Our Lady of La Vang: Discovering Vietnam's Sacred Marian Devotion

When I was a student at Mount St. Mary’s University, I would take the occasional day trip to Washington, DC. One of those trips included a visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Growing up Catholic, Mary was always a part of my faith. I would pray the rosary when I couldn’t sleep, my family would say a Hail Mary when passing a hospital sign when driving, and I still remember how disappointed I was when I wasn’t selected to crown Mary during my elementary school’s May crowning. But walking through the Marian Chapels at the Basilica has a profound impact on my understanding of who Mary is. Each chapel represents a different country and culture’s experience of Mary.

My de facto image of a Renaissance Mary expanded to include images of Mary from across the globe. In a recent papal document, Mary is referred to as “The Mother of the Faithful People,” and the National Basilica does such a powerful job of reminding its visitors about the universality of our faith and how, wherever the Gospel has taken root, the faithful call out to Mary, our Mother.

Our Lady of La Vang: Vietnam's Beloved Marian Shrine

Today the Catholic Church celebrates Our Lady of La Vang, the patroness of the Catholic Church of Vietnam. Our Lady of La Vang was one of the Marian Chapels that helped deepen my understanding of Mary when I was in college and who now holds a special place in my family. 

While Christianity seems to have made its first appearance in Vietnam in the 16th Century, its presence remained relatively insignificant until the missionary efforts of the Jesuits in the 17th Century. In the late 18th Century, the ruling family viewed Catholicism as a threat to the traditional Vietnamese way of life. The emperor ordered an anti-Catholic edict, and the persecutions of Catholics began. Many Catholics sought refuge in the jungles of La Vang, located in central Vietnam where they practiced their faith in secret. One night, while praying the Rosary, they saw a beautiful woman, dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothing, holding a baby under a bayan tree. The people interpreted the vision as Mary, Mother of God, and the baby Jesus. They said that the women comforted them and told them to use the leaves of the tree to cure the ill among them.

It is said that Our Lady of La Vang appeared many times to the Catholics in hiding. They built a small shrine to honor Our Lady and soon Catholics from across all of Vietnam would make a pilgrimage. The shrine was destroyed and rebuilt twice due to further persecution and war. While the Vatican has not recognized this event as a Marian Apparition, Pope John Paul II publicly recognized the importance of Our Lady of La Vang.  

Three Lessons from Our Lady of La Vang for Modern Catholics

The story of Our Lady of La Vang speaks to me on a few different levels. First, the persecuted Catholic reminds us to call out to Mary in our time of need. And, once again, we see Mary strengthen the faith of her children and give them the courage to persevere even in times of great suffering. When we call out to Mary, she hears our call and responds. 

Cheryl's two daughters with their Our Lady of La Vang dolls.

Second, we see Our Lady of La Vang holistically ministering to the persecuted Catholics hiding in La Vang. In this vision, Mary appears as a comforting mother. She comforts those gathered on a spiritual level by strengthening their faith at a time when it would be tempting to denounce one’s faith. In addition, she comforts them on a physical level, too. Tradition has it that many in the community were suffering from physical illness and ailment with no access to treatment. During the vision, Mary instructs the Catholics to boil the leaves of the tree she appeared under as a cure. She teaches us that when we minister to others, we must be attentive to the whole person, to comfort one’s body and soul. 

Lastly, Our Lady of La Vang continues to play a key role in the lives of Vietnamese Catholics. Our Lady of La Vang has become a strong symbol of the cultural and religious identity of Vietnamese Catholics worldwide. I find it so beautiful that Mary would appear wearing a traditional ao dai, further uniting herself to the persecuted Catholics hiding in La Vang.

And, I know that this blending of culture and religion is a source of pride for Vietnamese Catholics. My husband and his family emigrated to the United States in the 90s, and one of the first things you’ll see when you walk into my mother-in-law’s house is a statue of Our Lady of La Vang. My husband’s family makes regular trips to the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine in Grove, CA. And, I know that my daughters will have a deeper connection to both their faith and their culture because of Our Lady of La Vang.

Our Lady of La Vang, Pray for us!