Account of the apparitions

The account of the apparitions was brought to us by Estelle herself, in a publication entitled “Estelle nous parle”, which also includes her autobiography.

The texts below are extracts from the apparitions. Words in quotation marks are those of the Virgin Mary. Without quotation marks, they are Estelle’s.

Each apparition story is accompanied by the full audio version. (in French)

The entire publication “Estelle nous parle” is also available in audio version. (in French)

1st appearance: Night of Monday 14 to Tuesday 15 February 1876

“Do not be afraid, you know that you are my daughter.

“You will suffer again in honour of the five wounds of my Son.

I was trying to rest, when suddenly the devil appeared at the foot of my bed… No sooner had he arrived than Our Lady appeared on the other side, in the corner of my bed… She said to him curtly:

“What are you doing here? Can’t you see that she is wearing my livery and that of my Son?
He disappeared, gesticulating.
Then she turned to me and said gently:
“Don’t be afraid, you know that you are my daughter? “.
…” Courage, be patient; my son will be touched. You will suffer five more days, in honour of the five wounds of my son. On Saturday, you will be dead or healed. If my Son gives you back your life, I want you to declare my glory. ”
Immediately I saw between her and myself a white marble plaque which I recognised as an ex-voto. I said to her: “But my good Mother, where should it be placed? Is it in Notre-Dame des Victoires, in Paris or in Pellevoi? She did not give me time to finish the word Pellevoisin. She answered me:
“At Notre-Dame des Victoires, they have enough signs of my power, whereas at Pellevoisin, there is nothing. They need a stimulus.
… I promised her to do what depended on me for her glory. She said to me again, “Courage, but I want you to keep your promise. ”

2nd apparition : Night of Tuesday 15 to Wednesday 16 February 1876

“You will be healed on Saturday

“If my Son gives you life, it is because you need it… What has he given to man on earth that is more precious than life? By giving you back your life, do not think that you will be exempt from suffering … and pain. That is the merit of life.

“Now let us look at the past”.

The second night, I saw the devil again… The Blessed Virgin appeared almost as soon as he did and said to me:
“Don’t be afraid, I am here. This time, my Son has allowed himself to be touched, he is letting you live; you will be cured on Saturday. ”
Then I answered: “But my Good Mother, if I had a choice, I would rather die while I am well prepared. “Then Our Lady said to me with a smile:
Then the Blessed Virgin said to me with a smile: “Ingrate, if my Son gives you life, it is because you need it. What has he given to man on earth that is more precious than life? By giving you back your life, do not think that you will be exempt from suffering; no, you will suffer and you will not be exempt from pain. That is the merit of life. If my son has been touched, it is because of your great resignation and your patience. Do not lose the fruit of this by your choice. Did I not say to you, “If he gives you back your life, you will declare my glory? ”
The white marble was present, and beside it, as much white tissue paper as there was thickness of marble formed a quantity. I tried to lift some of the pages, but it was impossible. The Blessed Virgin was still smiling at me.
“Now let us look at the past. “Her face became a little sadder, but still very sweet… I am silent about what Our Lady said to me in particular. I will only say that she gave me some serious reproaches which I had well deserved… The Blessed Virgin looked at me with kindness, then she disappeared without saying anything. How much sorrow I had!

3rd apparition : Night of Wednesday 16 to Thursday 17 February 1876

“I am all merciful

“I have shown this letter to my Son

“Publish my glory”

On the third and fourth night, I saw the devil again. He was standing so far away that I could hardly make out his movements… Our Lady said to me:
“Come on, have courage, my child. ”
…She reproached me again, but so gently that I was reassured.
She reproached me again, but with such gentleness that I was reassured: “All this is past; you have, by your resignation, redeemed these faults. “She showed me some good deeds I had done. They were very little compared to my faults. The Blessed Virgin saw my pain well, for she said to me:
“I am all mercy and mistress of my Son. These few good deeds and some fervent prayers that you have addressed to me have touched my mother’s heart, among others, this little letter that you wrote to me in September. What touched me most was this sentence: “See the pain of my parents if they were to miss me; they are on the verge of begging for bread. Remember, then, what you suffered when your son Jesus was laid on the Cross. I have shown this letter to my son; your parents need you. In the future, try to be faithful. Do not lose the graces that are given to you, and publish my glory. ”

4th apparition : Night of Thursday 17 to Friday 18 February 1876

“Make all your efforts”.

The fourth night was much the same as the others. I went over each night what she had said to me the previous times. That night, it seemed to me that she stayed less long. I wanted to ask her for mercy, but I could not. My thoughts were racing. I saw in my mind the words that the Blessed Virgin had repeated to me (…during the previous apparitions).
Why, while the Blessed Virgin was there, watching, she who is so good and gentle, could I not ask her anything? She left as she did the other nights, repeating to me:
“You shall declare my glory. ”
I tried again to say, “How can I?” I didn’t have the time; she answered as she left, “Make every effort. “”

5th apparition : Night of Friday 18 to Saturday 19 February 1876

“If you want to serve me, be simple, and let your actions answer your words.

“What grieves me most is the lack of respect for my Son in Holy Communion and the attitude of prayer that one takes when one’s mind is occupied with other things; I say this for the sake of people who claim to be pious.

After a moment’s rest, I felt well. I asked the time, it was half past midnight. I felt healed, except for my right arm, which I could not use until I received the Good Lord.

…The Blessed Virgin approached in the middle of my curtains. My God, how beautiful she was! She remained motionless for a long time without saying anything; she stood in the middle of a clear vapour… She was smiling, she reminded me of my promises.
I could see my plate, but this time it was no longer all white. There were golden rosebuds in the four corners, and at the top, a flaming golden heart, with a crown of roses, pierced by a sword. This is what was written: “I invoked Mary at the height of my misery. She obtained for me from her son my complete recovery.
I promised her again to do whatever depended on me for her glory. She said to me, “If you want to serve me, be simple and let your actions answer your words. ”
I asked her if, in order to serve her, I should change my position. She replied, “You can be saved in any condition; where you are, you can do much good and you can publish my glory. ”
After a little while, she said to me (at which point she became sad):
“What grieves me most is the lack of respect one has for my Son in Holy Communion, and the attitude of prayer one takes, when the mind is occupied with other things. I say this for the sake of people who claim to be pious. ”
After these words, she resumed her smiling air. I asked her if I should say anything about what she had just told me, and Our Lady replied:
The Blessed Virgin replied: “Yes, yes, publish my glory; but before speaking of it, you must wait for the advice of your confessor and director. There will be pitfalls; you will be called a visionary, an exalted person, a madwoman; do not pay any attention to all that. Be faithful to me, I will help you. ” .
I kept looking at her; my eyes stared at her without tiring, and then slowly the Blessed Virgin moved away. I have never seen anything so beautiful. Little by little she disappeared, and all that remained was the mist (soft light) that was around her, and then everything disappeared.

At that moment I was suffering horribly … I asked the time, it was half past midnight.
I felt healed, except for my right arm, which I could not use until I received the good Lord…

6th apparition : Saturday 1st July 1876

“Calm down, my child, be patient, you will have pain but I am here”.

I was kneeling in front of my fireplace, when all of a sudden I saw the Blessed Virgin surrounded by a soft light, just as I have seen her before; only I saw her all the way from head to toe.
What beauty and sweetness! Her waist-string fell almost to the bottom of her dress. She was all white and stood upright. Her feet were level with the pavement; only the pavement seemed to be lowered. When she first saw her, her arms were outstretched, and it was falling from her hands like rain.
She was staring at something; then she took one of her cords, brought it to her chest where she crossed her hands. She was smiling. “Calm down, my child, patience, you will have pains, but I am here. ”
The cord she was holding fell back… The Blessed Virgin remained for a little while, then she said to me: “Courage, I will return. “.

7th apparition: Sunday 2 July 1876
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin

“You have already published my glory… Continue. My Son also has some souls more attached … His Heart has so much love for mine that he cannot refuse my requests … Through me, he will touch the most hardened hearts.

“Is not your healing one of the greatest proofs of my power? I have come especially for the conversion of sinners.

..I knelt down and recited half of the Hail Mary. The Blessed Virgin was before me. …She was the same as yesterday, the rain was falling from her hands, and in the bright background around her there was a garland of roses…
“You have already published my glory. ”
“Go on. My son also has some souls more attached. His heart has so much love for mine that He cannot refuse my requests. Through me he will touch the most hardened hearts. “At that moment she was so beautiful!
…The paper I had seen from the 15th to the 16th of February came back to my mind. Then I said: “My good Mother, what shall we do with this paper? “It will be used to publish these accounts, as several of my servants have judged. There will be many contradictions, do not fear, be calm.”
“Is not your healing one of the greatest proofs of my power? I have come especially for the conversion of sinners. ”

8th apparition: Monday 3 July 1876 – The Virgin Mary is crowned at Lourdes

“You need to rest, I’ll only stay a few minutes… I came to finish the party.

“I would like you to be even more calm. I didn’t tell you what time I should come back, or what day. You need to rest, I will only stay a few minutes. ”
She said smiling, “I came to finish the party. ”

9th apparition: Saturday 9 September 1876
octave of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin,
eve of the feast of the Holy Name of Mary

“You deprived yourself of my visit on 15 August; you didn’t have enough peace. You have the character of the Frenchman, he wants to know everything before learning and understand everything before knowing. Yesterday I would have come again; you were deprived of it. I expected this act of submission and obedience from you.

“The treasures of my Son have long been open; let them pray.

“Mary then shows the scapular of the Sacred Heart which she wears on her chest.

..For several days I had been longing to go to the room where I was cured. Finally today, September 9, I was able to go there. I was finishing saying my rosary when Our Lady came.
“You were deprived of my visit on 15 August; you were not calm enough. You have the character of the Frenchman. He wants to know everything before he learns, and to understand everything before he knows. Yesterday I would have come again; you were deprived of that. I expected this act of submission and obedience from you. “At that moment I understood very well that if I had not submitted and obeyed, I would have been deprived of seeing her more…
“For a long time the treasures of my son are open; let them pray. ”
As she said these words, she lifted the little piece of wool she wore on her chest. I had always seen this little piece, without knowing what it was, for until then I had seen it all white. When I lifted it, I saw a red heart that stood out very well. I thought at once that it was a scapular of the Sacred Heart. As she lifted it, she said, “I like this devotion. “She paused again, then said, “This is where I will be honoured. ”

10th apparition: Sunday 10 September 1876
Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

“Let them pray, I show them the example”

On 10 September, Our Lady came at about the same time. She only passed by saying: “Let them pray, I am showing them the example. “As she said this, she joined her hands and then disappeared. The hour of Vespers was sounding.

11th apparition : Friday 15 September 1876
Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

“In the Church, there is not this calm that I desire… Let them pray and trust in me. And France! What have I not done for her! What warnings, and yet she refuses to hear! I can no longer hold back my Son… Courage and trust.

“I will keep you accountable for the efforts you have made to have calm; it is not only for you that I ask this, but also for the Church and for France. In the Church, there is not the calm that I desire. ”
She sighed and shook her head, saying, “There is something. “She stopped. She didn’t tell me what it was, but I knew at once that there was some discord. Then she said slowly, “Let them pray and trust in me. ”
Then Our Lady said to me sadly (she was not crying): “And France! What have I not done for her! How many warnings, and yet she still refuses to hear! I can no longer hold my son back. “She seemed moved as she added: “France will suffer. “She pressed these words. Then she stopped again and said: “Courage and confidence. Then, at that moment, I thought in my heart: “If I say this, they may not want to believe me; and the Blessed Virgin understood me, for she replied: “I have paid in advance; too bad for those who will not want to believe you, they will recognise the truth of my words later. “Then she gently left.

12th apparition : Wednesday 1st November 1876
Feast of All Saints

Estelle: My God, what do you want from me? I am ready. Do whatever you like

Finally, today, November 1, I saw the good Mother of God again. She was as always, with her arms outstretched, and wearing the scapular she showed me on 9 September. When she arrived, as always, she was staring at something I couldn’t see; then she looked around. She said nothing to me. Then she looked at me with great kindness and left.
I will do whatever is in my power for your glory.

13th apparition : Sunday 5 November 1876

Estelle wonders why Mary chose her. Mary: “I have chosen you … I choose the little ones and the weak for my glory … Courage, the time of your trials will begin”.

At about 2.30 I went to my room to say my rosary and when I had finished I saw the Blessed Virgin. She was beautiful as always. When I saw her I thought that I was unworthy of her graces and that there were so many others who deserved her favours more than I did and who could publish her glory more. Then she looked at me and smiled and said:
“I have chosen you. ”
“I choose the little ones and the weak for my glory. ”
She stopped again and said to me:
“Courage, the time of your trials will begin. ”
Then she crossed her hands over her chest and left.

14th apparition : Saturday 11 November 1876

Estelle made a scapular. Marie: “You didn’t waste your time today; you worked for me… You have to do a lot more. Courage”.

…When she came, Our Lady was like the other times, with her arms outstretched and her scapular on. When she arrived, as always, she remained for a long time without saying anything, then she looked at me and said something to me. Then she said to me:
“You didn’t waste your time today; you worked for me. ”
(I had made a scapular.) She was smiling, then she added:
“You have to make many more. ”
She stopped for quite a long time, and then she became a little sad, and said to me: “Courage” and then she left, crossing her hands over her chest. She hid her scapular completely.

15th apparition: Friday 8 December 1876
Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Mary announces her departure: “You will not see me again … I will be invisibly near you”. The Blessed Virgin was holding her scapular in both hands. She was so encouraging that I said to her: My good Mother, if you would give me this scapular. She said to me with a smile: “Get up and kiss it”. Our Lady bent over me and I kissed it. It was a moment of delight for me. Then Our Lady got up and said to me, speaking of the scapular: “You yourself will go to the Prelate and present him with the model you have made. Tell him that he is helping you with all his power and that nothing will please me more than to see this livery on each of my children and that they will all apply themselves to repairing the outrages which my Son receives in the sacrament of his love. See the graces that I pour out on those who will wear it with confidence and who will help to propagate it. As she said this, the Blessed Virgin spread out her hands: an abundant rain fell from them, and in each of its drops I seemed to see graces written down, such as piety, salvation, trust, conversion, health; in a word, all sorts of graces of varying strength. Then the Blessed Virgin added: “These graces are from my Son, I take them from his Heart; he cannot refuse me.

Today after high mass, I saw that sweet Mother again. She was more beautiful than ever; her garland of roses was all around her, as in July. When I arrived, she remained silent, as on previous occasions, and then she said to me:
“My daughter, remember my words. ”
At that moment, I saw them all again since February… Among these words, I saw many others. I will keep them secret. All this passed very quickly. Our Lady was still looking at me; she said to me:
“Repeat them often; may they strengthen and console you in your trials. You will not see me again. ”
Then I began to cry out: “What will become of me without you, my Good Mother? Our Lady answered me:
“I will be invisibly near you. ”
At that moment I saw, in the distance, on the left, a crowd of people of all kinds; they were threatening me and making angry gestures. I was a little afraid. Our Lady smiled; she said to me:
“You have nothing to fear from them. I have chosen you to publish my glory and spread this devotion. ”
Our Lady held her scapular in both hands. She was so encouraging that I said to her: “My good Mother, if you would give me this scapular? “Our Lady did not seem to hear. She said to me with a smile:
“Get up and kiss it. “Oh! then I got up quickly. The Blessed Virgin leaned towards me and I kissed it. It was a moment of delight for me. Then the Blessed Virgin got up, and said to me, speaking of her scapular:
“You yourself will go to the Prelate and present him with the model you have made. Tell him that he is helping you with all his power, and that nothing will please me more than to see this livery on each of my children, and that they will all apply themselves to repairing the outrages which my son receives in the sacrament of his love. See the graces I pour upon those who will wear it with confidence and help you to propagate it. ”
As she said this, Our Lady stretched out her hands; an abundant rain fell from them, and in each of these drops I seemed to see graces written such as: piety, salvation, confidence, conversion, health; in a word, all sorts of graces of greater or lesser strength. Then the Blessed Virgin added:
“These graces are from my son; I take them from his Heart; he cannot refuse me. ”
Then I said, “My good Mother, what shall we put on the other side of this scapular? Our Lady answered me:
“I reserve it for myself; you will submit my thought, and the Church will decide. ”
I felt that this good Mother was going to leave me, and I was grieving. She rose gently; she looked at me always, and said to me:
“Courage. If he could not grant you your requests (Our Lady was speaking of the prelate), and if he offered you difficulties, you would go further. Do not fear, I will help you. ”
She turned around my room, and disappeared about where my bed was.
My God, how I felt! Thank you, my good Mother, I won’t do anything without you.