13th Jun - OUR MOTHER OF ZICHEM (BELGIUM)

 The shrine in Brabant in the duchy of Louvain, is a replacement of the one below Mount Garizim, Israel. A small Christian community settled there; and on several occasions, 

    they suffered greatly at the hands of the Samaritians. In 474 the emperor gave Mount Garizim to the Christians and built a Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. 

    A shepherd boy originally found the statue of Our Mother after it had apparently fallen from a niche cut in an old oak tree. The statue was mysteriously too heavy for him to 

    lift alone, so he ran to find his master, and have him return to help him replace the statue in its place in the old oak. In 1306 the Blessed Virgin Mary moved the hearts of 

    the people by causing four drops of blood to flow from the eyes of the statue. This revived the faith of the people and increased their fervor. 

    A small Chapel was built beneath the tree in 1602. From that time there were many miracles as Our Mother seemed to demonstrate her appreciation by granting many favors.





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