Rocamadour: the villiage of miracles

At the base is a villiage, at the midpoint an abbey, at the summit, a majestic castle built into the rock.

So many legends and devotions and miracles here. Saint Bernard of Clairveux penned this magnificent prayer here.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known 

that anyone who fled to thy protection, 

implored thy help, 

or sought thy intercession, 

was left unaided. 

Inspired by this confidence 

I fly unto thee, 

O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 

To thee do I come, 

before thee I stand, 

sinful and sorrowful. 

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions, 

but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 

Amen.

The history of this place goes all the way back to the first century when it was inhabited by a mysterious hermit who was fleeing persecution. The kind and benevolent stranger would not reveal his true identity out of fear. He began to be known to the villiagers as "amadour" which means "He who loves".

As the many centuries passed no one knew who the mysterious stranger was, where he came from or what happened to him but the legend grew of Saint Amadour.

Many centuries later, the mysterious person was found within the rock in this place.

The location became known as "The rock of the one who loves" or Rocamadour.

At the Abbey, a statue of the Madonna was placed and candles of entreaty placed before it. After years, the soot from the candles turned the icon black and many miracles have been attributed to "the Black Madonna". The image of Our Lady of Rocamadour has attracted millions of visitors, making it one of the top sites in all of France.

Among the other sites to see is the sword in the stone. Move over King Arthur.

Legend holds that it was hurled by none other than Charlemagne.

Rocamadour is an incredile, miraculous site.