Wikimedia Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes image:39781:0::0

On Sunday, The Roman Catholic Church gave its seal of approval to a shrine in the French Alps where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a young shepherdess. Notre Dame du Laus gets this recognition, the first such in France for nearly 150 years.

Speaking at Mass which was broadcast nationally on France-2 television, Monsignor Jean-Michel di Falco Leandri said he recognized the "supernatural origin" of the apparitions to 17-year-old Benoite Rencurel from 1664 to 1718.

Even before the official nod, thousands have visited the sanctuary of Benôite Rencurel who was just 16 when she first 'saw' the Virgin Mary. The sanctuary, which was founded by Rencurel, today welcomes some 120,000 pilgrims a year.

Some say that very quickly; this site would rival Lourdes, a site where Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Virgin Mary appeared before 14-year-old girl Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

Legend has it that she saw the Virgin Mary around 2,500 times over 54 years. Also belief says that after four months of daily apparitions starting in May 1664, the Virgin Mary asked Rencurel to build a church and a house to receive priests.

Officials say that Rencurel often provided healing oils based on a method that the Virgin Mary passed on to the shepherd. Till this present day, many make the pilgrimage to this place in the hope of salvation and cure. A Belgian woman was apparently cured of a slipped disc after visiting the sanctuary.

Monsignor Jean-Michel di Falco Leandri said,

" I encourage the faithful to come and pray and to seek spiritual renewal in this sanctuary."

The recognition comes after years of efforts and repeated rejections from the church, on the part of the local and governmental authorities. A team of theologians, historians and psychologists after three years of research pieced together evidences lending credence to the belief.

Though claims of commercial prejudices have been denied vehemently by the church, the bishop saying that it was not a 'marketing ploy', the latest blessed turn of events can bring in more pilgrims adding to the 120,000 who normally visit the shrine. Though, the concoction of religion and politics is volatile in every culture let alone France, President Sarkozy has a point when he says." A man who believes is a man who hopes."