A new essay entitled ‘Notre Dame de Paix’ by Suzanne Huc Bezombes has just been published.
Crafted in the Languedoc region at the beginning of the 16th century and linked to the Joyeuse family, a magnificent statue of the Virgin Mary holding Child and an olive branch, has had a very interesting history. The little Madonna was the object of the prayers of a Capuchin father with an extraordinary destiny, Henri de Joyeuse (1563-1608), who was also Duke and Count of Bouchage. The statue has survived a near epic five centuries. An object of pilgrimage, it is said to have miraculously cured Louis XIV and survived the French Revolution. The carving enjoyed incredible success throughout the world, being replicated on all five continents as Our Lady of Peace.
Suzanne Huc Bezombes is deeply committed to preserving and promoting our historical and cultural heritage, and is President of the Association des Amis de la Ville et de la Cité de Carcassonne and a member of the Académie des arts et des sciences de Carcassonne and the Société des Études-Scientifiques de l'Aude.
This is a historical narrative that could be likened to a saga unfolding over several generations around a family where achievements, political events, love and hatred all come together... Above all, this tiny statue of timeless beauty brings an incredible message of peace that has been spread around the world.
11/03/2024