Mystics of the Church
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Little Gilles Bouhours -The 5 year old who delivered a heavenly message to the Pope
Gilles Bouhours (1944–1960): The Child Messenger of the Assumption
“The Blessed Virgin Mary did not die; She ascended to Heaven with Her body and soul.”
—Message from five-year-old Gilles Bouhours to Pope Pius XII during a private audience
A Heavenly Message to the Pope
In 1950, as Pope Pius XII prepared to define the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, he prayed privately for a sign to confirm that this was truly God’s will. What followed was a remarkable and little-known episode involving a five-year-old French boy named Gilles Bouhours. Many believe his message was Heaven’s direct response to the Pope’s plea.
Early Life and a Miraculous Cure
Gilles Bouhours was born on November 27, 1944, in Mayenne, France—fittingly, on the feast of the Miraculous Medal. He was the third of five children. His father, Gabriel, worked as a plumber; his mother, Madeleine, was a homemaker.
At just nine months old, Gilles was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis, a severe and often fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Doctors offered little hope. There were no effective treatments available in France at the time.
A nun from the Little Sisters of the Poor, a family friend, gave the Bouhours family two relic prayer cards: one of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the other of Fr. Daniel Brottier, a missionary and director of a home for orphans in Paris. The family placed them under the baby’s pillow and prayed.
For three nights, there was no change. But on the fourth night, Gilles’ parents awoke to find him completely well—his fever gone, pain-free, and behaving normally.
Later, they noticed a red “T” shape (interpreted as a cross) on each of his cheeks. Even more striking, while Fr. Brottier’s relic card remained intact, the relic from St. Thérèse’s card was inexplicably missing—only the two red threads that had held it remained. The family took this as a sign that “little Thérèse” had interceded for their son’s healing. Later events in Gilles’ life seemed to confirm this belief.
The First Apparitions
In September 1947, the Bouhours family was living in Arcachon, France. Gilles, then nearly three years old, began reporting visions of the Virgin Mary. The first apparition occurred on September 30, 1947. Mary reportedly told Gilles to go to Espis, a small village in southern France where other reported Marian apparitions had been occurring since 1946.
At first skeptical, Gilles’ father, Gabriel, looked up Espis on a map and visited the site himself. He eventually invited one of the local visionaries to their home to see if there was any connection between her visions and those of Gilles.
That evening, in the family garden, the girl claimed to see Our Lady of Lourdes appear. Gilles, along with his father and siblings, was present. Only Gilles reportedly saw the apparition. He described Mary standing on water, parting it with a stick, and mentioned seeing “two sticks in the sky”—which, with his childlike vocabulary, he used to describe a cross. He also saw a “yellow smoke” rise in the sky and said the Virgin “weeps.”
These events marked the beginning of what would become a series of reported mystical experiences for the young boy.
Espis and the Other Visionaries
Espis, in the Diocese of Montauban, had gained attention the year before due to alleged apparitions involving three children and, later, a forty-year-old man. On August 22, 1946, two sisters, Claudine and Nadine Combalbert, reported seeing a woman dressed in black with a dress adorned with daisies. On August 31, the adult visionary claimed the Lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.
The local bishop conducted an investigation and, by December 1946, expressed serious doubts about the authenticity of the events. Despite this, Gilles became associated with the Espis apparitions due to his own visions and visits to the site.
On October 13, 1947 (the anniversary of the Fatima miracle), Gilles reported that the Virgin asked him to pray in the woods at Espis, in a place where a spring would later flow. That same day, in the presence of about 30 people, the Virgin reportedly appeared again, blessed rosaries, and asked for a decade of the rosary to be prayed for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
A Child’s Words, A Pope’s Prayer
The most remarkable event came in 1950, when Gilles, then five years old, was received in a private audience by Pope Pius XII. During the meeting, he shared a message he claimed to have received from the Virgin Mary:
“The Blessed Virgin Mary did not die; She ascended to Heaven with Her body and soul.”
This message deeply affected the Pope. Some believe it served as the divine confirmation he had asked for in prayer. Later that year, on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII officially defined the dogma of the Assumption in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus.
A Visit from St. Thérèse
On December 10, 1947, Gilles reported another extraordinary vision—this time of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, smiling and tossing flowers at him. This imagery strongly echoed St. Thérèse’s famous promise: “I will let fall a shower of roses from Heaven.”
Two days earlier, on December 8 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), he had reported seeing a large cross in the sky.
Final Thoughts
Gilles Bouhours died young, in 1960, at the age of 15. But during his short life, his reported mystical experiences—and especially his message to Pope Pius XII—left a lasting impression on those who believe Heaven sometimes chooses the smallest voices to deliver its greatest truths.
Whether one accepts these events as miraculous or not, the story of little Gilles offers a deeply human glimpse into faith, mystery, and the enduring power of childlike trust.
Gilles’ First Visit to Espis
Gilles visited Espis for the first time on October 13, 1947. There, the Virgin Mary reportedly led him to a spot in the woods where a spring would later begin to flow. This marked the beginning of a series of important events.
On January 13, 1948, the Virgin appeared to Gilles twice in one day, asking him to pray to the Sacred Heart of Her Son. Just a few weeks later, on February 8, Gilles observed several “crosses in the sky,” a recurring theme in his visions.
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
On February 10, 1948, the Bouhours family made a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Interestingly, Gilles had no visions during the entire visit. This absence of apparitions actually strengthened his parents’ conviction that the visions were genuine and not influenced by suggestion or excitement.
While visiting Lourdes, Gilles remarked that the statues and images of the Blessed Virgin were indeed beautiful, but added, “…there are none near as beautiful as I see Her.” This statement highlighted the vividness and personal nature of his apparitions.
Mary’s Tears and the Future Spring
On February 13, 1948, at the place where the spring was to emerge, Gilles reportedly saw Mary weeping “tears of blood.” He then asked his father for some holy water. With water in the palm of his hand, Gilles stretched out his hand as if wiping the tears from the Virgin’s cheeks. He repeated this action twice, wiping each cheek while those present prayed quietly. The apparition ended when Gilles finished “wiping” the tears away.
The next day, Gilles said the Virgin kissed him tenderly during another vision.
Further Apparitions and Messages
On March 13, 1948, Gilles said, “I embraced the Blessed Virgin, but I did not kiss Her.” The springtime of 1948 brought several significant visions. On April 13, he saw the Virgin three times in Espis, and throughout May, he reported seeing her in various places—his room, the garden, and elsewhere—describing “rains of crosses” falling from the sky.
By June 4, 1948, Gilles identified the apparition as “Holy Mary, Mother of God,” and a few days later on June 10th, he referred to her as “Holy Mother of Graces.”
Although the Virgin often appeared to Gilles on the 13th of each month, June 13 was an exception. Due to a recent decision by the local bishop (issued May 4th) concerning the visionaries at Espis, the family chose not to go there that month. Gilles later said he received an interior confirmation to support this decision.
Whimsical Moments
On June 24, 1948, Gilles told his mother, “After Sunday, the Blessed Virgin will come to see me in our garden. Not today, she does not have time!”
Curious, his mother asked what Mary was doing. Gilles answered with childlike innocence, “Well, she is not making soup!”—apparently referencing a task his mother was busy with at the time—“She puts flowers in heaven.”
Blessing of the Rosaries
During an apparition on August 13, 1948, a woman gave Gilles three rosaries she wanted the Virgin Mary to bless. Gilles returned them, saying the Virgin would not bless them because they were already blessed.
Gilles’ father later spoke with the woman, who confirmed the rosaries had indeed been blessed, though she had not realized this when offering them.
Editor’s note: The idea that the Blessed Virgin can bless objects has appeared in other apparitions, such as Garabandal. Some skeptics argue that only priests or deacons can bless in Jesus’ name. However, the Church teaches that in emergencies, any person can baptize another, conferring a sacrament. It follows logically that the Mother of Jesus—born without original sin and mother to the Son of God—could sanctify or bless an object. This alone shouldn’t be a reason to dismiss any reported apparition. —Glenn Dallaire
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The Bishops ruling concerning the principle visionaries at Espis
Feeling compelled to intervene because of the news reports and excitement being generated by the various visionaries at Espis, the diocese conducts an investigation, and on December 12, 1946, Bishop Théas, the then Bishop of Montauban, writes in a private correspondence that these appearances “are not true” and that it is all an “Illusion”, and six months later, on May 4, 1947, the bishop publishes an official negative judgment, suspending “a divinis” any priest who celebrates Mass there. Around this time, the Lady confirms the bishops decision by telling Gilles that no Masses should be celebrated in Espis, out of obedience to the local Bishops recent decision.
After the departure of Monsignor Theas for the diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes, his successor, Monsignor Courrèges, establishes a commission of inquiry on February 1, 1950. Its conclusions are in summary “Auto suggestion and hallucinations ” excluding any possibility of a “supernatural origin”.
Although Gilles was not one of the original or principle visionaries at Espis, he was nevertheless caught up in the affair due to visit that one of the principle visionaries had made to his home, and also the subsequent visits that he himself had made there after the bishops decision, which it should be pointed out was due to the expressed request by the Lady Herself in one of his early visions. Essentially he was “guilty by association”, as the expression goes.
The fact remains however that the bishops official ruling concerning the visionaries at Espis was on May 4th, 1947, and Gilles himself did not visit Espis until October 13th of that year, so the bishops decision concerning the authenticity of the alleged apparitions there obviously did not pertain to Gilles apparitions in any way. Its difficult to understand the designs of God in such matters, but the fact remains that even after the local bishops ruling, which was acknowledged by the Vatican, Gilles was nevertheless granted two separate private audiences with the Pope, as the reader will discover below. One can assume that while the some of the newspapers later implicated Gilles in the events at Espis, some at the high levels in Rome knew the facts of the timeline, and how to separate the wheat from the tares.
Biblical-Style Visions of St. Michael the Archangel
On August 15, 1948, a vision came to the almost four-year-old Gilles, described in his own simple, vivid words:
“I see a big button [the earth] and, above, a big beast, like a lizard with a big tail and big legs wrapped around it. Not far away, I see a gentleman with feathers on his back.”
Without fully realizing it, Gilles had just described the archangel Saint Michael and the figure of Satan influencing the world. On that same day, Mary appeared dressed in blue, but without a veil. She asked him to follow a procession organized by the pilgrims at Espis and to sing “Chez nous que queen.” In the weeks that followed, the Virgin asked him to say “many prayers.”
Messages about the Battle for Souls
On October 13, 1948, the apparition revealed to Gilles the “fights” led by Saint Michael for the benefit of souls. Later, on December 13, Mary entrusted Gilles with a “secret” meant only for the Pope. When Gilles’ father asked for details, Gilles replied, “She told me something [to tell the Pope] and if I told you it would be two sins,” suggesting the secret may have had multiple parts.
A new goal filled Gilles’ young mind: to travel to Rome, where “the one who replaces Jesus on earth” lives—the Pope. By early 1949, despite being just four, Gilles took part in Lent with remarkable devotion.
Apparitions and Spiritual Growth
On May 13, 1949, Gilles reportedly saw the Virgin along the Way of the Cross and felt some of Jesus’ pains. A month later, on June 12, he received his First Holy Communion in a simple but spiritually profound ceremony. Throughout the summer of 1949, Gilles continued to receive apparitions and locutions on the 13th of each month, with two extra visions on August 15.
The Little Miracle of the Two Turtle Doves
On July 13, 1949, during a vision, Gilles offered the Blessed Virgin a pair of turtle doves given to him by a lady for that purpose. When released, the doves did not fly away as expected. Instead, the male flew to the foot of the altar, grabbed a flower about 20 to 25 centimeters long in its beak, and returned to Gilles. The bird cooed, circled in front of him, and laid the flower at his feet. Those witnessing this were amazed by the event.
Journey to Rome and Meeting Pope Pius XII
On November 13, 1949, the Virgin asked Gilles to go to Rome to see the Pope. Despite financial hardships, Gilles and his father made the trip. On December 12, 1949, they had a semi-private audience with Pope Pius XII. However, Gilles did not share the secret because he wasn’t alone with the Pope, as requested by the Virgin. Although disappointed, Gilles insisted the message must be delivered privately.
Plans for a second visit were halted by a letter from the local Bishop, citing a decision that the Holy Father could not grant another audience due to the bishop’s stance on the Espis apparitions. Yet, just eight days later, after the Virgin again urged Gilles to go, the obstacles suddenly disappeared. The Vatican’s highest levels cleared the way.
Second Private Audience with the Pope
In late April 1950, Gilles and his father returned to Rome. On May 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII received five-year-old Gilles in a private audience—just the two of them present. Cardinal Montini, who would later become Pope Paul VI, introduced Gilles.
Gilles’ father described the moment:
“At around 10:30 a.m., we entered the Vatican, where prelates led us to a room. A bishop said, ‘Put the child on the chair. We will leave him alone with the Holy Father.’ As soon as the Pope entered, the prelates withdrew. Gilles stayed alone with the Pope. Shortly after, Pope Pius returned with Gilles, who joyfully clapped his hands and cheered, ‘Vive le Papa!’ Freed from constraints, Gilles then revealed his secret to several people.”
The Secret and Its Impact
On June 10, 1950, the Italian newspaper Giornale d’Italia published an article titled: “A little Frenchman of five years speaks to the Pope.” The article quoted Gilles’ secret:
“The Blessed Virgin Mary did not die; She ascended into heaven with her body and soul.”
Gilles also met Father Gabrielle Roschini, a renowned mariologist and Lateran University professor, who was involved in drafting the dogmatic text of the Assumption. Roschini described Gilles as reserved before the audience, only revealing the secret afterward, as commanded by the Virgin.
The connection between Gilles’ message and the dogma of the Assumption—proclaimed on August 15, 1950—was striking. According to well-informed sources, Pope Pius XII had asked God for a sign confirming the dogma’s alignment with divine will. Many believed Gilles’ revelation was that sign.
Later Visions and Devotion
Although Gilles’ primary mission—delivering the secret to the Pope—was complete, he continued to receive regular visits from the Virgin Mary until 1958.
On May 13, 1950, Gilles announced:
“On June 13, I am to wear a white alb and walk barefoot, like the little Jesus, for the conversion of sinners.”
This moment was captured in newspaper photos.
His brother recalled:
“He was often willing to make sacrifices, big or small, to please the Blessed Virgin or ‘Little Jesus.’ He gave up sweets and helped at home when he would rather have played. Gilles was a spiritual example to us all, accepting everything and offering his sufferings, especially during winter when his hands and feet were badly affected by chilblains, yet he never complained.”
On November 5, 1954, during a Mass honoring the Sacred Heart, Gilles saw the Virgin bow during the Consecration—an occurrence also reported by Father John Lamy in the early 20th century.
In early 1955, on January 13, February 13, and March 13, Gilles saw “brilliant golden rays” emanate from the Virgin’s joined hands.
On March 20, 1957, Gilles was saddened when the Lady told him:
“Gilles, soon I will not come to see you anymore.”
Summary of Gilles’ Apparitions
What has been shared here is just a brief outline of Gilles’ many visions. While the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared most often, sometimes she held the Child Jesus, whom Gilles called “Little Jesus.” He also saw St. Joseph, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. Bernadette, each accompanying Mary on different occasions. His descriptions of angels included those dressed in white, blue, or pink.
On August 15, 1958, the Virgin appeared to him for the last time. A year and a half later Gilles passed from this life to eternity on February 26, 1960. He was 15 years old. He died after a short illness of 48 hours. Some in the medical field said it was a crisis of uremia, while others said it was acute asthma, but ultimately there was no precise explanation. Yet another remarkable thing happened at the moment when Gilles gave his soul to God–A flock of birds of all sorts came and fluttered around the window of his room and engaged in a melodious chirping, which lasted a few moments, enough for the people around the bed of Gilles to be fascinated and astonished by the sight, and afterwards report it.
