Düren, Germany

1949 - 1952

Düren, an old town in the Rhineland, known for centuries as a pilgrimage site of the Blessed Mother Anna, was almost completely destroyed on November 16, 1944. South of the town, maybe 10 minutes away, there are two chapels on the road to Stockheim. The smaller, older, roadside one is decorated with a representation of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Olives. The newer, much larger chapel was badly damaged in the war. Only the surrounding walls remained standing. In this chapel there used to be a beautiful, old picture of the "The Comforter of the Afflicted", which was preserved and can now be admired in the old chapel. Hey is strange that this photo, which had lain in the ruined chapel for almost four months in rain, snow and rubble and yet remained undamaged.

South of the town, and maybe 10 minutes from there, are two chapels on the road to Stockheim. The smallest is the oldest and is located along the road. It is decorated with a representation of the agony in the Garden of Olives. The newest one is much larger, but was very badly damaged in the war, so that only the outer walls were still standing. This chapel used to house a beautiful, old effigy of the "Consolata Afflictorum" (Comfortress of the Afflicted), which was saved and is now placed in the old chapel. Despite the fact that the effigy had lain in the ruined chapel for almost four months in the rubble, in wind and weather, it was remarkably completely undamaged. From 1 May 1949, first in the destroyed, larger chapel and later in the old chapel, the Mother of God appeared to the then 44-year-old unmarried Gertrud Fink, a seamstress by trade. Gertrud Fink was born on February 1, 1905. The apparitions took place in these two chapels. At a later stage, the apparitions also took place at the home of the seeress. There were also apparitions in the church of Saint Joseph in Diiren and in the chapel of a nunnery there. Once an apparition took place in Cologne Cathedral. This happened during the ceremonies of a priestly ordination.

Below is the story told by Gertrud Fink:

May 1, 1949

On the first of May I was drawn to the Maria chapel by an almost superhuman force. Incidentally, it was also customary to often pay a visit to Mary there in the month of May. At half past five in the morning I entered the ruined chapel to pray and to give Mary a morning greeting. I also prayed for peace for humanity. Then I suddenly saw a beautiful Woman standing on the left side. I felt as if something full of mercy came towards me and completely possessed me. And this Woman spoke to me, “Come to this chapel on nine Holy Saturdays. Pray for the priests and the people. I will come back". After these words I had a feeling that I cannot describe. I felt completely attracted to this Woman. This feeling did not let go of me. I then prayed a few more Hail Marys to come back to myself completely. With a heartfelt prayer of thanks I then went home. At eight o'clock I went to Mass, but my thoughts were always with this beautiful Woman. Her long white robe, wide golden belt, blue cloak and white veil: this image came to my mind again and again. I felt that I belonged to Her, and a deep longing for Her went through my heart all the time. I longed for the first Priest's Saturday, when I might see Her again. She was so young, so lovely, so full of purity and love I cannot express exactly how my soul felt this.

May 7, 1949

At six o'clock in the morning I went back to the chapel, as She had asked. Her words of the first apparition had constantly pierced my soul. However, I did not know what She actually wanted. Silently I prayed in the chapel. I got a kind of premonition. Something attracted me violently. No power on earth could have removed this premonition from me, not even death. Suddenly I saw a bright light on the left side of the altar. This light seemed to open up and the beautiful Woman stood there. A tender smile played on Her face, She nodded to me and said: “Will you give me the ransom for the souls of the priests? Come and pray here morning and evening. Come here on the evening of May 12 and I will tell you who I am.” I cannot describe what passed through my soul after these words. I felt a great unworthiness in me. I felt the sinfulness in me, the wretched nothingness. May God grant me His grace, that I may do all that is asked of me. A special power filled my soul. It was this force that compelled me to make it known to the beautiful Woman that I wanted to do all this. Like a child to its Mother, so I was drawn to Her. A very special feeling of happiness flowed through me. I noticed nothing of the world around me and of the bystanders. Everything had fallen off me. Only the prayer lived in me: "Give me the strength to faithfully fulfill Your wish". It was just as if She had given me something, something very special, which I must defend with all my being. Remarkably, the beautiful Lady kept Her cloak closed at the front, as if She wanted to hide something mysterious. It is great happiness for me that I may do what She requires of me. With a smile that no man could resist, She rose slowly; a greeting and she was gone. The reality of my surroundings returned and, according to Her command, I prayed for priests and people.

May 12, 1949

The days of silent prayer flew by and again my soul longed for this beautiful Woman. The 12th of May came, the day on which She had summoned me to Herself. Now I would learn who she was. It was half past nine in the evening. No one was in the chapel. With my Mother, who had no idea of anything, I sat praying before the gracious image. And suddenly the beautiful Woman was standing again on the left side of the altar, about half a meter above the ground. Under Her feet was a white cloud. I saw Her bare feet. A long white robe, held together with a broad golden girdle, hung down to Her feet. A certain something, a very special loveliness, emanated from Her. My heart could hardly contain it. I wanted to pray, but I hardly succeeded. In me there was only a beholding, a giving oneself away. Suddenly She shone in a wondrous radiance. Then She spread out Her blue cloak, held Her hands towards the earth and then said:

"Ecce Ancilla Domini” (See the Handmaid of the Lord)

These words overwhelmed me with deep awe. I whispered these words to Her. I didn't know what they meant. Then She bent over me and said, “Child, something terrible will come upon the nations. Pray, pray, pray!" Then she disappeared. My soul and all my inner being were absorbed in what I had seen and I sank down into the bottomless depths of the splendor of this beauty, which never left me. There is no room in me for anything worldly.

June 4, 1949

When the Angelus sounded at half past five in the morning, I was in the chapel. After a short prayer I saw the bright light before me again on the left side of the altar. The luminosity divided and She appeared, the “Ecce Ancilla Domini”. She spread out Her cloak and the white robe became visible. It hung down to the feet in broad folds. I noticed that Her face had a very sad expression. I dared not ask the cause of this sad expression, for I feared I had done something wrong. She, however, guessed my thoughts and spoke the words: “If the light of destruction from the East in the Holy Year goes against the light from the West, and the people will not improve, My Son will set the Sign. The sun will rotate. A star will attack the mark, but the mark will defeat the star. Ask the priests to fix this chapel. I desire it. It should be a Johannes chapel. The chapel is to be dedicated to the favorite apostle who stood with me under the cross." She looked at me questioningly, if I had understood everything correctly. I asked her for the grace to remember everything that she said to me. had said to me. Then She blessed me with love and I felt that She would never leave me. At the blessing Her features showed a kind of heavenly smile, but then they turned back to sadness. Then She disappeared. For a while I prayed for all of us, but especially for the priests who must suffer persecution With a heavy heart I left the place of mercy, constantly absorbed in silent prayer, but determined to devote my life always to Jesus and to Mary and not to forget: "The ransom for the souls of the priests".

July 2, 1949

On this Saturday of Priests She was no longer so sad when She appeared in the chapel at six o'clock in the morning. First there was the bright light and in it She then appeared in all Her lovable loveliness. A heavenly smile adorned Her face, as if immersed in infinity. Her cloak She held open at the front and I saw the white robe, which I liked so much. She folded Her hands, looked at me and said, “Strengthen your prayer. Tell the priests to pray for the world that is alienating itself from God." She gave me a look of unspeakable gentleness and goodness. It was as if She wanted to draw everything to Herself with Her heart full of love. And I promised Her to persevere in prayer and to do all that pleases Her heart, and thus to glorify Jesus. Then She withdrew from my gaze and I was alone again. Only an insatiable longing remained in me. I would never wanting to lose no matter how hard things would get Through Mary to Jesus.

August 6, 1949

At six o'clock in the morning I was in the chapel. The apparition came as usual. She spread out Her hands and from them a light streamed down to the earth. It penetrated my whole soul and deep inside. It seemed to me that it was as if she were standing on a bridge. A secret was entrusted to me and She asked me never to speak to anyone about it and to reveal it to the Church only if a priest should invite me to do so. Then I must do it out of obedience to the Church. Before my eyes I saw a globe and over it She spread Her hands. With a Motherly love and begging with outstretched arms, She asks for peace, but the people do not want. I am powerless before this scene, like a child who does not understand everything that is happening to him. The light coming from Her hands
flowed, the secret for the priests and the begging for the world, I could not understand this. All my fears and fears, however, She prevented, when She said to me in a Motherly tone: "I will place men at your side who, in this world without faith, will work this matter out with you. I would like to have a Lily Army, that fights under My banner, a Marian army that must resist the power of the lowland. And this lowland is Russia that turns against Church, Pope and humanity". I asked Her very quietly to help me to bear everything, weak and poor as I am. In the fullness of Her love She said: “Do not be afraid, child. I am always he you. My love never leaves you." When I heard these words, everything became so light in me, as if I had never had anything to wear, as if I had only beheld something wonderful, something that does not go away and always remains. She also said: "Pray! Pray! Pray!" She disappeared with a loving smile. In deep compassion I knelt down for a while and prayed. The kind words of the Mother of God have given me such courage again that there is nothing else for me. Rather die than be unfaithful .

September 3, 1949

An inner feeling drove me to the chapel at half past five in the morning. I longed for my Mother, for I had much to say to Her and so many requests to convey to Her for the priests and for the people. Many evenings and into the night I had knelt in the place where She had appeared to me in Her full beauty and told me so many things. My heart was full of anticipation and I longed for Her so much that it was as if I was going to explode completely.
After the bright light had appeared, She suddenly stood before me in all Her loveliness, completely turned towards me. Her voice was all mild goodness, when She said to me: "Will you sacrifice yourself completely for the sinners?" “Yes, Mother,” I said, “I want to do whatever You desire.” Then She asked further, “Will you take up every Cross?” That also I confirmed. Thereupon She said, "I have come to warn the people. Hear My voice, pray and do penance! The loss of souls without faith and love is bitter. Listen to the voice of the Church, who speaks to you by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Then the worst will be averted. You will still have much to suffer. Will you surrender completely to suffering, to save souls for eternity?" I gave Her my word. I want to accept everything, even though I have already endured much in my life. Seeing my complete willingness, She said: "You will become a stumbling block to men, but persevere. The end is sweet." Silently I prayed for a short time for the conversion of sinners. I thought especially of our priests, of the Holy Father and of the whole Church. Then she continued: "My priests will stand in battle, but only through sacrifices for Christ, the Conqueror. Many priests will be persecuted; they will be tortured and killed. Their blood will cover part of the earth, where the Star is directed against Rome." I didn't know what all these words meant. They have penetrated deep into my mind. I am not aware of the full scope of all the words. In deep emotion I prayed for some time and then I went home. I had to think about these words for a long time.

October 1, 1949

The Rosary Month begins. After all, the most beautiful and edifying prayer that a soul can pray to obtain everything is the Rosary. I knelt in the chapel. In the distance I heard the Angelus ringing. I prayed this prayer in silence. The appearance of Mother Mary was not long in coming. I felt Her love flowing towards me. I was disconnected from the world. Then She showed me a dark road and at the end of it stood a bright shining Cross. She said: “You will find no comfort in this world, only in the other world. Your stay here will not be long.” Then she made me drink from a bowl something very bitter. Then I felt a deep, intimate connection with Her. I felt in my limbs something like a scarring, which I cannot describe. She slowly prayed the Hail Mary. The prayer melted in me with a deep contemplation in Her. I perceived that I belong to Her body and soul. Then the lovely apparition vanished. The bitter drink is inexplicable and incomprehensible to me. There was something special in my soul. Great was the desire in me, To contemplate Her constantly in Her loveliness. With a great longing for Her I then went home.

November 5, 1949

At six o'clock in the morning I was allowed to see my heavenly Mother again in the chapel. As I knelt down before Her, the question arose in my conscience, whether I had faithfully kept my promise, which I had made to the Mother. Have I prayed enough for the conversion of sinners; have I done enough penance?
My soul was drawn into something that knows neither space nor tension. All people seemed to be miles away from me, at a worldwide distance. For I saw Her in all Her beauty. Rays of light emanated from Her. She expressed her desire in the following words: “On the day of my Assignment in the Temple, go to the Pastor and tell him that it is my ardent desire that the chapel here be completed.” I promised Her to fulfill the wish. Her face seemed to me spiritualized. A deep understanding went through my soul. Her figure rose up and vanished. On the instructions of the Mother of God, I then went to Mr Pastor on the Feast of "Mary's Presentation in the Temple". I personally didn't know him yet. I felt pressure on me, but I had to go. I asked Mr. Pastor to listen to me for a few minutes, because I had something important to tell him. When I noticed with how much love and kindness he came to meet me, I told him everything that had happened. He asked me personal things, about my age and occupation and where I lived. I told him everything clearly. I also told him that I was poor and would have loved to go to the monastery, but that I could not because of my physical condition. He patiently listened to everything. I answered all his questions willingly and very frankly. I was a stranger to him and that is why he remained somewhat reserved towards me. He asked me, among other things, whether my confessor knew everything. I could confirm this, because from the beginning I had told everything to my confessor. Monsieur pastor promised me to communicate with my confessor. As he parted, he said, “Continue to pray and sacrifice. After all, you see the great and difficult task that awaits me. The construction of the H. Anna Church. Please include my difficult work in your offering.” I gladly promised this. Mister Pastor let me out with very kind words. In my soul I felt something break open. I felt a great responsibility and a detachment from the world. Tears gave me relief and I offered these to the Dear God for the intentions of Mr Pastor.

December 3, 1949

Also on this day the Dear Mother of God appeared as usual. In deep emotion I knelt before Her and waited for the words She had to say to me. She said, “Pray, pray, pray! Do penance! The Church will be persecuted. I have already told you this. Many will be martyred for the sake of faith. Whoever does not recognize the light of destruction from the East will fall into the most terrible error that mankind has seen. Burning torches will be thrown on the Vicar of Christ. He will suffer a lot. After all, I have come to warn mankind about the lowlands. Listen to your Mother's voice. At last my love will prevail, and by a stream of grace many will be saved. Through the precious Blood of My Son, I pray urgently for the forgiveness of the wicked and for the salvation of the world. Therefore I come as the Handmaid of the Lord.” She then invited me to come back here on the evening of the eighth of December. Her figure rose up and vanished. Silently and deeply I prayed for some time and let the words of the Dear Mother of God go through my head once more. Out of everything I noticed Her great love for people and how She still wants to save people at the last moment. Thoughts about how I, poor human being, could help the Mother of God, ran through my soul. I know, however: She is at my side and nothing can disturb me. I trust Her unconditionally.

December 8, 1949

It was a wet day with lots of rain. In the evening I would see the Dear Mother of God again. The whole day I was full of an exciting desire. My heart only drove me to Her. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Saint Joseph's Church, my soul longed for the little chapel, for the sacred place, where I would be allowed to see Her, the Heavenly Mother. There came over me a feeling of my great misery, because my poor soul has stumbled over so many stones and I have thereby hurt the Dear Saviour. But the love of the Lord has nevertheless shown me His Holy Mother. In the evening after eight I went to the chapel. Many candles were burning in front of the image of the Mother of God. A solemn silence surrounded the people who prayed there. The Rosary was prayed. Suddenly the image was in a bright glow. Rays emanated from the image, sideways and upwards, but not downwards. The rays were about half a meter long. After a few minutes the rays withdrew; the gleam disappeared and it seemed as if the image had disappeared. And there she stood again, again on the left side of the altar. Her face was very sad, with the exclamation, "Mary!" I got out of the couch and knelt on the right side, facing Her. Her clasped hands suddenly parted and on Her outstretched hands She held a Cross (it was about 5 feet tall and the beams were 4 fingers wide). She placed the cross on my left shoulder and said:
“Take the Cross and follow my Son. You will suffer much and you will be a stumbling block to many people. Pray much for the priests, for the Holy Church and for the conversion of sinners. Take courage. I will always be with you." Oh, I would like to fulfill Her wish. After all, I can't refuse her anything. Even if the sides of the Cross are oppressive, even if a feeling of boundless helplessness overwhelms me, yet know. I am sure of Her Motherly help. She always helps, no matter how fierce the battle. So on this evening I accepted everything. It was an unknown world that came towards me, a world full of hatred and rudeness, full of abuse and full of slander, full of filth and disgust towards God and His Holy Commandment. I felt that a world full of devilish ridicule, a world of doubt, rushed at me with diabolical violence. I understood that now, because Her words: “Take up the Cross and follow My Son”, were everything. She then invited me to come here at the same hour on December 24. She also gave me a message for the Church (to be revealed only when questioned by priests). She also exhorted me to speak only to the Church, not to the world, for the world is filthy. Then she disappeared. She has now left it to me to fulfill the Will of God and say “yes” to everything quietly and cheerfully. Until now nothing had been publicly known about the apparitions. But today, when many people were here to pray and noticed my - for them inexplicable - behavior, the story went around that I had seen the Mother of God. Many questions were asked after that. I answered calmly and simply, but the world was different. A to and fro began and I had to endure a lot. As a consolation I continued to long for the 24th of December, the day when She gave us the Light of the world.

December 24, 1949

The last day before Christmas. In the evening I would see the Heavenly Mother again. All day long I longed for Her. I wished it was evening already. When I came to the chapel in the evening, many people were already praying there. My first thought was, Mother, bless them all. After we had all prayed for perhaps fifteen minutes, the bright light first appeared again on the left side. This then gradually disappeared and She stood again in all Her glory and loveliness. With the exclamation of “Mary” I went to the right side and knelt before Her. She looked into the distance and said, “That's all right, child. Let many people come, that I may heal and bless them and give them strength according to the measure of their faith.” Oh, how happy I was with this message. If only I could call many people here to pay homage to their Mother. This was my deepest wish at the moment. Her beautiful dress with many pleats, reaching down to Her feet, shone in a very special light. I thought about whether all people would believe if they saw this beauty. I asked Mother Mary to let me say it, so that many people would be part of the great and beautiful event. Thereupon She said: “It will still take heavy sacrifices, but give everything to My Mother Heart. The road is still long”. Thereupon She spread out Her arms and blessed all the people who were praying. Then she disappeared. When the believers noticed that I was no longer tense, they asked me about everything. I then also told them the words of the Mother of God, Full of joy they prayed prayers of thanks. Oh, if only all men were like this! Because the event of the last time, a few days ago, had become known, dissenters were also aware of it, who allowed themselves things that were very bad and ugly. I can't speak about that here. May the dear God forgive them all.

In order not to make this story endlessly long, I will suffice below with the mention that the holy Mother Mary appeared to Gertrud Fink dozens of times after this until January 6, 1952.

After January 6, 1952, no further notes could be made, as their disclosure was forbidden by Her confessor. As a special feature it should be mentioned that the last apparition took place on the same day, at the same time and with the same words as in Heroldsbach (October 31, 1952 at midnight at midnight).

The seeress had to be admitted to Düren hospital because of a serious stomach ailment, where she underwent surgery on September 3, 1958. In the night following the operation, a weakening of the heart set in and on the morning of September 4, 1958, she died very quietly and peacefully.

The night nurse, called Lucia, who was on watch, tells of her last moments: "About half past five in the morning I felt that I urgently needed to go and see Certrud. I found her very weak and unconscious. The doctor who was immediately called gave her an injection. Shortly after that she opened her eyes and recognized me. Following a sudden inspiration I said to her: "Truusje, you know how you are and now that you are close to death , I ask you: Have you really seen the Mother of God?” Very clearly she said: "yes, yes, yes, I saw her." This was her last word and a few moments later she died.

Explanation:

There are two Mother Houses of God in Düren. On the site on Zülpicher Straße in the south of the city you will find an old and a new Mother of God house. The chapel belongs to the parish of St. Josef. It is best known as a place of pilgrimage that attracts pilgrims, especially in the Marian month of May, during the pilgrimage to the Comforter of the Sorrows. The old chapel was first mentioned in 1420 and is associated with a legend about the Black Plague and an ox. The newer chapel was built in the late 19th century.
See the following information for the two chapels:
https://dn-web.de/muttergotteshaeuschen/

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neues_Muttergotteshäuschen

The address is: Zülpicher Straße 227, 52349 Düren, Germany.

According to the decree of Pope Uirbanus VIII, only human credibility should be given to these events. The apparitions have therefore not been approved by the Holy See in Rome.