Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Pocieszycielki Strapionych w Kevelaer Katolicka "oaza" w protestanckiej Westfalii Północnej

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation at Kevelaer A Catholic ‘Oasis' in the Protestant Nordrein Westphalia

Summary: The Catholic sanctuary of Our Lady of Consolation at Kevelaer is located in the Muenster Diocese, less than twenty kilometres from Duesseldorf and near the Dutch border. The sanctuary goes back as far as 1641 when the merchant Hedrick Busman praying at a roadside cross heard a call to build a chapel. The call came thrice and was carried out thanks to a vision experienced by the merchant's wife. In her dream she saw an outline of a chapel and an image of Our Lady that was to be placed inside. The painting was found and it turned out to be a copy of the then worshiped image of the Virgin Mary of Luxemburg. In 1642, the painting was placed in the roadside chapel built by Busman and was frequented by the local population from the very beginning. The site became famous for miraculous cures and conversions confirmed by the local bishop and soon work started on a church for pilgrims (currently the Candle Chapel), completed in 1645.
The image of Our Lady of Consolation, also known as Our Lady of the Sick depicts a Madonna, a sceptre in her right hand and on her left arm a Baby Jesus with a sphere symbolising the world. In the background, there is a panorama of Luxemburg with the miraculous chapel and a sign saying "Consolation of the Grieving pray for us" at the top and a caption "A true copy of the image of Our Lady of Consolation kept in the outskirts of the city of Luxemburg made famous by miracles and a constant flow of pilgrims Anno 1640". It was crowned under the Papal law in 1892 and is surrounded by numerous votive items in a Chapel of Graces built in 1654.
The current sanctuary comprises the original chapel, now part of the Ascension Chapel of 1864, and the Pax Christi Chapel recently built for open-air services. The Kevelaer sanctuary started as a local destination and gradually attracted pilgrims from all Germany and the Benelux countries. The current number of visitors is estimated at 800 thousands per year. Pope John Paul II visited Kevelaer in 1987 and followed the local tradition leaving a votive candle bearing the sign Totus Tuus.

Peregrinus Cracoviensis, 2005, z.16, s. 139-148.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

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