Our Lady of Liesse
Mother of God
Marian sanctuary founded in the 14th century by three Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem following a miracle. A major pilgrimage site for the kings of France, it is famous for having granted the vow of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria with the birth of Louis XIV. The statue was solemnly crowned in 1857 under the pontificate of Pius IX.
Guided reading
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NOTRE-DAME DE LIESSE, IN THE DIOCESE OF SOISSONS.
Origins and reconstruction of the sanctuary
The sanctuary was founded in the 14th century by three knights of Saint John of Jerusalem following a vow. Due to the influx of pilgrims, the chapter of Laon had the church rebuilt at the end of the same century.
This sanctuary of Mary was founded in the 14th century by three knights of Saint John of Jerusa chevaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem Religious order to which Flora belonged. lem, originating from the surr ound Laon Location of Gelduin's first monastery. ings of Laon, to fulfill a vow they had made to the Mother of God, following a notable favor of which she was the dispenser for them. The crowd of pilgrims was soon so considerable that it was necessary, towards the end of the 14th century, to demolish the primitive sanctuary which had become too small. It was then that the chapter of Laon had the current church built, largely at its own expense, except for the elegant portal in the flamboyant Gothic style which was not built until one hundred years later.
A secular royal devotion
From Louis VII to Louis XIV, French sovereigns multiplied pilgrimages to obtain victories or the birth of heirs, notably for Louis XIV and the Dauphin of 1729.
From that moment o n, Our Lady of Liess Notre-Dame de Liesse Site of the Marian shrine in the Diocese of Soissons. e never ceased to see multitudes of pilgrims kneeling on its flagstones, not only from the diocese, but from foreign lands. The kings of France did not allow themselves to be surpassed by their people in devotion to the Mother of God. In 1146, Louis VII, before leaving for the crusade preached by Saint Bernard, came there on a pilgrimage; from 1422 to 1461, Charles VII came there several times to entrust to the Virgin his kingdom invaded by the English; from 1461 to 1483, Louis XI went there four times and founded a mass there for every Saturday. René, King of Sicily, sent a considerable offering there; from 1515 to 1547, Francis I made several pilgrimages there to thank Mary, as much for his deliverance from the prison of Spain as for his victories over his enemies. Henry II and Queen Catherine de' Medici, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III followed the example of their predecessors. On October 14, 1618, Louis XIII King of France who ordered the construction of the church. Anne of Austria and Louis XIII asked Mary there for an heir to the throne; for twenty-two years, they continued to come there to solicit the same grace; and finally, they were an swered. T Louis XIV King of France during the ministry of Olier. hey had a son who was Louis XIV. The great king never forgot the Virgin, to whom he owed his birth. He himself came to kneel at her feet in 1652, 1654, 1673, and 1680. The pious Queen Marie Leczinska had prayers offered in her turn to Our Lady of Liesse, for the blessing of her marriage, and later for her happy delivery; and, on September 4, 1729, she gave a Dauphin to France.
From the Revolution to the Second Empire
After an interruption during the Revolution, the pilgrimage resumed with fervor in the 19th century, supported by the nobility and Napoleon III.
During the troubles of the Revolution, the pilgrimage was suspended for some time, but once peace was restored to the Church, it did not take long to regain favor. In 1821, the Duchess of Berry was seen there, and in 1826 the Duchess of Angoulê me; in 1856, Napoléon III Emperor of the French who donated a bell. Napoleon III, in fulfillment of a private vow, donated five thousand francs, which were used for the purchase of a bell; and the number of pilgrims who go there each year is estimated at fifty thousand.
The Coronation of the Virgin
In 1857, Pope Pius IX granted the honors of coronation to the statue, which was celebrated during a ceremony gathering an immense crowd and numerous prelates.
It was only fitting that a Virgin so famous should receive the honors of coronation. Pius Pie IX Pope who canonized Josaphat in 1867. IX was happy to grant them to her; and on August 18, 1857, the great ceremony took place in the presence of at least fifty thousand people, nine prelates, more than eight hundred priests, and three hundred memb ers of the Saint Vincent de Paul con conférences de Saint-Vincent de Paul Lay charitable organization advised by Sister Rosalie in its early stages. ferences.
Source
Text extracted from the work Notre-Dame de France by the parish priest of Saint-Sulpice.
Notre-Dame de France, by the parish priest of Saint-Sulpice
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Foundation of the sanctuary in the 14th century by three knights of Saint John of Jerusalem
- Reconstruction of the church by the chapter of Laon at the end of the 14th century
- Pilgrimage of Louis VII in 1146 before the crusade
- Vow of Anne of Austria and Louis XIII for an heir in 1618
- Birth of Louis XIV attributed to the intercession of the Virgin
- Coronation of the statue on August 18, 1857, by decree of Pius IX
Miracles
- Benefit reported to the three founding knights
- Miraculous birth of Louis XIV after 22 years of waiting
- Birth of the Dauphin in 1729 for Marie Leczinska