17th Jun - OUR MOTHER OF THE FOREST (FRANCE)

 In 1380 there lived a good old man named Solomon near Lesneven. He was a simple man of the woods and slept in the open under an oak tree where the Chapel of Our Mother of the 

    Forest was built. Solomon loved to swing from the branches of a tree that hung over the fountain, all the while singing his praises to “Ave Maria!” at the top of his lungs. 

    He was commonly known to one and all as “The Fool of the Wood.” One day the villagers found the old man in the snow dying of exposure. They tried to help him, but it was too late 

    for their kindness, as the old man soon died with the words “Ave Maria” on his lips. The fool of the wood had finally gone to his Queen in Heaven. He was buried in an out-of-the-way 

    place in Lesneven, for he had no family to mourn him. When spring came, a snow-white lily rose from the outcast’s grave, and on the delicate petals of the lily, in letters of gold, 

    the words “Ave Maria!” could be seen. The grave was opened, and it was soon discovered that the lily had taken root in the mouth of the penniless old hermit. 

    News of the miracle drew crowds to the scene, and a Church was built to honor Our Mother of the Forest.





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