Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre

Commune

The church of Saint-Laurent, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre

Coat of arms

Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre

Location within Pays de la Loire region

Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre

Coordinates: 46°57′34″N 0°53′30″W / 46.9594°N 0.8916°WCoordinates: 46°57′34″N 0°53′30″W / 46.9594°N 0.8916°W

Country

Canton de Mortagne-sur-Sèvre

Area¹

15.79 km² (6.10 sq mi)

Population (2006)²

4,331

• Density

270/km² (710/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

85238 /85290

Elevation

98–199 m (322–653 ft)
(avg. 110 m or 360 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

Some 25,000 visitors per year arrive at the town, for it is the burial place of two well known Roman Catholic figures: Saint Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet. The Basilica of Saint Louis de Montfort at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is an impressive structure that attracts a good number of pilgrims each year.

On September 19 1996, Pope John-Paul II visited the town to meditate and pray on the adjacent tombs of Saint Louis and Blessed Marie Louise. Pope John Paul II's strong Marian devotion was highly influenced by the Mariology of Saint Louis de Montfort. According to his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, the pontif's personal motto "Totus Tuus" was inspired by St. Louis' doctrine on total consecration to the Virgin Mary.

Claire Ferchaud was born in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre.

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Wikipedia