18 FEB - OUR MOTHER OF LAON (FRANCE)

 The shrine of Our Mother of Laon was erected into a Cathedral and founded by St. Remigius, 

    Archbishop of Rheims, about the year 500. Miracles were wrought there and in the year 1395, there was seen on the steeple the picture of a crucifix, 

    the wounds of which bled. One other unusual aspect of the Cathedral is that there are sixteen carved bullocks carved in stone. 

    Once some of the stones were being hauled up the slope for use in the construction of the Church, at one point the animals hauling the wagon could go no 

    further under the strain of the load. A huge ox appeared at that moment and assisted them in moving the load up into position but then disappeared as quickly as 

    it had appeared. Much of the stained-glass is original, there is a beautiful rose window. It depicts the Blessed Virgin seated on a throne with her Divine Child between 

    St John the Baptist and the Prophet Isaiah.




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