The news traveled swiftly. Pilgrims, unbelievers, observers and the inevitable busybodies interrogated, threatened, taunted and tempted the two children trying to trap them in some contradiction. Then came the reporters, the inevitable state officials, and the investigators appointed by the Bishop of Grenoble. To him, of course, belong to right to decide on the matter. On October 9, 1846, he issued a letter prohibiting priest from speaking about the event until he had reach the decision, “after a necessarily detailed and exhaustive investigation.” The bishop insisted on being kept updated on the children’s behavior, as well as on everything that happened on the mountain. Father Melin, archpriest of Corps became his correspondent. Official diocesan investigators were commissioned to begin keeping dossiers on the event, the children, and the consequence of the apparition. They submitted their report to a commission whose membership intentionally included supporters as well as opponents of the apparition.

Presided by the bishop, this commission will be kept posted on the investigation. It would hear the two children as well as those in charge of their education; it would allow opponents full freedom of expression. The conclusions of the commission were all more convincing: the  children had not been deceived, nor were they deceivers. Had they intended to deceive, they were incapable of inventing such a story. By 1847, the bishop believed in the Apparition. Still, during the following four years he consulted and kept informed. Other investigators pursued their own research into the matter.

Father Lagier, a native of Corps, and Father Lambert from Avignon contributed valuable research on the subject. In February and May 1947 respectively, they interviewed the children in dialect and scrupulously transcribed their replies. Other works could be cited (cf. La Salette: document authentiques, Jean Stern, M.S., Desclee de Brouwer, Paris, 3 Volumes).

The Verdict

On September 19, 1851, Bishop Philibert de Bruillard, Ordinary of Genoble issued his “doctrinal pronouncement”. Its basic message is the following:

“We judge the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to two shepherds on September 19, 1846 on the mountain of Alpine chain, situated to the parish of La Salette, of the archpresbitery of Corps, bears all the characteristics of truth, and that the faithful have grounds for believing it to undeniable and certain.”