Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel

Received the Golden Rose from the Pope

Scherpenheuvel is the most visited and most important Marian pilgrimage site in Belgium. The origins disappear into the Dark Ages. The Belgian Scherpenheuvel, located on the road between Diest and Aarschot, has probably been a popular place of pilgrimage since the thirteenth century. On the sharp hill between Diest and Zichem stood an oak, which was an object of veneration in the Middle Ages. Healing from all kinds of ailments was found at this sacred oak. Godfried van Thienwinckel, who grew up in Zichem and was a pastor there for more than a quarter of a century, explains that his parents prayed for healing at the Scherpenheuvel when he was very ill as a child. He attributes his successful recovery to their prayers. Others give similar testimonies. This creates a picture of a sacred place with a very local following. In the fifteenth century, a statue of Mary was placed there, which was stolen and replaced by a second statue in 1587. This second statue of Mary was given to Agnes Frederix, a sexton from Diest.

There was a great rush to this statue after several miraculous healings were attributed to it. Especially the legend about the shepherd who wanted to take the statue, but remained paralyzed until the statue was put back in place, explains the importance that Mary is venerated here. The crowd became so great that the Archdukes Albrecht (Albertus) of Austria and Isabella of Castile had a wooden chapel built there in 1603. Almost immediately the chapel turns out to be too small. The number of pilgrims continues to increase. Witnesses state that on September 8, 1603, the feast of the Nativity of Mary, as many as 20,000 pilgrims crowded onto the hill.

In 1604, a larger stone chapel was built, but it was demolished in 1627. In the spring of 1607, Albrecht and Isabella gave orders to begin preparations for the construction of the precious building. Two years later, the archdukes themselves laid the foundation stone. The future high altar was projected on the spot where the oak once stood. It took no less than twenty years before the heptagonal construction with the high dome was completed. The church was consecrated in 1627 and was built by councilor, painter and master builder of Albrecht and Isabelle. After all Italy; After passing through, he built the Church of Our Lady in Scherpenheuvel, based on the model of St. Peter's Church in Rome. He died in Brussels in 1630. Scherpenheuvel was built on a hill (61 meters) with the basilica as the center. Its enormous dome is covered with 298 gold-plated stars.

After the inauguration of the church (1627), Isabella came forward, her hands full of gold and jewels. She threw them down on the altar steps to signify that earthly goods are not the highest values in life. The people around her followed suit. This custom is still in use today.

The Well:

A stone's throw from the basilica on Albertus Square there is a red brick pavilion that is often visited by tourists. Here is the well dating from 1632, once more than 62 meters deep, and still in good condition. Around 1800, the masonry of the well had largely collapsed, so that the residents were obliged to fetch the necessary drinking water in neighboring Zichem. After much labor and great expense, the well was repaired in 1819. Until 1910, the residents of Scherpenheuvel queued up to get water; This was more or less expensive depending on whether one drew or had one draw. The water was collected by a system of a wheel with a diameter of 3 m, which was set in motion while pedalling.

The Godly Home Blessing:

The Godly House Blessing with the image of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel was still found in many workmen's homes in the Kempen around 1890. The house blessing was read in case of danger, such as thunder. In the distant past, many pilgrims from Tilburg went individually to Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel. Around the middle of the last century there seems to have been group pilgrimages. Over the centuries, the pilgrimage site of Scherpenheuvel has grown into one of the largest in Belgium. Many thousands come here every year...

The Candle Procession:

This procession has a centuries-old tradition, dating back to the year 1629. At that time there was a plague epidemic. Many came on pilgrimage to be freed from that terrible disease through the assistance of Our Lady. The pilgrims asked the pastor for permission to carry around and venerate the statue of Mary. The procession did not miss its target: the mortality rate fell noticeably. This is how the tradition of the Candle Procession was born that evening, which is held every year in gratitude on the first Sunday after All Saints' Day. There is probably no more famous procession in Belgium than the "Candle Procession" in Scherpenheuvel. It always makes a great impression when the miraculous statue of Our Lady is carried through Scherpenheuvel during the procession around 3 o'clock. As soon as the procession is over, the candles are packed up again and taken home, where they will burn in front of the statue of Our Lady in stormy weather, in case of death or emergency in the stable. On the Sunday of the Candle Procession, Scherpenheuvel takes the form of a large market day. There is always a large and spontaneous crowd. From morning to evening, market vendors sell their wares, culminating in the Candle Procession. Given the large number of visitors and the changeable weather, the plan was made to build a large covered area for pilgrims. In 1971, Pastor Kortleven, in consultation with the church council, decided to submit the designs for the pilgrimage hall to the municipality. The hall was kept sober, simple, without splendor, hidden in the shadow of the basilica. The maria hall is 60 x 30 meters.

Latest news:

Golden Rose for the statue of Mary at Scherpenheuvel
On Sunday, May 15, 2011, the statue of Mary in Scherpenheuvel received a Golden Rose from Pope Benedict XVI, one of the most important awards within the Catholic Church. It is the first time that a Belgian pilgrimage site has received one.

The pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel is the first in our country to receive this token of appreciation from the Pope. The Golden Rose will be placed by Archbishop André-Jozef Léonard during a celebration in the Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel on Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m.
Further information will be provided in the coming weeks on the website (www.sharpenheuvel.be).
Want to know more:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouden_Roos_(Catholicism)
http://www.katholiek.org/overigegunsten.htm

Scherpenheuvel is, with 1 million pilgrims per year, the most visited pilgrimage site in Belgium.

The most sung song in Scherpenheuvel is:
"Love gave you a thousand names"

Our Lady of Flanders

1

Love gave you a thousand names
Great and noble, fair and sweet,
But no one who has the heart of the Flames
Just as much joy
As the name, O virgin mother,
That you carry in our country,
It sounds cleaner than before:
Our Lady of Flanders (bis).

2

Where one goes along Flemish roads,
Old farm, house or stump,
Will they meet you, Maria,
Is your image on display,
Laughs at us from lime green,
Flower wreath or happy festoon,
May it never change,
O thou Lady of Flanders (bis).

3

Remain enthroned in the Flemish heart
As the highest queen,
Living like the best mother
In every Flemish household.
Help us in all distress,
Now and at the hour of death,
Us, your children, and also the others,
Dearest Lady of Flanders (bis).