20 FEB - OUR MOTHER OF BOLOUGNE SUR MER (FRANCE)

 In the year 636, a small group of people standing on the seashore witnessed a ship 

    without oars or sails came into the harbor of Bolougne. It finally came to rest in the estuary, seemingly of its own accord. One of the witnesses boarded the boat 

    and confirmed that there was no one aboard, and that the vessel had no rudder, oars or sails. The ship, however, bore a statue of Our Mother. 

    Taking hold of it to bring it to land, a voice was heard saying, "I choose your city as a place of grace." The citizens welcomed Mary to their city by erecting 

    to her a shrine which reached its height of glory in the 12th Century. In modern times, 

    four exact replicas of Our Mother of Bolougne toured France for more than seven years as a symbol of devotion to Mary. 

    The dedication of a new Church built in honor of Our Lady of Boulogne was consecrated in the year 1469 by Bishop Chartier of Paris. 

    The image represents the Mother with the Child in her arms, standing in a boat, with an angel on either side.





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