Saint-Étienne-le-Laus

Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
A view from the church of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus A view from the church of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus
Coat of arms of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus Coat of arms
Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, Notre Dame du Laus
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Hautes-Alpes
Arrondissement	Gap
Canton	La Bâtie-Neuve
Intercommunality	Avance
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Gaston Disdier
Area1	8.66 km2 (3.34 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	297
• Density	34/km2 (89/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	05140 / 05130
Elevation	699–1,266 m (2,293–4,154 ft) (avg. 735 m or 2,411 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Étienne-le-Laus is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

History

Besides being a popular vacation spot, the region is probably best known for the lengthy series of Marian apparitions which are said to have occurred there between 1664 and 1718, reported by shepherdess Benoîte Rencurel The church that was established around these Marian apparitions, Notre Dame du Laus, has been described as "one of the most hidden and yet powerful treasures in the history of Europe.". The apparitions were officially recognized by the diocesan authority of the Roman Catholic Church on September 18, 1665.

The "Laus" (formerly spelled "Laux") in the name of the commune, Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, and that of the church, Notre Dame du Laus, means "lake", in the Alpine Provençal dialect, which was a local derivation from the Latin word "lacus". On votive offerings and some older stones, the indication is Latin "Sancta Maria Lacensis", which translated means: "St. Mary of the Lake".

Starting in 1664, and lasting for fifty four years, in and around Laus, Benoîte Rencurel saw the Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of Laus or Notre Dame du Laus, along with Christ on the Cross, St. Maurice, St. Barbara, St. Joseph, St. Gervais and St. Protais, the infant Jesus, St. Catherine of Siena, the angels and the devil. As a result of these appearances, within a few years, a crowd of pilgrims arrived at Laus, estimated at 130,000 within the first two years. In 1666, construction was started on a church to enclose the little chapel at Laus where Lady Mary had appeared to Benoite Rencurel.

On May 4, 2008, Bishop Jean Marie di Falco, the Bishop of Gap and Embrun, officially recognized the supernatural nature of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Benoite Rencurel. This recognition by the Catholic Church marks the first approved Marian apparition in the 21st century, and the first in France since Lourdes was recognized, a century and a half ago. Consistent with that recognition, Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco has supported the beatification of Benoîte Rencurel. Under the auspices of Bishop Rene Combal, six experts (a theologian, a historian, a biblical scholar, a psychoanalyst, a psychologist, and a magistrate) have studied for several years the historical, and scientific and medical facts, from manuscripts written contemporaneously with Benoîte Rencurel's life.

The basilica today. The church at Notre Dame du Laus, or Our Lady of Laus, contains:

• The Chapel of Good Encounter ("Bon Rencontre"), the original chapel in Laus,
• The 18th century marble statue by Honoré Pellé (alternatively, Honoré Pela) of Notre Dame du Laus, in which Mary hold in one hand the Child Jesus, and in the other an apple, as she is the mediatrix between sin and salvation (this statue was crowned in the 19th century),
• The oil lamp of the sanctuary, from which the healing oil of Laus is drawn,
• The tomb of Benoîte Rencurel, immediately in front of the Chapel of Good Meeting,
• 14 paintings showing the life of Benoîte Rencurel, including her visions of St. Meurice, the angels, and the Blessed Virgin Mary,
• The statue of Our Lady of Grace ("Notre-Dame des Grâces") that is carried in procession, and
• The rounded apse chapel ("la Rotonde"), which contains a portrait of Benoîte Rencurel.

Two items that are unique to Notre Dame du Laus are worth mentioning in more detail. The first is the oil from the sanctuary lamp. The oil lamp glows continuously in the sanctuary in front of the tabernacle. Oil is the means chosen by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Laus to grant physical and spiritual healings. Many healings (and alleviation of symptoms) have been reported by people who apply the oil from the lamp to the afflicted area, with faith and in prayer to the intercession of Notre Dame du Laus. The oil has been described as having the equivalent healing powers of the waters of Lourdes. The oil is free, and is sent to anyone who requests it from the website of the Sanctuary of Notre Dame du Laus (in French only at this time).

Laus is also a place of famed "suave odors" or "exquisite fragrances". The inhalations of these olfactory delights are reported to bring a sudden, calm joy to the senses. The beneficiaries of these fragrances retain a deep impression from the experiences which often encourages them to better prayers. It was reported of Benoîte Rencurel that she always smelled these perfumes when she saw the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the scents, which impregnated everything, persisted even after the apparition of Our Lady ended. Indeed, the sculpture Honoré Pellé (alternatively, Honoré Pela) gave the marble statue of Notre Dame du Laus, noted above, after being immersed in these exquisite fragrances during a pilgrimage to Laus.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1793	242	—
1800	241	−0.4%
1806	260	+7.9%
1821	266	+2.3%
1831	298	+12.0%
1836	302	+1.3%
1841	309	+2.3%
1846	331	+7.1%
1851	319	−3.6%
1856	320	+0.3%
1861	316	−1.2%
1866	337	+6.6%
1872	329	−2.4%
1876	325	−1.2%
1881	327	+0.6%
1886	325	−0.6%
1891	232	−28.6%
1896	240	+3.4%
1901	226	−5.8%
1906	235	+4.0%
1911	213	−9.4%
1921	209	−1.9%
1926	196	−6.2%
1931	262	+33.7%
1936	249	−5.0%
1946	205	−17.7%
1954	221	+7.8%
1962	155	−29.9%
1968	153	−1.3%
1975	157	+2.6%
1982	149	−5.1%
1990	177	+18.8%
1999	215	+21.5%
2008	297	+38.1%

See also

• Communes of the Hautes-Alpes department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Sanctuary of Laus — Official Website