Our Lady of La Vang

What is the devotion to Our Lady of La Vang?

The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang is a Marian devotion that centers around the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that occurred in La Vang, Vietnam in the 18th century. The apparitions, which were seen by several Catholics who were being persecuted by the authorities, are said to have provided comfort and support to the faithful during a time of great hardship.

The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang has its roots in the persecution of Catholics in Vietnam in the late 18th century. During this time, many Catholics were forced to flee their homes and take refuge in the remote and uninhabited areas of the country. Among them were a group of Catholics who sought refuge in the La Vang jungle, where they reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to the refugees in the form of a beautiful lady, dressed in traditional Vietnamese garments and holding a baby in her arms. She is said to have comforted the Catholics and provided them with food and other necessities during their time of hardship.

The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang is closely linked to the Rosary, a devotional prayer to Mary that involves the repetition of prayers and the meditation on the mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. The Rosary is an important aspect of the devotion, and is used as a means of meditating on the messages of Our Lady of La Vang and contemplating her role in providing comfort and support to the faithful during a time of persecution.

The apparitions of Our Lady of La Vang were officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1901 and a shrine was built on the site of the apparitions, which is now a pilgrimage destination for Catholics from Vietnam and around the world.

The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang also includes the veneration of a specific image of Mary, which is based on the apparitions and is often referred to as the Image of Our Lady of La Vang.

The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang is not limited to Catholics, but it is also shared by Christians and people of other faith communities. It emphasizes the importance of faith and devotion, even in the face of persecution, and encourages people to look to Mary as a source of comfort and support.

The feast of Our Lady of La Vang is celebrated on August 15th, the anniversary of the apparitions, and is considered a major feast day for Catholics in Vietnam and around the world. The feast is celebrated with a special mass and a procession, in which the statue of Our Lady of La Vang is carried through the streets.

In summary, The devotion to Our Lady of La Vang is a Marian devotion that centers around the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that occurred in La Vang, Vietnam in the 18th century, seen by catholics who were being persecuted by the authorities. It emphasizes the importance of faith and devotion, even in the face of persecution,

When is the feast of Our Lady of La Vang

The feast of Our Lady of La Vang is celebrated on August 15th in the Roman Catholic Church. It commemorates the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that were said to have occurred in La Vang, Vietnam in the late 18th century. The feast is particularly important to the Vietnamese Catholic community.