OUR LADY OF LA, VANG, VIETNAM
Introduction:
Not many people are aware of the Apparition of Our Lady of La Vang, unlike the Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fatima and Medugorje. I sincerely hope that after reading this short article, more pilgrims will be enlightened to come to Vietnam to pray to Our Lady of La Vang for their peace of mind and get their petitions to Our Lady heard and answered.
This year in August 2023, the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia decided to have its Annual Retreat at La Vang, Vietnam after hearing so much about the Apparition of Our Lady of La Vang from 2 Groups from our local Catholic Churches who had gone there recently. We realize unfortunately that Our Lady of La Vang is not yet officially recognized by the Vatican. La Vang is a poor farming village in Central Vietnam situated in Hao Lang, District of Quang Tri about 60 kilometres from Hue -the former Capital of Vietnam.
Every 3 years 200,00 pilgrims from all over the World will come to La Vang pay homage to the Virgin Mary who in 1798 appeared to the persecuted Vietnamese Catholics and comforted them and healed them of their illnesses.The Tri Annual Feast Day is for 3 Days from 15-17 August 2023. Our Group of 7 visited La Vang on 15 and 16 August 23 but due to the huge crowd our coach could not enter the Church Entrance. We walked into the Church via its long pathway with our local Vietnamese Guide. We were touched by the faith of so many people lying down on the grass beside the pathway and had built tents to sleep there whilst awaiting to attend the important 5pm Mass the next day 17 August 23. They were people from all over Vietnam and other countries with tremendous faith.
Church of Our Lady of La Vang:
As we walk in we saw the Old and New Churches of La Vang facing us. The Old Church was destroyed by bombing and only the Bell Tower remains and still retains its stately appearance. In 1961 Pope John Paul II recognized the significance of the Marian Apparition and named it as the Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang. In 2012 a beautiful Church was built with blue traditional lipped roofs.Indeed the New Church looks so grand and beautiful. We understand that it can accommodate 5,000 people at any time and is the biggest Church in the whole of Vietnam!
The Shrine Of Our Lady of La Vang:
On our left is the the purported location when in 1798 our Lady appeared to the persecuted Vietnamese Catholics. Here we can see a magnificient. The pilgrims will come here to pray to Our Lady of La Vang. Our Group spent some time here in silent prayer- praying for ourselves, our loved ones and our own special intentions asking Our Lady of La Vang to intercede for us.
According to history Emperor Canh Thinh feared the growth of Catholicism in Vietnam brought about by the French Priests. Initially he restricted Catholicism but in 1798 he ordered the persecution of Catholics. Fearing for their safety many Catholics fled into the jungle of La Vang in the Quang Tri Province. Here they stayed hidden, sufferring from privation, danger from snakes and other illnesses in order to be able to practice their Catholic faith! Every night they gathered under a tree to pray the Rosary.
One night as they were praying a woman dressed in the traditional Vietnamese costume or Ao Dai and holding a child appeared to them in a mysterious glow of light. They recognized her as Mother Mary holding Baby Jesus. She consoled them and taught them how to use the leaves of the tree she was standing on to make it into a strong tea as medicine to cure their illnesses. She said she was aware of their hardship and chronic illnesses due to contaminated water.
She also solemnly told them that "From this day on Prayers said on this spot will be heard and answered".
After the period of great persecution was over (1798-1801) the villagers returned to their homes and spreaded the miracle of the Apparition of Mother Mary. The first Chapel was built on the Apparition site in 1820. In 1959 La Vang was declared as Vietnam's national shrine marking 300 years of the Church's presence in Vietnam.
Holy Water, Stations of the Cross and souvenir shop.
Behind the shrine are taps which are reported to contain Holy Water for drinking with healing properties. We can fill our bottles up with the water and take them home. This reminded us of Lourdes and its Holy Water. The Stations of the Cross can be seen here together with the inscriptions of the 117 "Martyrs of ANNam" ( Vietnam.) Catholic Saints. Finally we went to the souvenir shop where we all bought statues of OurLady of La Vang, Rosaries, etc. to take home.
Conclusion:
Our Lady of La Vang appeared to the faithful Vietnamese Catholics in 1785 to help and comfort them during their period of persecution. We recommend that more overseas Catholics should come and see and listen for themselves and learn how Mother Mary appeared and helped the persecuted Vietnamese. They should come to pray to Our Lady of La Vang and get their prayers answered for themselves and their loved ones. We ourselves from Malaysia felt peaceful and spiritually blessed to have been able to come here in Vietnam to pray to Our Lady of La Vang.
Prepared by Dr. Freddie Loh,
Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia.
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