14 FEB - OUR MOTHER OF BOURBOURG (BELGIUM)

 During the middle ages, the site of the Chapel was occupied by lepers and one of them sculpted a statue of the Blessed Mother with the Infant in her arms. 

    The leper was healed at once and several miracles had been attributed to the image. The king of France and all the lords of his army, with their attendants, 

    entered Bourbourg. The Bretons began to plunder the Church. A barbarian stood upon an altar with the intent of forcing out a precious stone that was in the 

    crown of an image of Our Mother. As he reached to steal the stone, the image suddenly turned about, and the robber in his fright fell from the altar and was instantly struck 

    dead. Another aggressor came with a similar intent of robbing the image; but all the bells began a peal without any one touching them, for no one could have rung them, 

    the bell-ropes being drawn up and fastened. On account of these miracles, the Church was visited by large crowds. St. Peter Canisius, SJ in 1580 spent his life preaching, 

    teaching and healing souls in Bourbourg declaring, “God wills that his Mother is honoured in this place with great devotion”





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