Lyon: The Blessed Virgin’s Crown Stolen
The Blessed Virgin's Crown in the Museum of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, France.
A burglary at the Museum of Religious Art of Fourvière has left the Catholic faithful in shock: during the night of May 12 to 13, 2017, the crown of the Virgin of Fourvière was stolen.
The beginnings of the investigation show that the thieves must have been experienced, since they were able to neutralize the sophisticated security systems that protect the museum. The judiciary police and the Central Office for the Fight Against Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods have been put on the case.
The crown is a unique jewel that was chiseled in 1899 at the request of the families of Lyon, to thank Our Lady for saving the city from the Prussian invasion, and in thanksgiving for the soldiers who came home alive from the war of 1870. The crown has 1791 precious stones and is estimated to be worth over a million euros. The main fear is that the miscreants will remove the stones in order to sell them individually.
The Cardinal Archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin quickly expressed his indignation on social media. The crown is above all the symbol of the people of Lyon’s attachment to the Fourvière and the Virgin Mary, explained the prelate: “The Virgin of Fourvière, in Lyon, everyone loves her. When she is attacked, the people of Lyon are wounded”.
Two other objects from the museum’s collection were stolen with the precious crown: a ring and the chalice of Fr. Poisson.
Sources: Alexia / Le Progrès - FSSPX.News - 05/16/17
