FIFTEENTH APPARITION, FRIDAY, DECEMBER EIGHTH, 1876, FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Some hours have now elapsed since my return from Pellevoisin, and I have not as yet recovered from my emotion. I have once more seen the Blessed Virgin, and I shall never again see her on earth. She told me so. No one can possibly under stand what I feel; yet I am ready to sacrifice everything for the glory of her who has bestowed so many favours on me. Her promises will console me. I shall not see her again; but she will speak to my heart. O my good Mother, grant that I may be docile to thy voice, and that I may never wander from the path thou hast marked out for me. Thou hast said to me: "I will assist you." I trust in thee thou wilt never abandon me. I shall then, for thy glory, relate with the greatest confidence, thy last visit to me.
This day after high Mass, I once more beheld my sweet Mother. She was more beautiful than ever. She was encircled by a wreath of roses, as in the month of July. When she appeared, she remained for some time without speaking. Then she said: "Recall to mind all my words." At that instant all that she had said since the month of February recurred to my memory. The following words in particular: "You know well that you are my daughter. I am all merciful, and mistress of my Son." Her complaints when she said: "What afflicts me most is the want of respect shown by some people to my Son in Holy Communion, and the attitude which they assume in prayer when the mind is occupied by other things." Then the words of the month of July: "His Heart has so much love for mine, that He cannot refuse my requests. Through me He will move the most obdurate. I am come in particular for the conversion of sinners." Then those spoken in the month of September: "The treasures of my Son are open; let them pray." And, when showing her Scapular, she said: "I love this devotion." These remarkable words: "It is here I will be honoured." For France: "I recommend calm, not only for thee but, for the Church and for France." Then the words spoken in November: "I have chosen thee. I choose the little ones and the weak for my glory." Besides these words, there were several others which I will keep secret. All this passed rapidly. The Blessed Virgin continued looking at me steadily. She said to me: "My child, remember my words. Repeat them often; they will strengthen and console you in your trials. You will see me no more." Then I exclaimed: "What will become of me without you, my good Mother?" The Blessed Virgin replied: "I will be invisibly near you." At the same instant I saw in the distance, to the left of the Blessed Virgin, a crowd of persons of all classes, who threatened me and made angry gestures at me. I felt a little frightened. The Blessed Virgin smiled and said: "You have nothing to fear from these." I have chosen you to publish my glory, and to spread this devotion." The Blessed Virgin held her Scapular with both hands. She was so encouraging that I said to her: "My good Mother, if you would only give me this Scapular?" The Blessed Virgin did not appear to hear me, but she said: "Arise and kiss it." Oh ! how quickly I stood up! The Blessed Virgin bent towards me, and I kissed it. It was for me a moment of delight.
Then the Blessed Virgin, raising herself up again, said, referring to the Scapular: "You will go yourself and see the Prelate. You will present to him the model Scapular you have made. Tell him that he is to help you with all his power, and that nothing will be more acceptable to me than to see this livery on each of my children, and that they all endeavour to repair the outrages received by my Divine Son in the Sacrament of His Love. See the graces I will bestow on those who will wear it with confidence, and who will assist you in propagating it." Whilst speaking thus the Blessed Virgin stretched out her hands and from them there fell an abundant rain, in each drop of which I seemed to read such graces as piety, salvation, confidence, conversion, health; in a word, all sorts of graces more or less favoured. Then the Blessed Virgin added: "These graces are from my Divine Son; I take them from His Heart; He can refuse me nothing." Then I said to her: "My good Mother, what should be on the other side of this Scapular?" The Blessed Virgin replied: "I reserve it for myself; you will submit your thought and the Church will decide." I knew that this good Mother was about to leave me now, and I felt deeply grieved. She gently ascended, still looking at me and saying: "Courage! Should he not be able to grant your request, and should any difficulties arise, you will go further. Fear nothing, I will assist you." She went half way round my room, and disappeared a short distance from my bed. My God, how grieved I felt! Thanks, my good Mother, I will do nothing without thee. Estelle.
[This vision took place about half-past twelve. It lasted more than a quarter of an hour. Fifteen persons were witnesses during a greater or less portion of the time, as they did not come into the room all together.]
The following is a resume of their depositions:
Sister M. Theodosie, the superioress of the nuns; Sister Ste. Emerance; and Mdlle. de Tyran - they saw Estelle for a quarter of an hour. She was already motionless as in the preceding ecstasies, when they perceived her immobility. All three saw her a few minutes afterwards stand up in a great hurry, approach the mantelpiece, which on that day had been transformed into an altar for the reception of the Children of Mary, stretch out her trembling hands, place them on a bouquet of roses in the center of the altar, and then raise herself up as if to grasp or take hold of something. All three saw her also advance her head and lips as if to kiss something. Her gaze was fixed, but her lips were moving. During the rest of the time her lips were as motionless as her eyes. A few minutes previously the superioress of the sisters and Sister Ste. Emerance had seen her looking towards the angle of the wall next the window. Had it not been for the breath which issued from her mouth she might have been taken for a corpse.
Mdlle. de Tyran left the room to call Madame de La Roche foucauld, her two daughters, Mdlles. Solange and Louise, and Mdlle. Simonet, their governess. As they came in a hurry they made a great deal of noise, but Estelle was insensible to it. She remained standing, her hands crossed, and her eyes fixed upon something before her. Mme. de La Rochefoucauld approached until she was within two feet exactly in front of her. She made a noise moving the chairs, but Estelle did not appear to perceive it. At the same time the superioress went to call M. le Cure, who came at once, followed by Mdlle. de Menon, by Mdlle. Thersile Salmon, his sister, and the superioress. Estelle was still standing. A few moments after, all saw her turn her head, but without moving her eyes or her eyelids, towards her bed, which was almost in the middle of the room. M. le Cure, standing between her and Mme. de La Rochefoucauld on the same level, looked at her nearly full in the face. She turned suddenly, seeming to follow something with great eagerness, her countenance was greatly flushed. A few moments after she knelt down. Questioned that evening as to whether she was aware of having stood up and touched the roses, she replied that she did not know anything about it, but that she must certainly have done so, as the Blessed Virgin had ordered her to do so. As for touching roses, she did not understand what was meant by it. Several persons went to pray in the room during the evening, and there was great emotion at Pellevoisin.
Reproduced from Public Domain Material.
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