<P> Pope John Paul II stated: "As I wrote on the occasion of the 150th anniversary,' La Salette is a message of hope, for our hope is nourished by the intercession of her who is the Mother of mankind ." </P> <P> Sensation about Our Lady of La Salette arose when Mélanie and Maximin made their message public, which caused the bishop of Grenoble to investigate the apparition . During the investigation, a number of accusations were made against the visionaries, including the assertion that the apparition was actually just a middle - aged woman named La Merlière . </P> <P> No mention of secrets is made in the children's first accounts, presumably out of fear they would be compelled to disclose them . The children later reported that the Blessed Virgin had confided a special secret to each of them . These two secrets, which neither Mélanie nor Maximin ever made known to each other, were sent by them in 1851 to Pope Pius IX on the advice of Mgr . de Bruillard . It is assumed that these secrets were of a personal nature . Maximin advised the Marquise de Monteyard, "Ah, it is good fortune ." </P> <P> Maximin Giraud, after an unhappy and wandering life, returned to Corps (Isère), his native village, and died on 1 March 1875 . Mélanie Calvat died as a Catholic nun at Altamura, Italy, on 15 December 1904 . </P>

Feast day of our lady of la salette