Our Lady de Gray

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-de-gray.html

July 30: Our Lady de Gray, France (1602)

The shrine of Notre-Dame de Gray, or Our Lady of Gray, is located near Besancon in Northern France near Franche-Comte. The statue of Our Lady of Gray is made of an oak tree from Montaigu, has a black color, & is only 14.5 centimeters tall. It is much honored in country, & there are many miracles & graces granted to petitioners that are attributed to Our Lady’s intercession at this shrine.

It is estimated that about 5 centuries ago, on a hill near Montaigu, a pious person placed a small statue of Blessed Virgin Mary upon an old oak tree. The tree itself is believed to date from time of Druids, & crested one of hills in diocese of Malines.

Soon faithful began to come in crowds from throughout region, for there were miraculous healings & various miracles granted to pilgrims who invoked Mary under name of Our Lady of the Oak.

In year 1602 a small wooden chapel was built on hill of Montaigu. The oak upon which statue of Our Lady had once been displayed was now cut up into small pieces & carved by a local craftsman into statuettes of same image.

These statues were presented as a mark of respect to patrons of shrine. Even wood of oak was considered almost a precious relic, for it had once touched miraculous statue of Blessed Virgin.

Wherever they went these figures were enshrined with honor & it seemed as if Our Lady of Montaigu sent her favor, for her miraculous power went with them.

In year 1613 a poor, 70 year old widow named Jeanne Bonnet de Salins made a pilgrimage to shrine. She obtained a piece of venerable old oak, & took it to a sculptor named Jean Brange to carve into a statue similar to that of original. On April 4, 1613, Archbishop of Besancon blessed statue & allowed it to be exhibited for public veneration.

It is reported that Jeanne Bonnet was rewarded by signal graces she obtained through Our Lady’s intercession. She intended to give statue to a local church, but in 1616 yielded to repeated entreaties of Father Gabriel Appremont, who wanted to have age for Capuchins of Gray. A special chapel was richly decorated to receive it. The news soon spread in region of Gray & faithful flocked to pay their respects to new Madonna, Our Lady of Gray.

The statue of Our Lady of Gray holds in her right hand a gleaming scepter of gold that a parishioner donated in year 1807. It was at this time that chapel was undergoing reconstruction after ravages of French Revolution.

There are also 3 semi-precious stones set in front of base of statue that we given by grateful petitioners to Blessed Virgin. Finally, 2 gold crowns were created in 1909 on occasion of celebration of coronation of statue of Our Lady of Gray.