30th Jul - OUR MOTHER OF GRAY, FRANCE (1602)

 The shrine of Our Mother of Gray is located near Besancon in Northern France. The statue of Our Mother of Gray is made of an oak tree from Montaigu, 

    has a black colour and is only 14.5 centimeters tall. About five centuries ago, on a hill near Montaigu, a pious person placed a small statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary upon an 

    old oak tree. The tree itself is crested one of the hills in the diocese of Malines. Soon the faithful began to come in crowds from throughout the region, 

    for there were miraculous healings and various miracles granted to the pilgrims who invoked Mary under the name of Our Mother of the Oak. 

    In the year 1602 a small wooden Chapel was built on the hill of Montaigu. The oak upon which the statue of Our Mother had once been displayed was now cut up into small pieces and 

    carved by a local craftsman into statues of the same image. These statues were presented as a mark of respect to patrons of the shrine. 

    Even the wood of the oak was almost a precious relic, for it had once touched the miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin, her miraculous power went with them. 

    The statue of Our Mother of Gray holds in her right hand a gleaming scepter of gold that a parishioner donated in the year 1807. 

    There are also three semi-precious stones set in the front of the base of the statue. Finally, the two gold crowns were created in 1909 on the occasion of the celebration of the 

    coronation of the statue of Our Mother of Gray.




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