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Benoîte Rencurel

Benoîte Rencurel (1647–1718) was a shepherdess from Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France who is said to have seen apparitions from the Virgin Mary from 1664 to 1718. Also she is said to have borne stigmata.[1] The apparitions became known as Our Lady of Laus, and the site receives thousands of pilgrim visits a year. On 4 May 2008, Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco of the Diocese of Gap officially recognized the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Benoite Rencurel at the Sanctuary of Laus in the area of Hautes-Alpes, France.


Benoîte Rencurel

(1647-09-16)16 September 1647
Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, France

25 December 1718(1718-12-25) (aged 71)

Veneration[edit]

The site now draws 120,000 pilgrims annually. Numerous physical healings have also been associated with the site, especially when oil from a lamp is applied on the wounds according to the directives the Virgin Mary gave to Rencurel.[8]


The very modern message of Benoite, Bishop di Falco stated, is "to live heart to heart with God in prayer, enter deeper into conversion where we are reconciled with ourselves, with others and with God, and live your mission where your life is, in everyday community and joy."


The cause for Benoîte's beatification was opened on 7 September 1871, and she was given the title Servant of God by Pope Pius IX.[9] Her spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 11 March 1895.[9] On 3 April 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared Benoîte venerable.[6]