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Image from https://www.brcblog.org/2018/01/our-lady-of-sichem-belgium.html |
Our Lady of Sichem is a statue and shrine in honor of Mary in Brabant in the duchy of Louvain, Belgium, but its history begins in Israel. Hadrian had dedicated a temple to Jupiter below Mount Garizim, Israel. A small Christian community lived there which was persecuted by the Samaritans. In response to an unjust attack against the Christians, the emperor gave Mount Garizim to the Christians who built a church there dedicated to Mary.
After Mohammed conquered the region, Christianity disappeared from the area. In an effort to make amends, the French erected a shrine to Mary in the duchy of Louvain which featured the ancient statue of Our Lady of Sichem (now known as Our Lady of Montaigu). The veneration of Mary there dates back to 1304.
According to legend, a shepherd boy found the statue in a niche in an old oak tree. A small chapel was built beneath the tree, which was rebuilt in 1602. The Archbishop of Mechlin dedicated the church in 1604. Due to an increase in the popularity of the shrine, a new church was built in a different site from 1609-1627 by Archduke Albert. The church contains a replica of the original oak tree above the high altar. A town then grew up around church. The parish of Montaigu was established in 1910 (previously the whole district was called Sichem). Many miracles have been attributed to Mary’s intercession at the shrine.
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Image of altar from https://floscarmelivitisflorigera.blogspot.com/2009/03/saturday-our-ladys-day-our-lady-of.html |
Prayer
Our Lady of Sichem, thank you for your intercession for the needs of your people. Be with us in our needs this day.
Reflection
The shrine of Our Lady of Sichem begins with a story of pagan worship and Christian persecution, but good ultimately came out of it. When has there been a time in your life when God has brought good out of evil?
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