Apparitions (1100 - 1199 A.D.)

1100

Reguengo do Fetal (Portugal)

Visionary: a shepherdess
Title: Our Lady of the Ferns (Nossa Senhora do Fetal)

A shepherdess from Reguengo do Fetal in the diocese of Fatima found the bread and spring
to which she was directed by the Blessed Mother.

More about this apparition >>

1100

St. Denis, Paris (France)

Visionary: Abbot Ivo

August 1101

Citeaux (France)

Visionary: Saint Alberico (+ 1109)

Saint Alberico was abbot of the Benedictine monastery reformist Cistercium (or Citeaux), founded by him and Robert of Molesme. His biographers state that he would receive some apparitions of the Blessed Virgin. From these appearances he got the inspiration for the white attire of the Cistercians (cowl black on white cassock). In a second apparition, Mary assured the Abbot of Citeaux of her assistance and permanent protection of the Cistercians.

Source: DmDH, 27; D SM, 223; Gamba, 199, 274; PB, t. I, 630; Sausseret, t. I. 1854, 183-184.

1105

Arras (France)

Visionaries: Several people
Title: Queen of Universe

In 1105, a major epidemic of a raging fever (known as "burning fire") began in the region of Arras that was claiming hundreds of lives. When the people called upon her praying, the Holy Mother of Heaven came to rescue. She appeared from the bell tower of the church and the bishop held out a large candle, symbol of both faith and healing. Whoever had drunk a little bit of this candle wax dissolved in water would be saved from the plague. Despite the widespread use, the candle has not been consumed and never even went out throughout the period of the epidemic. In 1140, in gratitude for the miraculous intervention of the Holy Virgin, the first votive chapel was erected in honor of "Notre Dame des Ardents (Our Lady of the Burning Fire )," also called "Notre Dame de la Sainte Chandelle (Our Lady of the Holy Candle)."

Source: www.latheotokos.it

ca. 1120

GROTTA DI S.MICHELE (Italy)

Visionary: Saint John of Matera (1070-1139)

Of this Benedictine abbot, whose relics are preserved in the cathedral of Matera, one of the few thingis known in particular the founding of Taranto, in the Gargano. Born in 1070 in Matera, John approached the monks and then isolated himself. He stopped at Taranto, in Calabria, Sicily, Bari, then in the Holy Land, finally back in Apulia, where, by visiting the cave of St. Michael, the Virgin appeared to him that showed him where to raise the abbey that rules the Manfredonia Gul . Gathered around John were monks and hermits who gave birth to "Pulsanesi," inspired by the rule of Benedict. The saint died in 1139 at Foggia.

Source: http://www.mariadinazareth.it

Saint-Crespin, Hainaut (Belgium)

Visionary: St. Aibert (1060-1140) Benedictine

Born in Spain and a hermit in the monastery of Saint-Crespin (Hainaut), he lived in isolation from the world. The "Virgin appeared in a dream", but he did not immediately recognize her. "If I had seen a woman in this convent, I would have been her expelled, at any cost!" he thought. The apparition silenced him and revealed her identity and then he asked her what she wanted. "The Virgin then puts a piece of bread in his mouth" according to an account given by Mons. Robert D'Ostrevant, archibishop of Arras, author of the life of the saint around 1140 to 1150.

Source: De S Ayberto Presbytero, Vita auctore Roberto archdiacono Ostrevandensi, AAS, 1 Paril 673-680.

May 25, 1124

Monte Virgine (Italy)

Visionary: St. William the Abbott of Vercelli

During one of his meditations, the Virgin appeared to the saint, urging him to erect a shrine on the site where the cult of Cybele was first practiced.

More about this apparition >>

1134

Egypt

Title: Our Lady of Liesse

Visionary: Ismenia

In 1134, three brothers, knights from the French region of Laon, left on a voyage. The sultan of Egypt captured them and took them prisoner. Hoping at all costs to make them apostatize, he went so far as to send his remarkably beautiful daughter to seduce them. But while discussing the Gospel with the prisoners, believing she would defeat them, Ismenia was defeated. She asked the knights to carve the image of Mary for her.

The knights prayed to the Blessed Virgin so that she would guide their hands.

During the night, the Virgin sent angels bearing her radiant image of piety. The next day, when Ismenia returned the dungeon was filled with dazzling light and a delicious perfume exuded from the statue. The princess believed immediately and took the statue to her apartments, never taking her eyes off the statue while the knights cried out: Our Lady of Liesse!

The following night, Ismenia heard the statue say: "Trust me, Ismenia! I have prayed to my Son for you. You will be his faithful servant. You will free my three beloved knights. You will be baptized and through you, France will be enriched by countless graces. Through you my name will become famous and later, I will receive you forever in paradise."

Ismenia helped the prisoners escape and fled with them. All four of them were overtaken by a deep sleep, and during their sleep angels transported them to France. When they awoke, the three knights were in their country, near their castle in Marchais. Ismenia was baptized and they all agreed to have a chapel built at the site where they had woken up, in honor of Our Lady of Liesse.

Since then miracles have been countless.

Louis VII came as a pilgrim in 1146 and Our Lady of Liesse became a favorite pilgrimage destination of the kings of France.

1134

Antwerp (Belgium)

Visionary: Baet Soetkens, a poor woman

In 1134, the Virgin appeared three timesto a poor woman, Baet Soetkens, to ask her to restore the statue in front of which she prayed every night and take it to Brussels.

Source: Gamba, 1999, 275.

1138

London (England)

Visionary: St. Thomas a Becket

Thomas a Becket (1118-1170), became a saint and was graced to see the Blessed Virgin a few times. The first appearance came when he was twenty years old: the Madonna, surrounded by an aura of light, showed Thomas a red cassock, a symbol of his future destiny as a priest and martyr. In another apparition, the Blessed Virgin appeared as "the seven beatitudes of Paradise." In 1141, Thomas was a member of the clergy of Canterbury and became the chancellor of Henry; from 1161 he was archbishop of Canterbury. 1129 in December 1170, after serious disputes with the king, he was murdered in the famous cathedral. In 1173, Thomas a Becket was canonized by Pope Alexander III. King Henry of England made public acts of penance before his tomb.

1138

London (England)

Visionary: St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - Sept. 17, 1179)

Hildegard of Bingen was born the tenth and last child of noble parents. When she was eight years old Hildegard was sent to a Benedictine monastery to be educated an. In 1116 she became a nun there and twenty years later she was made the head of the monastery. From her early childhood Hildegard had visions, but soon realized she was unique in this ability and hid the gift for many years. However, in 1141, she had a series of visions in which God gave her instant understanding of the meaning of the religious texts. God commanded Hildegard to write down everything she observed in the visions and she devoted the next ten years doing this (including 26 drawings of things she had seen during the visions). In a vision, Hildegard saw the universe as a cosmic egg surrounded by flames, which represents God burning everywhere. In the center is air full of water, giving moisture to the entire egg. In the globe, a mountain divides darkness from light. When experiencing a vision, Hildegard would see a bright light - more brilliant than a cloud over the sun - inside which an even brighter light which she called "the living light" sometimes appeared. But she didn’t see the visions with her bodily eyes, which remained open, but in her soul. She also claimed to hear words, spoken in Latin. As news of her visions began to spread and gain fame, Pope Eugenius III decided to sent a commission to inquire into her work. This commission found her teaching orthodox and her insights authentic, and reported so to the Pope, who sent her a letter of approval. Hildegard of Bingen has been called one of the most important figures in the history of the Middle Ages and was a woman of many extraordinary and diverse talents. Besides being the abbess of a large and influential Benedictine abbey, she was a prominent preacher, healer, scientist, and artist as well as a composer and theologian, writing nine books on theology, medicine, science, and physiology, as well as 70 poems and an opera. During a time when few women were accorded respect, Hildegard was consulted by and advised bishops, popes and kings, and spoke out openly against corruption in the church. She was made a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

Source: Livingmiracles.net

1144

Polsi di San Luca (Italy)

Visionary: A shepherd
Title: Madonna della Montagna

Alleged apparition of the Virgin to a shepherd originally from Santa Cristina d'Asporomonte who was encouraged to restore an old church.

Source: Dictionary of the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Laurentin p. 544; Gamba 1999, 275.

c.
March 24,
1150

Crespano del Grappa, Borbiago (Italy)

Title: Madonna del Covolo
Visionary: A young deaf mute shepherdess

On March 24, a young deaf girl was pasturing geese on a meadow in Borbiago, Italy, when she saw a magnificent lady in a light so bright that the girl had to close her eyes.

The woman approached and placed her hands on one of the girl's shoulders, asking her (as only Mary could communicate to the deaf) to bring the local priest and indicate that he dig there. If he did, explained Mary, he'd find a marble statue, which should be carried in a solemn procession to the church and enshrined.

The girl apparently was able to complete the task and as in Castellammare de Stabia the excavation was very fruitful and indeed miraculous, volunteers soon striking something that gave forth a metallic sound. Digging deeper they uncovered a bronze bell. Within its cavity was the promised statue, which depicted Mary in a standing position with the Infant as usual on her left arm, His little hands fondling her right one. There were hundreds of lost or hidden images, all with stories, all with precious secrets, during this intense period.

More on this apparition >>

1150

Joreval, Yorkshire, (England)

Visionary: Abbot John Kingston of Byland, monk

In the year 1150, twelve monks under Abbot John Kingston of Byland set out for the Marian Shrine at Joreval. The first night they rested at a certain village, where Abbot John had the following vision in a dream. It seemed to him that he was in the monastery at Byland when he saw a Lady, nobly dressed, and of surpassing beauty, holding by Her left hand a little Boy, who plucked a bough from a little tree that stood in the center of the cloister quadrangle, and then they both vanished. After this the abbot and monks set forth, but not knowing their way, the abbot proposed that they should recite their Office. Having done so, the Lady and Her Son re-appeared, and the abbot begged Her to lead them to Joreval. Then looking at Her Son, She said, "Sweetest Son, for the love Thou hast ever had for Me, be a guide to these brethren." Then the Child held out the branch He had picked from the cloister of Byland, and said, "Follow Me," and they did so, walking through rough and hard ways without any difficulty. And a number of little birds, snowy white, flew down on to the bough the Child held, and there sang the hymn, Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino, whereby they were much refreshed, and at last they reached a wild uncultivated spot, where the Child planted His branch in the earth with the birds singing upon it, and said, "Here God will soon be invoked and adored." And it seemed as though the whole land grew into a great tree covered with white singing birds. Then the Child disappeared.

Abbot John then awoke, and with his companions proceeded on his journey much consoled. The monks were all clothed in white, and everyone asked, "Who are all these men in white going by?" Then Abbot John heard one reply: "They are monks moving from Byland to Joreval." Another gazed at the firmament and stars for a while, and then, as if he had received a revelation, said, "These good monks have come at a happy moment; they will, within a brief space, attain to much prosperity, and have abundance of all things necessary." Abbot John was much rejoiced at these words and proceeded on his way. This legend was known to everyone in those parts and often retold.

Source: http://www.salvemariaregina.info

c. 1150

MARSANNE (FRANCE)

Title: Notre Dame de Fresneau

Visionary: a blind girl

In the twelfth century, in a valley named Fresneau near Marsanne, the Virgin Mary appeared to a blind girl who promises healing if that place a chapel will be built in her honor. The girl's father, a professional mason, took it upon himseto carry out the desire expressed by the Virgin. The daughter then returned to the scene of the apparition, washed her eyes in a source who is close and regained her sight. In the sanctuary is a venerated statue of the Madonna called "Notre Dame de Fresneau" solemnly crowned in 1855.

Source: latheotokos.it

1150

Noiretal, diocese of Leon (France)

Visionary: an assassin

An alleged apparition of Virgin to an assassin, hiding out in an old sanctuary. It caused him to convert.

Source: Dictionary of the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Laurentin p. 544; Gamba 1999, 276.

1152

Schönau, Nassau

Visionary: (St.) Elizabeth of Schönau (Born about 1129; d. June18, 1165)

She was born of an obscure family, entered the double monastery of Schönau in Nassau at the age of twelve, received the Benedictine habit, made her profession in 1147, and in 1157 was superioress of the nuns under the Abbot Hildelin. After her death she was buried in the abbey church of St. Florin. When her writings were published the name of saint was added. She was never formally canonized, but in 1584 her name was entered in the Roman Martyrology and has remained there.

Given to works of piety from her youth, much afflicted with bodily and mental suffering, a zealous observer of the Rule of St. Benedict and of the regulation of her convent, and devoted to practices of mortification, Elizabeth was favoured, from 1152, with ecstasies and visions of various kinds. These generally occurred on Sundays and Holy Days at Mass or Divine Office or after hearing or reading the lives of saints. Christ, His Blessed Mother, an angel, or the special saint of the day would appear to her and instruct her; or she would see quite realistic representations of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, or other scenes of the Old and New Testaments. What she saw and heard she put down on wax tablets. Her abbot, Hildelin, told her to relate these things to her brother Egbert (Eckebert), then priest at the church of Bonn. At first she hesitated fearing lest she be deceived or
be looked upon as a deceiver; but she obeyed. Egbert (who became a monk of Schönau in 1155 and succeeded Hildelin as second abbot) put everything in writing, later arranged the material at leisure, and then published all under his sister's name.

Source: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05392a.htm

1153

Fontaine (England)

Visionary: St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Title: Our Lady of Chatillon sur Seine

St. Bernard of Clairvaux received the grace to see with his inner eyes the Mother of God with the angels. Inspired by this apparition of heaven, Bernard decided to devote himself without doubt to the spiritual life. In fact, two years later, he joined with 30 companions to Citeaux.

St. Bernard, shortly before his death, was comforted by the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, She appeared to then guide them stay in the eternal sky. So ended a life full of events all dedicated to the mystical and fervent devotion to the Mother of God. In 1115, Bernard was sent with twelve monks to found the monastery of Clairvaux. Abbot Bernard had close ties with other religious orders, he was adviser to popes, bishops and famous men of his age. He traveled often and preached the Crusades, but never neglected the spiritual and mystical life. He is represented as "Singer of Mary." The Mother of God had for him especially the role of Mediatrix through which the Lord comes to us and gives us the Water of Divine Grace.

1157

Mariazell (Austria)

Title: Madonna of Maria Zell / Our Beloved Mother of Grace (miraculous statue)
Witness: Magnus, a Benedictine monk

Mariazell is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in all of central Europe, venerated as it is by peoples of such a variety of nations. Not many shrines can claim as many ex-votos of so many different nationalities as Mariazell. In an area torn by national strife and centuries-old feuds, such a phenomenon is extraordinary indeed. In 1157, a Benedictine monk named Magnus, taking a small statue of the Madonna and Child, retired into the wilderness, where tradition says the dense trees parted to make way for him. A little chapel was built around a linden tree, the origin of the shrine. Pilgrims as far back as the 15th century attest they have seen the Madonna’s face, eyes and lips moving, as if she were alive. The present structure was erected in the 17th century. The middle spire of the Church is of Gothic design, while the outer spires are Baroque. Many of the pilgrims to Maria Zell perform the same penance up the main stairway. On their knees, arms outstretched, or carrying heavy blocks of stone, the devout faithful advance; sometimes the procession halts while all prostrate themselves on the ground. Person who are unable to make the pilgrimage write letters to the Madonna, which are preserved in the archives. According to the ancient custom they are addressed: "To Our Beloved Mother of Grace."

See also: Mariazell (1371)

Source: http://www.salvemariaregina.info

c.1160

Hildesheim (Germany)

Visionary: Blessed Eskil

Blessed Eskil (1100-1181), bishop of Roskilde and archbishop of Lund, attended in his youth the famous University of Hildesheim. During the period of his study became seriously ill and was on the verge of death. While he was given the holy Viaticum, Eskil had an impressive vision, "He saw himself falling into the torments of Jell, but just when all seemed lost, he saw the Holy Virgin with outstretched hands to his rescue. He felt an intense devotion and then promised to the Mother of Mercy and asked to change his life entirely to her service and that of Christ. " When the vision ended, Eskil found himself cured. It was a forerunner of the Gregorian reform and he was a friend of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. In 1177 he resigned his bishopric and lived in the convent of Clairvaux until his death.

1160

Mazières (France)

Visionary: St. Hugh

St. Hugh, the grandson of St. Hugh of Grenoble, born 1120 to Chateauneu, entered the Cistercian convent of Mazières. The monastic life, however, was too heavy for him, then turned in a petition to the Holy Virgin to inspire her choice. Our Lady appeared to him and showed him, in detail, life and the sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inspired by this apparition of the Blessed Virgin and love for Christ, Hugh remained devoutly loyal to the Society. In 1162, he became abbot of Léoncel, and in 1166 of Bonnevaux. In the latter convent a few years later, Hugh found himself confessing to a brother who suffered from those same doubts that the abbot had already passed. Hugh then infused in him the courage and strength to join with the Lord Jesus Christ tells his earlier mystical experience. In fact, the brother remained faithful to the monastic community and, at the time of his departure, the Holy Virgin appeared with the promise of the heavenly crown.

Albi, Tarn, (France)

Visionaries: 10 peasants
Title: Notre-Dame della Trebbia or Our Lady of the Drèche (Right)
Feast Day: September 8th

In the 12th century, 5 kilometers from Albi, near Cagnac-les-Mines, the Virgin appeared to 10 peasants in a bush. A statue of the the Virgin with Child was discovered at the place. It became the beginning of a pilgrimage dedicated to Our Lady of Trebbia (or Our Lady of the Right). In 1863 an octoganl rotunda was built - very large and high - to accomodate the pilgrims that come to the place on the 30th of April, the 31st of May, the 8th of July, the 15th of August and the 8th and 11th of December.

More about this apparition >

Cremona (Lombardy)

Visionary: Child (1)

A child of one year, from the area of Cremona, miraculously began to speak. He described a beautiful lady who was not visible to his parents. It was thought that the child prodigy had an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Leon (France)

Visionary: St. Norberto

Norberto, born in 1082 or 1085, became a saint. He renounced worldly life to become a priest and preacher. He converted in 1115. One night while he was absorbed in prayer in an old chapel, the Blessed Virgin appeared suddenly and said: "My son adopt the white attire," so saying the Blessed Virgin gave him a white garment. Norberto then settled with his pupils in unsettled valley of Xanten and founded a religious Order with the Augustinian rule. In 1126, after a trip to Rome by Norberto as an traveling preacher, the order was officially approved by ecclesiastical authority. Norbert of Xanten was elevated Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126, died June 6, 1134. In 1128, his disciple, Abbot Hugh of Fosses (+ 1164) assumed leadership of the Order.

Noiretable (France)

Visionary: A murderer

A murderer fled to In an old place of worship where Mary appeared to him. The man accepted her exhortations, and he converted and lived there for his entire life in penance. The so-called 'Hermitage' was later to become the Marian shrine visited by many pilgrims devoted to Our Lady, especially in the month of September.

Clairvaux (France)

Visionaries: Cistercian monks, women

While working in the fields some Cistercian monks saw the heavens open and the clouds appear the Mother of God with two saints on either side .She consoled them and motivated them in their harvesting work. Some women also saw this apparition.

Melrose (Scotland)

Visionary: a monk

According to local legend, a Cistercian abbey in the convent of Holy Mary (Tweed Valley), a monk saw the Blessed Virgin Mary with an angel walking down the hallway of the dormitory. It was night and everyone was asleep. The Angel wrote a list of names dictated by Madonna. The friar, who had heard and considered these names, could thus be noted that the brothers were called by the angel entered our eternal home in the order they were listed.

1170

Durham (England)

Visionary: St. Godric  (c. 1065 – 1170)

The Holy Virgin appeared several times to St Godric who, after a troubled life, had retired as a hermit near Durham. Mary appeared to him also accompanied by Mary Magdalene. She appeared to him as a powerful mediator of grace, taught religious songs, inspired him with faith and blessed him. Godric died in 1170.

1178

Tortosa, Tarragona (Spain)

A special chapel in the cathedral in the diocese of Tortosa contains the holy ribbon or sash (La Santa Cinta) which is said to have been left on the main altar of the cathedral by the Blessed Virgin, in an apparition on the night of March 24, 1178, and which since 1629 is sent to the palace in Madrid before a royal birth. The cathedral archives contain many valuable codices, Bulls, etc.

Source: the Catholic Encyclopedia. Volume XIV. p. 785

Clairvaux (France)

Visionary: Bl. Peter Monoculus

Peter Monoculus (+ 1186), later beatified, was born in the castle Marlac (Cluny), was Igny of Monaco and, in 1179, the eighth abbot of Clairvaux. He had the grace to receive some significant apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After Peter saw Mary in a room of Paradise sitting on a throne surrounded by majestic heavenly light; just moved to meet the Mother of God appeared to bar dogs Satanic furious pace. With a simple gesture, Mary drove the demonic creatures and Peter was able to advance to her, then the Mother of God promised eternal security. Another time, in the lonely halls of the convent, Peter meets Mary accompanied by Mary Magdalene and Mary of Egypt. The Holy Virgin would have also appeared in the cathedral of Spery. Peter died in 1186 at Monoculus Foigny, after spending almost the entire life in the "sign of Mary."

1182

Le Puy (France)

Visionary: Durand (a poor carpenter)

A poor carpenter of Le Puy, named Durand, claimed to have had an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this vision he received a paper on which there was a representation of the Blessed Virgin seated on a throne with a figure of the child Jesus in her hands, and bearing the inscription, "Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world give us peace". An association was to be formed whose members should bind themselves to keep and procure peace and, as distinctive signs, wear a white hood and a medal bearing a reproduction of the picture and inscription.

Durand met with astounding success in the execution of these instructions. A confraternity was organized under the direction of the clergy exactly on the lines of Catholic confraternities of the present day. The Church of Our, Lady of Le Puy became the center of the movement, which spread with extraordinary rapidity over the provinces of France, south of the Loire. The Capuciati, in addition to pledging themselves not to swear falsely, not to blaspheme, not to play dice, enter taverns, or wear costly garments, also promised to do all in their power to restore and maintain peace. Their endeavors in this line were not ineffectual, an overwhelming defeat which the "Routiers", or undisciplined bands of soldiery of the period, sustained in 1183 must be largely ascribed to the cooperation of the Capuciati with the royal army. The existence of the confraternity was of short duration. Its disappearance is involved in obscurity; but it seems to have directed its efforts against the members of the nobility, and to have been wiped out of existence by them, aided by the "Routiers". Its advocacy of heretical principles is not clearly and trustworthily indicated in historical records. The accusation that it respected neither ecclesiastical nor civil authority may perhaps be explained by its resistance to real or imagined abuses of power.

Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia. Volume III. p. 327 Robert Appleton Company. 1907

1190

Cologne and Steinfeld (Germany)

Visionary: St. Joseph Herman (1150-1241)

St. Joseph Herman, also known as Hermann of Cologne, as a child he was very devoted to Our Lady. Often a child in a church praying before the statue of the Virgin Mary once, with the innocence of their children, offered an apple to the statue that was taken by Mary. At twelve, he entered the convent Ermanno premostratense of Steinfeld and was then sent for studies at the convent garden of Mary, in Frisian. He was a devout priest and spiritual guide illuminated serving some nunneries Rhine. He was famous for his mystical gifts and especially for his "mystical marriage with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and from this derived the name of Joseph, according to the custom of medieval Marian devotion. Herman wrote in Latin hymns dedicated to the Madonna, are still preserved. He was canonized in 1958.

[ More on this apparition ]

April 17, 1198

Potschiaw (Ukraine)

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in all her glory and worked a series of miracles and healings. As a token of gratitude was built a convent of the Order of St. Basil dedicated to the Mother of Divine Savior.

Cluny (France)

Visionary: priest

A priest was attacked and seriously wounded by the Albigensians during the celebration of a Holy Mass. He sought refuge in the abbey of Cluny, where the Holy Virgin appeared to him that healed him.