27th Jul - OUR MOTHER OF FAITH, GRAVELINES (FRANCE)

 In the country of Liege and the small town of Dinant, there were two magnificent oaks near a home belonging to the lord of Celles. 

    One of the two old trees was grounded in the year 1609 for lumber.

    The worker who inspected the tree found in the interior a small statue of the Mother of God enthroned on three iron bars. Apparently, at some time in the distant past, 

    some pious Christian soul had placed the holy image in a hollow of the oak, as if in a niche. Then, over a period of time, 

    the opening the tree had made while it was still young gradually closed, and as it grew, the tree hid in its womb the precious figure. To honour the Virgin, 

    the statue was subsequently displayed on the other oak, once again behind an iron grating, by order of Baron of Celles. In this new sanctuary, 

    the Mother of God was honored with the title of Our Lady of Faith. A priest of the Society of Jesus had recently been sent to Gravelines. He worked diligently to cultivate souls, 

    as if upon a fruitful vine, and by his sermons excited the people of the region to a greater love for the Mother of God. Seeing that this devotion had taken root, 

    he met with the local Magistrate to discuss how to maintain and increase the piety of the people. It was decided that they should make replicas of the statue of Our Mother of Faith,

    made from the wood of the first oak. When the first was completed, the image was observed to have a great resemblance to the original. 

    It was placed in a large reliquary above the high Altar in the parish Church.




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