And they gave thanks for miracles in Laghet

This week we visited Laghet, a tiny village about 15 minutes from home to discover the most extraordinary shrine dating back to the 15th Century, site of the most amazing church and one with a delightfully colourful history as it was impacted by the various changes in allegiance between France and Italy, and especially the French Revolution.

The story goes back to 1628 when a priest from nearby Eze restored the oratory of the church at Laghet 'in honour of God and of the Virgin Mary'. In 1652 the miracles of the healing of a leper, the freeing of a prisoner and the liberation of a possessed man were witnessed, attributed to the spiritual presence of Mary. This led the people of Eze to donate the Figheriera wooden statue of Our Lady to the church Laghet.

They made a procession with the statue to Laghet from Eze in June 1652, where it is still in place in the chapel, having survived the ravages of the revolution when the church was occupied by French soldiers and much was destroyed. It has also survived many restorations. The donation of the statue and its significance is marked annually by a pilgrimage from the parish of Eze to Laghet.

Immediately after this donation, miracles increased a hundredfold and pilgrims came to pray and give thanks. To demonstrate their thanks pilgrims bring votive offerings - small pictures or marble plaques, in memory of the event in which there was divine intervention. The pictures and tapestries vary in style and quality but generally have in common three characteristics - that they depict scenes of accidents, illness or difficulties during which 'grace visited the person'; they indicate the presence of the Virgin Mary, normally depicted in a cloud; and they have a signature and date.

The pictures and plaques cover the walls of the rebuilt chapel and cloisters and make for a fascinating study of societal change, although paintings from before the revolution (1792) were destroyed. Accidents from horses and carriages are replaced in more recent times by cars and bikes, falls are less likely to be from timber bearers with no scaffolding! Of course, many of the gifts are marble plaques, which simply record thanks.

All in all, an extraordinary experience - and a delight to discover such a treasure so close to home!