High in the French Alps, near Grenoble, is the tiny hamlet of LaSalette. France had survived the Revolution but belief and practice of the faith had been gradually declining.       Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud were tending a small herd of cattle on September 19, 1846. They saw a brilliant light in a large ravine below them. They began to see a Beautiful Lady who was weeping in profound grief.       The Beautiful Lady called to them: "Come to me my dear children. Do not be afraid. I have come to tell you something of great importance."       The Lady wore a dress of white radiance, studded with pearls, and a gold colored apron. She wore a wreath of roses around her headdress, which was a high cap, bent forward in the front. Her slippers were tipped with roses. Melanie noticed the strange necklace the beautiful Lady wore. Attached to it were a crucifix with a hammer on one side and pincers on the other. Here is the commonly accepted message:       "Dear little children, I entreat my Son constantly for all of you. Will you not listen to your Mother's voice? My Mother's heart bleeds for each of you. I love you so much! Do not bring more suffering upon yourselves.       Dear little children, return to God. Only in God do you experience peace, joy and love. Only in God, in His ways, in His ordinances is happiness attainable. God has given you six days to work but you take seven. Many people swear. They profane God's name.      I come to warn you that a great famine is coming. Nothing can grow without the blessing of God. When the harvest is spoiled, realize you yourselves have caused this. God's justice is love. He will permit the adults to atone for their sins by hunger. Children under seven will be afflicted with seizures and die in their homes.       If God's people awaken to His presence and His ways, the rocks will become piles of wheat and the potatoes will sow themselves. You must say your prayers, my little children, both in the morning and at night. Pray more. Pray at least one Our Father, one Ave, each day if you can do no more. Do not devour food like hungry dogs. Fast and abstain for the love of God so that He may fill you health. Make my words known to everyone in the world."