Standing at an altitude of 750m, the town of Gap lies between Provence and the Dauphiné and was an important intersection for various communication and trading routes in the Middle Ages. It was also a stage on the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Route as it came up through Italy, crossed the Alps and continued on to Arles.
During the course of the 16th century the town was ravaged by the Wars of Religion. The conflict was particularly bloody in this area and the spiritual leader of the Reformists was Guillaume Farel, originally from Gap, while their military leader was the Duc de Lesdiguières.
The 16th century also saw a significant strengthening of royal power and a period of relative peace between the different religious factions. _ The creation of the ’royal roads’ in the 18th century, which would link Marseilles with Briançon and later Grenoble, reinforced Gap’s role as a crossroads and it became the department’s chief administrative centre in the 1790.
Gap is the largest town in France’s Alpes du Sud and remains the administrative centre for the Hautes-Alpes department and the Hautes-Alpes diocese. The christian community has close links with the Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame du Laus, which are, according to Monsignor Jean-Michel Leandri Di Falco, Bishop of Gap and Embrun, the ’lungs of the Gap diocese’
In May 1664, above the small village of Saint-Étienne-le-Laus, part of the ancient diocese of Embrun, the Virgin Mary appeared to a 17-year-old shepherdess called Benoîte, who lived in the village with her family. Benoîte drove her neighbour’s flock up to the same spot to meet the ‘Beautiful Lady’ every day for four months. The Lady was preparing Benoîte for her mission, to become a privileged witness to the grace of conversion.
“I am Lady Mary, Mother of Jesus…”
That autumn, in the small village of Le Laus opposite Saint-Étienne, the Virgin Mary arranged a meeting and asked Benoîte to build a church with living quarters for priests. The aim of this project, which quickly took shape, was to attract Christians to the path of conversion, primarily through the Sacrament of Penance. Many people have been healed both in body and spirit since the earliest pilgrimages began here. This healing is mainly attributed to the anointing of pilgrims in true faith with oil from the shrine’s lamp, in accordance with the Virgin Mary’s own words to Benoîte.
Benoîte died at the age of 71, worn down by the austerity of her life. She was universally recognised as a saint for the fervour of her prayer, her patience and her kindness when welcoming pilgrims and her obedience to the Church. Such was her piety that the priests called to her deathbed insisted she give them her blessing. The shrine became the spiritual centre for the diocese of Gap and it has always had a team of priests from the diocese, monks, nuns and laity to aid pilgrims, either providing personal and special care or in the form of retreats, courses and chaplaincy groups.
On 4 May 2008 the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Le Laus were officially recognised in the presence of around 30 cardinals and bishops from across the world, underlining the importance of this event to the Church.
Contacts
Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame du Laus
Maison du Laus
05130 Saint-Étienne-du-Laus
Tél. 33 (0)4 92 50 94 00
Fax 33 (0)4 92 50 90 77
sanctuaire@notre-dame-du-laus.com
http://notredamedulaus.over-blog.com
www.notre-dame-du-laus.com
Gap Tourist Office
2A, cours Frédéric Mistral
05000 Gap
Tél : 33 (0)4 92 52 56 56
Fax : 33(0)4 92 52 56 57
info@gap-tourisme.fr
www.gap-tourisme.fr
Open all year round, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 6 pm, closed Sundays and Bank Holidays.
