NOTRE-DAME-DE-LA GARDE Home Page An Astonishing Architectural Style... ...And Astonishing Particularities Our Lady of the Guard in numbers "Our Good Mother" from all directions Let's go Inside... A story of abiding tenacity living Faith To Welcome You FORUM A few books

Living Faith http://www.catholique-marseille.cef.fr/ Cardinal Robert Coffy, now deceased, summed up the " message of Our Lady of the Guard " in 1995. Here is his simple and meaningful text : Cardinal Robert Coffy Much has been written about Our Lady of the Guard: its history, the place it holds in the hearts of those of us who live in Marseilles. Is it possible to speak about Marseilles without speaking of this sanctuary? Is it possible to come to Marseilles without climbing up to Our Lady of the Guard? Of course, many climb up the hill to admire its outstanding location, but there is something else in this place; there is a presence which often turns the stroller into a pilgrim. Something else other than the location attracts Christians from Marseilles, the region, as well as foreigners passing through. Something else which has made this sanctuary a place of grace. As a witness to this we can cite, for the past, the ex votos and, for the present, Christians' veneration and everyone's respect, be they Christian or not, believers or not. And there we have the first meaning of Our Lady of the Guard, the message given to us by this eminently prayerful place. Our Lady of the Guard is a place of the Church which by its mere presence is unanimously accepted and helps in part to forge the unity of the various communities which live in our city. The Virgin of the Guard calls us to extend a mutual welcome to each other and to love each other with due respect for our differences. Those who, awhile ago, attempted to exploit this place to make of it a symbolic rampart of the West, have failed. Mary does not exclude anyone, she welcomes them. Think of her attitude at the Nativity: she welcomed the shepherds who were social outcasts, and the Wise Men who were foreigners.