The Catholic Defender: ”Blessed Mary reportedly visits Pellevoisin, France”
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Pellevoisin is a little village not far from Tours in France. In 1876, a young woman, Estelle Faguette, lay dying from tuberculosis – only five hours to live in the opinion of the doctors.
But on the 13th of February, when all were expecting her death, Our Lady appeared near the sickbed.
This occurred on three successive nights, and then, as Our Lady had promised, the sick woman was instantly cured on a Saturday.
Miraculous Healing: During the first five apparitions in February, Mary promised Estelle she would be cured.
On February 19, 1876, Estelle was suddenly and completely healed, a recovery later declared medically inexplicable by the Archbishop of Bourges in 1983.
During the visits, Our Lady of Pellevoisin frequently spoke to Estell, her theme being that which she so often has expressed during the past hundred years: “I am all-merciful and have great influence over my Son. What distresses me most is the lack of respect for my Son. Publish my glory.”
Over the course of 15 visits between February and December, Mary identified herself as the "All-Merciful Mother" and requested the promotion of the Scapular of the Sacred Heart.
The Scapular of the Sacred Heart: Mary appeared wearing a white scapular with a red heart, saying, "I love this devotion". She asked Estelle to have a replica made and to spread its use as a sign of reparation for "outrages" against the Eucharist.
Call to Reverence: A central theme was the "lack of respect" for Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Mary urged the faithful to seek peace, patience, and simplicity—often referred to as the "Three Cs" of Pellevoisin: Calm, Courage, Confidence.
For some months after her miraculous cure, Estelle continued to live quietly at Pellevoisin.
She was at a loss to find the means of fulfilling the mission entrusted to her by Our Lady.
Her heavenly visitor, however, was watching over her, and Estelle was to see her again and receive more minute instructions as to what was required of her.
On the feast of Our Lady’s visitation in the same year, 1876, as Estell was praying in her room, she was granted another vision.
Our Lady, robed in white and wearing on her breast a white scapular with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, appeared to her favored friend.
This was the first of a series of wonderful visions enjoyed by Estelle, ten in all.
Again and again Mary pointed to the great need for penance and expiation – a return to God.
The Final Vision: On December 8, 1876, Mary appeared for the last time, showing Estelle "raindrops" of grace falling from her hands, representing health, trust, and conversion.
Scapular Approval: Pope Leo XIII approved the Scapular of the Sacred Heart in 1900 and granted indulgences for pilgrims.
As of August 22, 2024, the Catholic Church has officially granted a "nihil obstat" (nothing stands in the way) regarding devotion to Our Lady of Mercy at Pellevoisin France
While the Church does not typically rule on the "supernatural character" of the events themselves under current norms, this latest recognition allows and recommends that the faithful adhere to the devotion. This follows over a century of "secondary level" approvals and formal recognition of related elements.
Miraculous Healing (1893/1983): Estelle Faguette’s sudden recovery from terminal tuberculosis in 1876 was formally declared "miraculous" by the Archbishop of Bourges in 1893. This was reiterated after a modern medical and theological inquiry in September 1983.
The Sacred Heart Scapular (1900): Pope Leo XIII officially recognized and approved the Scapular of the Sacred Heart (which Estelle claimed Mary revealed to her) for use by the universal Church.
Archconfraternity (1894): The Pope established the Archconfraternity of Our Mother All Merciful in Pellevoisin to foster the devotion.
Nihil Obstat (2024): The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) issued its highest form of approval for the devotion, noting its "particular value" and the spiritual fruits it has produced.
There are no doctrinal or moral objections to the spiritual event.
The faithful are authorized to give their prudent adherence.
The devotion is actively recommended as a path of spiritual simplicity and trust.
Beatification: The cause for Estelle Faguette’s beatification was officially opened in 2020.
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