By Fr. Paul John Kalchik, Church Militant - On the afternoon of Sept. 19, 1846, Our Blessed Mother appeared to the young shepherds Maximin Giraud, age 11, and Mélanie Calvat, age 14, on a mountainside in La Salette in southeast France. Unlike other apparitions of the Blessed Mother in times past, Our Lady appeared to these children in great distress, weeping bitterly... She said, "Come to me, my children. Do not be afraid. I am here to tell something of the greatest importance." She continued, "If my people will not obey, I shall be compelled to loose my Son's arm. It is so heavy, so pressing that I can no longer restrain it. ..."