Our Lady of Chartres miracle

December 31: Image of Our Lady of Chartres brings back to life the son of King Geoffrey (100BC)

The Abbot Orsini wrote: “About a hundred years before the birth of our Savior, the image of Our Lady of Chartres, which the Druids had consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, parturient, raised to life the son of Geoffry, king or prince of Montlhery, who, having fallen into a well, had been found dead; out of gratitude for this favor, he made several presents to this image, as the history of this miracle attests, which is represented in the stained glass of the great church.”

To Chartres belongs the distinction of being not only the oldest shrine in France, but also – in all probability – the oldest shrine of Our Lady in the world. It is actually pre-Christian, and in a case similar to the Athenians’ ‘altar to the unknown god,’ was dedicated to the Virgin who would bring forth a son, at least a century before the birth of Christ.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is probably the most beautiful Gothic church in the world; but far predating the Christian cathedral, the location was famous for its crypt – and the shrine of Our Lady of the Underground. It is known that Chartres was long the site of the Druid’s most important sanctuary, and where they worshiped an image that came to be known as Our Lady of Chartres. Indeed, Chartres was a kind of pilgrimage destination long before the construction of the beautiful Gothic cathedral we see standing there today.



Our Lady of Chartres miracle

Before Julius Caesar came to Gaul, the Druid’s had already fashioned a statue in the image of a woman seated with a child upon her lap, for they somehow understood that there would be a woman who would give birth to a child like none other ever seen upon the face of the earth. Perhaps they knew of Isaiah’s prophesy, “…the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.”

This image was kept on an altar in the crypt that bore the motto ‘Virgini Pariturae’ – ‘to the virgin who will bear a child.’ Even though they were pre-Christian, these Druids awaited the One who would prove the old gods to be nothing but mere idols of clay and stone. Later, with the coming of Christianity, they learned that the virgin and child foretold to them were the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ, and they converted and demonstrated joyful devotion to them in their image of Our Lady of Chartres.

The well the Abbot Orsini refers to also dates back to Gallic times and the Druids, and it was also located in the crypt. ‘The Well of Strong Saints,’ or ‘Puits des Saints-Forts,’ the Christians came to call it, for the bodies of many early Christian martyrs were cast into that well. The well can still be seen there, although it is now dry.

The ancient statue of Our Lady of the Underground was destroyed during the French Revolution, and a copy is now in its place. It is interesting to note that this depiction of the Divine Child seated upon His Mother enthroned is quite similar to later statues of the Middle Ages known as Sedes Sapientiae, or ‘Seat of Wisdom,’ such as can be seen in Our Lady of Louvain, that become very popular in the 13th century.

Thus, for many reasons, Chartres and Our Lady of the Underground have long been one of the main pilgrimage sites in France.

Our Lady of Chartres miracle - James Fitzhenry, roman-catholic-saints.com, Marian Calendar


Have A Great Story About This Topic?

Do you have a great story? Have You Visited This Shrine? Share it!

[ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

  •  submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)



Return to Marian Calendar December

Return to Roman Catholic Saints Home Page from Our Lady of Chartres miracle




Now Available!!

Pelayo king of Asturias

Pelayo, King of Asturias -

Pelayo's resistance initiated the nearly 800-year-long Reconquista to take back his country from the ruthless invader who had conquered his homeland and sought to erase his culture and his faith. His actions would lay the foundations of a Kingdom for Christ that would eventually reach around the world and spread the Catholic faith to millions of souls. Read more...


Please help us continue to bring high quality books to our readers at the lowest possible price! Click the link below! Thank you!

  Now Available!

Catholic Vitality Publications presents . . .

Defenders of Christendom

Brand new by

James Fitzhenry

Now in paperback!

Battles - Honor - Miracles! This book is filled with amazing stories of little-known Catholic heroes presenting spectacles of bravery and valor never exceeded in all the annals of history. read more. . .

Now Available for $18.95


Also available:


Catholic Vitality Publications


Roman Catholic books currently published by Catholic Vitality Publications:

El Cid, God's Own Champion

-the amazing true story of the life of Rodrigo Diaz, El Cid!

Available for only $22.95



St. Fernando III

A Kingdom for Christ


- King St. Fernando III, born 100
years to the month after the death of
the Cid. His life was filled with miracles
and many conquests!

Available now for $26.95


Discounts available for bulk
orders and for bookstore
retail sales! Just contact us