Our Lady of Chartres

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December 31: Image of Our Lady of Chartres brings back to life the son of King Geoffrey (100BC)

The Abbot Orsini wrote: “About a hundred years before birth of our Savior, image of Our Lady of Chartres, which Druids had consecrated to Blessed Virgin, parturient, raised to life son of Geoffry, king or prince of Montlhery, who, having fallen into a well, had been found dead; out of gratitude for this favor, he made several presents to this image, as history of this miracle attests, which is represented in stained glass of the great church.”

To Chartres belongs distinction of being not only oldest shrine in France, but also – in all probability – the oldest shrine of Our Lady in the world.
It is actually pre-Christian, & in a case similar to Athenians’ ‘altar to the unknown god,’ was dedicated to Virgin who'd bring forth a son, at least a century before birth of Christ.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is probably most beautiful Gothic church in world; but far predating Christian cathedral, location was famous for its crypt – & shrine of Our Lady of the Underground.

It is known that Chartres was long site of Druid’s most important sanctuary, & where they worshiped an image that came to be known as Our Lady of Chartres.
Indeed, Chartres was a kind of pilgrimage destination long before construction of beautiful Gothic cathedral we see standing there today.

Before Julius Caesar came to Gaul, Druids had already fashioned a statue in image of a woman seated with a child upon her lap, for they somehow understood that there would be a woman who'd give birth to a child like none other ever seen upon face of earth.

Perhaps they knew of Isaiah’s prophesy, “…the Lord Himself shall give you a sign.
Behold a virgin shall conceive, & bear a son, & His name shall be called Emmanuel.”

This image was kept on an altar in crypt that bore motto ‘Virgini Pariturae’ – ‘to the virgin who'll bear a child.’
Even though they were pre-Christian, these Druids awaited the One who'd prove old gods to be nothing but mere idols of clay & stone.

Later, with coming of Christianity, they learned that virgin & child foretold to them were Blessed Virgin Mary & Our Lord Jesus Christ, & they converted & demonstrated joyful devotion to them in their image of Our Lady of Chartres.

The well the Abbot Orsini refers to also dates back to Gallic times & the Druids, & it was also located in crypt. ‘The Well of Strong Saints,’ or ‘Puits des Saints-Forts,’ Christians came to call it, for bodies of many early Christian martyrs were cast into that well.
The well can still be seen there, although it is now dry.

The ancient statue of Our Lady of the Underground was destroyed during French Revolution, & a copy is now in its place.
It is interesting to note that this depiction of Divine Child seated upon His Mother enthroned is quite similar to later statues of Middle Ages known as Sedes Sapientiae, or ‘Seat of Wisdom,’ such as can be seen in Our Lady of Louvain, that become very popular in 13th century.
Thus, for many reasons, Chartres & Our Lady of the Underground have long been one of main pilgrimage sites in France.