The church is best remembered for its lovely statue of Our Lady of Victories, crowned by order of Blessed Pope Pius IX. The devotion to Our Lady of Victory is worldwide and spread mainly from here.
It is also well-remembered for the meaningful encounter that little Thérèse had here, a mystical experience recorded in her autobiography in chapter six. This helped solidify her vocation, leading to her entrance into Carmel in the year 1888 at age 15.
In the United States there is also a devotion to Our Lady of Victories. Some pilgrims make the perfect summer road trip to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Victory, located in the Diocese of Buffalo, NY. This shrine contains a 9 feet fall marble statue of Our Lady modeled after the original Our Lady of Victories in Paris, weighing 1,600 pounds.
Devotion to Our Lady under this title has spread from here to various places across France and the world. For example, the chapel of the University of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN) is dedicated to Our Lady of Victory (although the chapel could use a copy of the original statue seen in Paris).
In addition, St. Louis Martin, the father of the "Little Flower," had great devotion to Our Lady under this title. In fact, in the family home of the Martins, a statue of Our Lady of Victories. The statue can be seen today on the desk of his wife in Alencon, where the family lived until her death at age 45 when the Little Flower was four and half.
Founded by the King in Celebration of Victory
The first stone was laid and the name was given by King Louis XIII, in celebration of his victory over the Protestant armies at the Siege of La Rochelle. That battle raged from 1627-1628 during the French civil wars that came in the wake of the Protestant Revolution.
La Rochelle was a city under the control of the Huguenots, in close proximity with the United Provinces (the northern part of the present-day Netherlands). King Louis XIII, who had a deep Marian devotion, made a promise that if he won the battle, he would build a worthy church in honor of the Virgin Mary under the title of "Our Lady of Victories."
The end of the siege marked the decisive victory for the monarchy and the survival of the Faith intact in France, with a complete victory for the Catholic side. The success was attributed to the intercession of Our Lady. The king financed the construction of the new church.
Honored by the military victory of 1628, the King Louis XIII kept his word and launched the project of the construction of a new church, entrusting it to the Discalced Augustinians, also known as the "Little Fathers."
On Dec. 8, 1629, the King came in person to lay the first stone. This stone is located at the entrance of the choir, on the right-hand side of the church. Four different architects were needed to complete the construction over a period of 111 years. The shrine was finally consecrated in 1740.
The Story of the King's Infertility and Vow
The royal couple, King Louis XIII and Anne of Astrid, were married at the age of 14 in 1615. They were unable to have children. Without a successor, there was great anxiety for the future of the Kingdom of France.
The King increased acts of devotion to Our Lady in order to implore the grace to be able to produce an heir to succeed him to the throne.
On November 3, 1637, the Virgin Mary appeared at the shrine to Brother Fiacre, a Discalced Augustinian monk who lived there. She announced to him the upcoming pregnancy of the Queen and the birth of the long-awaited dauphin. Nine months later, on September 5, 1638, King Louis XIV was born.
In addition to his first name Louis, the future "Sun King" also received the name "Dieudonne," wicih means "given by God."
On February 10, 1638, King Louis XIII consecrated France to Our Lady. This was the famous "vow of Louis XIII as a sign of thanksgiving for the pregnancy of his wife after twenty-three years of marriage.
The new king was born September 5, 1638.
The Art and Architecture Has Roman Influences
The Basilica of Our Lady of Victories is classified as a historical monument. It is famously recognized for its emblematic architecture of the Counter-Reformation period and for the major works of art it contains.
Visitors to the church in Paris may notice the imposing facade resembles in some way the Gesù in Rome, with typical elements of Roman Baroque. The front has pilasters built into the wall -- capitals of the Ionic order on the bottom and the Corinthian order on the top.
The facade was completed in 1737 by the French architect Jean-Sylvain Cartault. He added a unique touch -- a small obelisk on each side of the second story register.
Similar to a handful other churches in the city, this lovely place of worship began as an abbey church, The original occupants were the Discalced Augustinian friars - indicated by the street name. The church and adjoining friary was constructed between 1629-1740. Designed by various architects, it was consecrated in 1740.
The Terrors of the French Revolution
The French Revolution was a dreadful time of persecution. Catholics were killed for their Faith and Catholic properties were seized and desecrated. Notre Dame des Victoires was one of the many churches that underwent violent persecution. The Augustinian friars there had a library of some 40,000 books. They were expelled, the monastery was destroyed, and the library was pillaged.After 1809 and the restoration of the monarchy, it became a parish church once again. However, due to recent persecution and its location in a busy business district, it attracted few parishioners which resulted in, among other things, financial difficulties.
For much of the nineteenth century, the shrine was a spiritual powerhouse in France.
From that moment on, the church experienced a genuine renaissance and became a place of pilgrimage with many people visited and seeking miracles. This event assured the church a future and made it a special place of devotion for pilgrims to Paris.
At the meeting Fr. Desgenettes invited the men to wear a special "white scapular," bearing the an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the words "SWEET HEART OF MARY BE MY SALVATION" on the front scapular and the symbols and words "REFUGE OF SINNERS, PRAY FOR US" on the back scapular.
Pilgrims continue to flock here to pray for miracles, praying in front of the statue of Our Lady of Victories.
Because of this devotion coupled by the unique art and architecture of the place, the church was designated a basilica in 1927. It is today one of five minor basilicas in Paris.
Every day it receives and welcomes people from the world over. Public devotions are led in the church, often by participants from various countries who speak French.
The interior is known for its over 37,000 ex voto offerings in silver and gold that have been left over the centuries by the faithful, evidence of petitions brought forth and prayers answered through the intercession of Our Lady of Victory. Offerings include military decorations from the First and Second World Wars.
Similarly, ex voto plaques continue to be donated in gratitude by the Christian faithful, a testament to the graces received and miracles granted.
The sanctuary and choir walls are covered in massive larger than life eighteenth century paintings that inspire the soul. They depict scenes from the life of St. Augustine, as the shrine was originally under the care of the Augustinian friars. The paintings are by Carle (or Charles-André van Loo). He was a famous French painter of Dutch origin. He was the court painter for King Louis XV.
Don Bosco and Our Lady of Victory
On the morning of Saturday, April 28, 1883, Don Bosco was celebrating weekly Mass here for the conversion of sinners. This was done at the side altar before the statue of Our Lady of Victories. He experienced a mystical vision by which a young man whom he had known appeared to him.
This young man had recently died. Don Bosco recognized him instantly. The boy said to him: "This is the house of graces and blessings." It was then his Salesian Order began to promote the shrine all the more as a place of universal pilgrimage.
A plaque was fixed to the wall to commemorate this great event (see photo above with golden Don Bosco medallion). Visitors are reminded of the need to pray here for the conversion of sinners, seeking heavenly aid in the form of abundant graces and blessings to be poured out on humanity, as well as to pray for the dead.
St. Thérèse and Our Lady of Victories
Little Thérèse today has an altar dedicated to her in the rear of the shrine (seen in the above photo). She had great devotion to Our Lady and wrote of her visit here in her autobiography (chapter six). While on their way to Rome on pilgrimage, her small group from Lisieux first stopped here in Paris -- praying here helped her realize her vocation. She writes:
"When we reached Paris, Papa, took us to see all its wonders, but for me the sole attraction was the church of Our Lady of Victories. I can never tell you what I felt at her shrine; the graces she grated me there were like those of my First Communion Day, and I was filled with happiness and peace. In this holy spot the Blessed Virgin, my Mother, told me plainly it was really she who had smiled on me and cured me. With intense fervor, I entreated her to guard me always, to realize my heart's desire by sheltering me under her spotless mantle, and to remove from me every occasion of sin" (Source: The Story of a Soul, pp. 104-105).Given that this church was the highlight for the "Little Flower" whilst on her one and only visit to Paris, the site takes on a whole new meaning and attracts many pilgrims who gather here from all parts of the world, inspired by her lead.
