Our Lady of the Guard
Marseilles, France (1214)
In 1214 - year of the battle of Bouvines and of the birth of Saint Louis - a priest of Marseilles whose first name was Pierre erected a small sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary upon the rocky triangle forming the top of a 161 metre-high hill facing the town of Marseille, which was very small at the time.
As the hill was called “La Garde”, the sanctuary quite naturally took the name “Our Lady of La Garde”. So at its origin the chapel had neither apparition nor miracle; it was simply born of a priest's devotion.
On Augusut 14, 2014 the town celebrated the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard.
Text and image used with permission.
Source: "365 Days with Mary" by Michael O'Neill
Download the free "365 Days with Mary" app
Listen to "365 Days with Mary" each week on The Miracle Hunter® on EWTN Radio