--> Along with being the first approved US apparition, it would be the third involving a poor Belgian girl. Along with Beauraing and Banneux, this apparition and miracle show that the Blessed Mother must have a soft spot for the Walloons. (Although unlike with the other apparitions, Sr. Brise was no longer a child, except maybe in spirit.)
--> One of these days, I will need to make a pilgrimage to the shrine in Wisconsin, though I must admit it'll also be to make a cheese and beer tour, as well.
While you’re in Wisconsin, you should make a stop by the Holy Hill (northwest of Milwaukee) or Guadalupe (Lacrosse) shrines, too. Unless you’re flying or driving in from the north (unlikely!), at least one of those two will be close to your route.
Thanks for this story! We in the Upper Midwest are blessed to have an approved Marian shrine within driving distance.
Two springs ago, my family and I made a pilgrimage here with the intention of healing/helping an eye condition that my infant daughter was born with, and which we subsequently had a surgery scheduled to address; to our shock and surprise, the eye issue cleared up within days after leaving the shrine, and given other circumstances that I won’t go into for the sake of space, we fully credit Our Lady of Good Help’s intercession for this little minor miracle. It was a good feeling to have to call and cancel the surgery when it was no longer needed. Two years later the three year old is as good as ever.
When I told this story to my students, one of them astutely pointed out that Adele Brise had her own eye condition and may have a special affinity for those like my daughter. Here’s to hoping that she may be St. Adele someday!
Don’t want to be over-dramatic—it was a blocked tear duct, so not a serious condition, by any means—nevertheless, it healed just days after the visit to the apparition site after it was supposed to be able to on its own!
When I went to the shrine years ago, I was struck at how simple it was. Not "built up" and huge like a lot of places. But it was a magnificent place to visit!
As a life long Wisconsinite, I made my first trip to the Shrine just in these past few weeks. Such a beautiful, peaceful, holy place. It seems so absolutely fitting that our Lady would appear in a spot so humble as rural midwestern farmlands. I highly recommend it as a pilgrimage for anyone who can make the trip! Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!
A truly beautiful and holy place! I was visiting the shrine on pilgrimage this spring and I happened to have a chance encounter with Bishop Ricken. Apparently, he regularly visits the shrine to pray at the apparition site. When I was speaking with him, I pointed towards the shrine and said, “Bishop, thank you for your ‘yes’.” And his simple and humble reply was “how could I not say ’yes’.” So many of his predecessors apparently avoided the chancery file on the apparitions. So glad that Bishop Ricken responded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to act. Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!
--> Along with being the first approved US apparition, it would be the third involving a poor Belgian girl. Along with Beauraing and Banneux, this apparition and miracle show that the Blessed Mother must have a soft spot for the Walloons. (Although unlike with the other apparitions, Sr. Brise was no longer a child, except maybe in spirit.)
--> One of these days, I will need to make a pilgrimage to the shrine in Wisconsin, though I must admit it'll also be to make a cheese and beer tour, as well.
While you’re in Wisconsin, you should make a stop by the Holy Hill (northwest of Milwaukee) or Guadalupe (Lacrosse) shrines, too. Unless you’re flying or driving in from the north (unlikely!), at least one of those two will be close to your route.
Thanks for this story! We in the Upper Midwest are blessed to have an approved Marian shrine within driving distance.
Two springs ago, my family and I made a pilgrimage here with the intention of healing/helping an eye condition that my infant daughter was born with, and which we subsequently had a surgery scheduled to address; to our shock and surprise, the eye issue cleared up within days after leaving the shrine, and given other circumstances that I won’t go into for the sake of space, we fully credit Our Lady of Good Help’s intercession for this little minor miracle. It was a good feeling to have to call and cancel the surgery when it was no longer needed. Two years later the three year old is as good as ever.
When I told this story to my students, one of them astutely pointed out that Adele Brise had her own eye condition and may have a special affinity for those like my daughter. Here’s to hoping that she may be St. Adele someday!
I’m so happy to hear this Steven. What a blessing!
Thank you for sharing that beautiful story!
Don’t want to be over-dramatic—it was a blocked tear duct, so not a serious condition, by any means—nevertheless, it healed just days after the visit to the apparition site after it was supposed to be able to on its own!
When I went to the shrine years ago, I was struck at how simple it was. Not "built up" and huge like a lot of places. But it was a magnificent place to visit!
As a life long Wisconsinite, I made my first trip to the Shrine just in these past few weeks. Such a beautiful, peaceful, holy place. It seems so absolutely fitting that our Lady would appear in a spot so humble as rural midwestern farmlands. I highly recommend it as a pilgrimage for anyone who can make the trip! Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!
A truly beautiful and holy place! I was visiting the shrine on pilgrimage this spring and I happened to have a chance encounter with Bishop Ricken. Apparently, he regularly visits the shrine to pray at the apparition site. When I was speaking with him, I pointed towards the shrine and said, “Bishop, thank you for your ‘yes’.” And his simple and humble reply was “how could I not say ’yes’.” So many of his predecessors apparently avoided the chancery file on the apparitions. So glad that Bishop Ricken responded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to act. Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!