Les Vernays Chapel

Today the chapel of Our Lady of the Ardent stands on a promontory near the hamlet of Les Vernays and overlooks the whole valley. The canon Louis-Marie Ducrey, parish priest of Bagnes from 1939 to 1970, listened to the pleas of his congregation and built the new chapel in 1950. The old chapel, dating back to the 17th century, had been deteriorating for years due to its situation in a very humid environment.

The architect of the current chapel, Charles Zimmermann, carried out this project alongside all of those who offered their labour to the Virgin Mary free of charge and of their own accord – the equivalent of 1000 days of work. The wall fresco (1950) is the work of painter Albert Chavaz, from Valais: Mary and the Infant Jesus in the centre keep watch over the church, Pope Pius XII and the children of the Church who are afflicted with illness and cared for by the healthy.

Commentary from the Mary of Nazareth site: Vernays: “Our Lady of Prompt Succour”. Filial piety has bestowed many titles upon the Blessed Virgin Mary: Our Lady of Prompt Succour is one of the most moving and encouraging titles. Such a title befits the Mother of Our Saviour, as the many who pray to her with humility and trust can testify. As the holy cleric of Ars said: “The heart of our good Mother is full of love and mercy. All that is needed is to turn to her, and our prayers will be heard... The Blessed Virgin is like a mother with many children, continually looking after one or the other.” The congregation of Bagnes is privileged to have a chapel where the Blessed Virgin is worshipped under the beautiful title of “Our Lady of Prompt Succour”. It is located in Les Vernays.

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