Vatican Recognizes Marian Apparition in France

Church recognizes appearance by Virgin Mary in France by ASSOCIATED PRESS-PARIS

Shepherd girl saw her in 17th century

A Roman Catholic bishop said Sunday that the church has officially recognized that the Virgin Mary appeared to a 17th-century shepherd girl in the French Alps.

Speaking at mass in remarks broadcast nationally, Monsignor Jean-Michel di Falco Leandri said he recognized the ''supernatural origin'' of the apparitions to 17-year-old Benoite Rencurel from 1664 to 1718.

The bishop, in an interview on France-Info radio, said the decision meant the church ''has committed itself in an official way to say to pilgrims 'you can come here in total confidence.'"
The recognition process involved a panel of experts including two theologians and an investigating judge, he said.

Officials at Notre-Dame-du-Laus church say that after four months of daily apparitions starting in May 1664, the Virgin Mary asked Rencurel to build a church and a house to receive priests.