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On November 22, the Catholic Church honors Mary with the Feast of Our Lady of La Vang. Mary's title as Our Lady of La Vang celebrates the protection she has offered to the people of Vietnam.
In 1798, Emperor Cahn Thinh made it illegal for Catholics to practice their faith in Vietnam. Fearing for their lives, many Vietnamese Catholics left their homes and hid in the forests of La Vang, near Quang Tri. When those in hiding became weak from hunger, they reported seeing a vision of a beautiful lady carrying a child. The lady, whom they believed to be Mary, assured them that they would be protected. Years later, a small chapel was built on the site. The chapel has been replaced with larger structures to accommodate the pilgrims who come to the site in modern times.
St. Pope John Paul II is among the many Catholic leaders who have joined with the Vietnamese people in recognizing Mary's appearance at La Vang. On Dec. 17, 1997, he wrote a letter to Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung of Hanoi stating that he believed Mary had indeed visited the Catholics who hid in the forest of La Vang.
Our Lady of La Vang is the Patroness of Vietnam.
To learn more about Mary's titles, read Catholic Traditions and Treasures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia published by Sophia Institute Press.
Helen Hoffner, Ed.D. is a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the author of four books for Catholic audiences: The Cross: A Universal Symbol ( Marian Press, 2024), Catholicism Everywhere ( Sophia Institute Press, 2024), Catholic Traditions and Treasures ( Sophia Institute Press, 2018), and The Rosary Collector's Guide ( Schiffer Publishing, 2013). She has also written four books for teachers: The Elementary Teacher's Digital Toolbox ( Prentice Hall, 2006), Literacy Lessons K-8 ( Corwin Press, 2010), Reading and Writing Mysteries in Grades 4-8 ( Teacher Created Materials, 2006), and A Look at Realistic Fiction ( Teacher Created Materials, 2003). Dr. Hoffner has been invited to discuss her books on television programs of EWTN and the Catholic Faith Network as well as on radio stations across the United States and Canada.
