy Zion of Arras, a sacred place where so many sick people, some 144 in total, endure mortal sufferings. When you arrive, I will let you know the place and time so that you can speak to the priest Lambert who governs this church and tell him about this vision. You will recommend that he, the third one, keep watch during the night from Saturday to Sunday, and visit the sick who are in the church.

At the first crowing of the cock, a woman, dressed as I am now, will come down from the top of the church, holding a candle in her hand, which she will give to you. When you have received it and lighted it, you will drip the wax into vessels full of water, which you will give to the sick to drink and pour over their wounds; and do not doubt that those who receive this remedy with faith will be restored to health; those who, on the contrary, do not believe, will die of their illness.

You will associate with Norman, the very one to whom you bear a mortal hatred, and who will be in your presence next Saturday; and when you have reconciled together, you will admit him as your third companion.”

Norman received a similar message the same night. For both men the apparition was repeated the following night. They went to Arras and met separately with the bishop. He managed to reconcile them. To prepare for the event announced for Saturday, the bishop made them fast on bread and water, and all three spent the night in prayer in the cathedral. On Saturday May 27th, around 3am, in the archway of the cathedral, they saw the Virgin coming down, radiant and bright, holding a lighted candle in her hands. According to the chronicle, the Virgin then said to the minstrels: “Come nearer! Here is a candle which will henceforth be the special pledge of my mercy and which I entrust to you. Anyone who is afflicted with the evil called infernal fire need only distil drops of this candle into water and sprinkle it on his wounds, which will be healed immediately. He who believes will be saved; but he who does not believe will be struck down with death.”

Then Our Lady disappeared into the air. Immediately what Our Lady had asked for was carried out and the 144 sick people were healed, except for one who did not believe in the promise.

In 1106, a confraternity called “Charity of Our Lady of the Ardents” was established to maintain the devotion to the Holy Virgin and to show the gratitude and thankfulness that we owe her. The main role of the bishop Lambert should be noted here: he receives the account of the apparitions, reconciles the visionaries and is present when the Holy Candle is handed over to them.

PRAYER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO OUR LADY OF SHESHAN
ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
FOR THE CHURCH IN CHINA

(24 MAY 2008)

 

Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,

venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title "Help of Christians",

the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection.

We come before you today to implore your protection.

Look upon the People of God and, with a mother’s care, guide them

along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be

a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.

When you obediently said "yes" in the house of Nazareth,

you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb

and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption.

You willingly and generously cooperated in that work,

allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul,

until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary,

standing beside your Son, who died that we might live.

From that moment, you became, in a new way,

the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith

and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross.

Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed

with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter.

Grant that your children may discern at all times,

even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence.

Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China,

who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love.

May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world,

and of the world to Jesus.

In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high,

offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love.

Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love,

ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.

Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. 

Amen!