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Notre Dam De Vie
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The shrine of Notre-Dame de Vie, or Our Lady of Life, stands in the valley above Venasque, France, where devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the sixth century. The early Christian community of Venasque, shepherded by Saint Siffrein and later Bishop Bohétius, built a church dedicated to the Mother of God on the site where the shrine now stands. For centuries, pilgrims came to this sacred place to honor Mary, calling it Santa Maria de Vico, later known as Our Lady of Life.
Through the Middle Ages and beyond, the shrine remained a place of prayer and refuge. In 1613, the Order of the Minims, followers of St. Francis of Paola, restored the chapel and welcomed pilgrims under their motto Charitas. Even during times of upheaval—such as the French Revolution, when the community was dispersed—the devotion to Mary, the Mother of Life, endured. The faithful continued to entrust to her the protection of families, of children, and of the sacred gift of life. In the 19th century, a local priest repurchased the sanctuary, allowing prayer and pilgrimage to flourish once again.
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The Order of Minims
Bl. Fr. Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus
In 1932, the Carmelite priest Fr. Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus and Marie Pila rediscovered the sanctuary and founded the Institute of Notre-Dame de Vie under Mary’s loving gaze. Struck by the radiant statue of the Virgin above the choir, they recognized her as the Mother of Life—the one who gives Jesus, the source of all life, to the world. From this hidden valley, grace continues to flow like a living spring, where souls come to be renewed by the mercy of the Virgin and the life of her Son.
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Founded in 1932 by Blessed Fr. Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus and Marie Pila, the Institute of Notre-Dame de Vie (Our Lady of Life) grew from the Carmelite spirit of silent prayer and deep union with God under Mary’s maternal care. Recognized by the Church as a secular institute in 1948 and later given pontifical approval, it expanded to include branches for lay men, women, and priests—all united by a single vocation to bring the life of Christ into the world through prayer and witness. From its humble beginnings in Venasque, this living spring of grace has flowed across continents, forming souls in contemplation and mission.
The Secular Institute of Notre Dam de Vie
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Our Lady of Life
Ministry
Unbeknownst to James, when Our Lady called him, she was inviting him to help further her apostolate. Though he knew nothing of Our Lady of Life or her mission, she revealed herself through a heavenly image kneeling upon the world in the sky in 1981. Through this miraculous sign, the ministry of Our Lady of Life was born, destined to grow under her maternal guidance.
Our Lady of Life
pray for us
James Kern, Founder
Laura Porter, Executive Director
Emily Haynes, Vision & Marketing Officer
Our Lady of Life Museum
16675 Wagon Train Place
Tucson, AZ 85739
Phone: 520 -401-0864
