Mary the Sorrowful

ON B. MARY THE SORROWFUL IN THE TERRITORY OF BRABANT NEAR BRUSSELS.

ABOUT THE YEAR 1290.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

About her cult, age, and the authentic history of her Passion.

Mary the Sorrowful, in the Brussels territory in Brabant (B.)

John Molanus, in the Nativities of the Saints of Belgium at this June 18, about the Martyrdom of B. Mary the Sorrowful wrote this elogium. In a Brabantine village, in the parish of S. Peter of Wolue, A sacred memory the anniversary day of S. Mary the Virgin, who was called the Sorrowful. She from the Lord obtained a triple crown, of poverty, of chastity and of martyrdom. For when, adorned with the vow of voluntary poverty and of perpetual chastity, through many years she laboriously ate her bread; it happened that an unchaste man fell in love with her: and when her chastity, which to God and to B. Mary she had vowed, she would not let be defiled; he the Virgin of the theft of a silver cup falsely accused; and so much did he prevail with the bailiff, that innocent she was buried in the earth, and transfixed with a stake about the year one thousand two hundred and ninety. her body under the altar. But of how great merit she is with God, the miracles testify. For also before her death, for those about to visit the memory of the Mother of God the Virgin in the place of her rest, she interceded. Whence also the accuser, after seven years he had been demoniac, in that place was restored, A confraternity. through the Mother of God the Virgin and her handmaid B. Mary the Sorrowful. She rests under the altar of Wolue, and the place by it commonly is called Ter Allendiger Marie. And there is an old confraternity of that place, which in an ancient writing is called the Confraternity of our beloved Lady in the chapel of B. Mary the Sorrowful.

[2] These things Molanus. There was in the said year 1290 as Duke of Brabant John, the first of that name, who died in the year 1294. In the ancient Chronicles of Brabant at the beginning treatment is made of the Saints of Brabant, The time of the Martyrdom and in chapter 36 is set forth the Life of Mary the Sorrowful, Martyr and Virgin, with an iconography of the martyrdom, and in it she is said to have suffered in the time of John the second Duke of Brabant, who his father John the First, in the said year 1294, succeeded. We find among our Sheets a charter of Indulgences granted by twelve Bishops at Avignon in the year 1363, in Indiction I on the 28th day of the Month of January, in the first year of Pope Urban V: with this end, namely, Indulgences given in the year 1363 That the chapel of S. Mary, called commonly "der Ellendiger Marie," in the parish of Wolue of S. Lambert, of the Cambrai diocese, might be frequented with fitting honors, and by the faithful of Christ be continually venerated; which Bull below we shall give, in the year immediately following by the Vicar of the Bishop of Cambrai by ordinary authority confirmed; but afterward from the original, still surviving and shown to us, into another membrane of similar form likewise exhibited to Us transcribed and renewed by the authority of Matthias Hovius, Archbishop of Mechlin, in the year 1611.

[3] We do not doubt, that in those times already were written the Acts of the life and Martyrdom and miracles of this most blessed Virgin Mary the Sorrowful, The Acts from 2 Manuscripts. from the mouth both of her parents, and of the accuser after seven years converted to penance. These we give from a Manuscript codex of the monastery of Rouge-Cloître of the Canons Regular, about one league from the Chapel of the said Mary the Sorrowful situated, in whose second part of the Brabantine Hagiology they are contained. The same we have from a Manuscript codex of Corsendonk near Turnhout also of the Canons Regular; and this codex is inscribed "the second part of diverse Legends." Which codices indeed to us were brought: meanwhile a Transcript, from the former Manuscript taken, was testified by Matthias Hovius, Archbishop of Mechlin, to agree with the old register, with his own name subscribed and Seal affixed, on the 23rd day of July of the year 1611. Testimonial letters of this kind about the fidelity of the copy or transcript, signed by the proper hand of the said Archbishop, again together with the Passion itself of Mary the Sorrowful approved the Consuls and Senate of the city of Antwerp, their approvals. on the 19th day of November of the said year 1611, and signed George Kieffel the Secretary, with the seal of the city of Antwerp appended. Which again confirmed the Notaries of the said city, Vanden Hove, Fabri and Kimpe. And the original with us we keep, so that nothing more certain for establishing credence can be brought forth. Hence furthermore the same Acts taken exist in the Legendary of the Lives of the Saints, in the Belgic tongue by our Rosweyde collected, and often struck and re-struck; as also some compendium in the above cited ancient Chronicles of Brabant. There mentions the same Ferrarius in his general Catalog, but knew not that the place is near Brussels; and wrongly believed it to be Walevicum, between Breda and Bois-le- Duc.

LIFE

By an almost contemporary Author. From the Manuscripts of Rouge-Cloître and Corsendonk.

Mary the Sorrowful, in the Brussels territory in Brabant (B.)

BHL Number: 5437

[1] Blessed be the Lord, who wills all men to be saved, who also works all things in all, The Author to the honor of God to will and to accomplish, what good wills have desired to fulfill. And therefore with reason his praise in all things which he has done is to be sung, and also in the merits or virtues of his faithful ones to be glorified, who of the small makes great, nay from the dung lifts up the poor. And not only through men the way of justice he has laid open to us, but also through women, and through girls of youthful age, examples of religion and chastity, and through all things of good imitation, to all loving him he has shown. For to our God there is always care about all, and he wills none of these to perish, whom he has redeemed by his own blood; For the Saints he exhorts to remain in holiness, and sinners to depart from evil works, and to good acts to cling, that they may be able to the heavenly homeland to come. Which a certain virgin understanding, Mary by name, she undertakes to write of her death and miracles. by divine grace inspiring her, from her childish years to the Lord disposed to serve: that she might merit with the Elect and prudent Virgins by her spouse in the heavenly bridal-chamber to be received whose faith and love, even unto blood resisting the enemy of chastity, she did not cease to emulate. We therefore, as the Lord shall minister, to narrate will not be irksome how this Virgin through martyrdom came to the triumph. Because while the Lord his handmaid glorifies, us to her example he invites: that of her works according to our little measure we being made imitators, ourselves may merit in the heavens to be associated. We will subjoin also diverse things, which in the place of her rest, by her merits interceding, it is established through the glorious Mother of God to be miraculously enacted.

[2] There was lately in a Brabantine village and parish of S. Peter of Wolue, a certain man, Leaving her parents she dwells near the church of S. Mary, who with his wife in peace and charity living, begot one daughter, by name Mary: who worthy in merits and name, choosing a life to keep Angelic, to the Lord vowed her virginity. Indeed she considered the luxury of the world about to perish to be vain: on account of which, that more freely she might carry out her purpose, she deliberated utterly to desert that world. And when about this of her father and mother she sought the consent; kindly assenting they exhorted her, that constantly she should act, and to God and his Mother the glorious Virgin Mary faithfully in chastity might serve. Who at length her parents licensing proceeded to the church of B. Mary near her native village situated: she vows poverty which place to her living afforded a dwelling, and to her departing a sepulchre. When she had arrived there, with faith fortified, with hope strengthened, with the charity of God kindled, and by voluntary poverty inspired; she fell down and adored the image of the glorious Virgin, repeating the vows of her promise, namely that renouncing the world, she at the same time all temporal things abdicated, through voluntary poverty assumed: and Virginity: proposing from door to door to beg, and in that manner the necessities of daily food to acquire for herself. Moreover she promised to the spotless Mother dedicating her virginity, and for no thing of the world that she would violate it attesting, nay reckoning it better her bodily life to lose, than her chastity to defile.

[3] When therefore with this double vow, of poverty namely voluntary and of perpetual chastity adorned, solicited by an unchaste man, through many years her bread she laboriously begged; it happened that on one day a certain man fixed unchaste eyes on her, since she was most beautiful and well-mannered: and he was kindled in love of her, so much that to rest he was not able: but that his desire to her he should lay open. He approached therefore to her and the consent of her body sought. She when she had heard, was disturbed at his speech: and with execration she said, that she would never do what he desired, for the reason that perpetual to God and his Mother she had vowed chastity. she nobly resists: Nevertheless that man did not rest: for the devil, envying Mary's virtues, him to illicit desires more and more inflamed: in order that both this one into the whirlpool of luxury he might cast down, and her from the height of virtue he might be able to throw down.

[4] Finally so great is the demon's importunity, that when he has perceived a malevolent man, he does not rest, until instigating he helps him to fulfill the evil, which he aims to do. Which in this is clearly proved. by the same through calumny For when the man aforesaid, by no means considered himself able to attain to that which he desired; he thought to use a certain cunning violence, and by fearful necessity the Virgin to his pernicious pleasures to incline. For cautiously he watched, where Mary, accustomed to dine, had found a merciful householder to herself: and entering there, he stole a silver cup, and secretly in her little bag placed it. Meanwhile it was discovered that this cup was missing: which everywhere is sought. And the house is swept, but it is not at all found. There approached accordingly the man conscious of this crime to Mary, and to her secretly imputing the theft, he alleges that she otherwise cannot be concealed, unless his desire carnal she fulfill.

[5] Which she when she heard, was consternated, and constantly denied that she had perpetrated so great a crime: on the contrary he affirmed it. to be accused of theft, Wherefore he threatened her, that, if that which was asked she denied, convicted and confessed to the legal powers to be condemned he would hand her over. To whom she: O friend, she said, this surely would be a wickedness an innocent one by such a pact to hand over to the peril of death, since utterly I am not conscious to myself of this theft. Then he by the devil agitated took the little bag; and the cup which he himself had put in, drew out. Behold, saying, even now, by ocular evidence apprehended and convicted, yield, and to me quickly acquiesce: which done you from this infamy I will support; and from the laws withdrawing you, in all things I will excuse you. But she, with excessive grief answered constantly and confidently: never may it befall me to do, what you suggest: she chooses rather to die. but rather in the perseverance of chastity even unto the end I will stand firm, preferring on account of it innocent my bodily life to lose, than to your sacrilegious lust viciously to be subject.

[6] Seeing therefore the man of Belial, son of the devil, that neither by blandishments nor by threats could he move her, nor to his perverse will draw her; he approached the Bailiff of that place, and brought forth the silver cup, attesting it by a certain beggar-woman, by name Mary, by theft taken away, Accused before the Judge, and by himself in her little bag found. He added moreover that she was a sorceress and soothsayer and a deranger of men: asserting himself by her so much to have been deluded, that neither to eat nor to drink could he, nor in any way to rest was he able on account of her nefarious sleights and temptations. And when these things the Bailiff had heard, not enough did he believe the man, the accuser of the Virgin, but rather he seemed effectively to excuse her, for the reason that never had been heard speech of this kind about Mary. But he by the demonstration of the cup strove the unwilling Judge to induce, to pronounce against the innocent Virgin a false and undue sentence: which to him not unpunished turned out, as the sequel will declare.

[7] Meanwhile Mary goes to her parents, and complaint lays down of the injury and ignominy inflicted on her: comforted by her parents, by whose admonition she was taught all hope and trust in God to place, and in his pious Mother, helper of the mourning and the wretched. But she exceedingly anxious for her Virginity, said she more feared, lest violently from her it be snatched, than that her bodily life be taken. And while thus they speak, there came the Bailiff, by the wicked accuser incited, that he should seize her, and to a most cruel death hand her over. And when the parents their daughter excused, and by excusing from the infamy to rescue her labored; the impious man resisting they accomplished nothing but rather their own daughter before their eyes bound and led away with excessive grief they beheld. But Mary when she saw, that with the demonstration of her innocence she could not proceed, bound she is led away: nor by the intercession of her parents prevail; with excessive anxiety she was filled: and on account of this she is named Mary the Sorrowful. But also all, who had known her before, when they saw her thus violated, and by an iniquitous judgment condemned; assuredly out of compassion they did not contain themselves from tears.

[8] And so the Virgin was led into prison, that there could be extorted from her a confession of theft: having confessed that another's theft was found with her, which discovered, she ought in the secret silence of the night by death to be consumed. And when again about the cup found inquiry was made; she answered, that the cup indeed from her little bag was drawn out, but she herself not knowing by another put in. These things hearing the accuser interpellated the Judge against her, convicting her by her own mouth the crime to have confessed, but the consciousness of the crime onto another to have twisted. When therefore it had become late, she is adjudged to death. she was led out secretly to the place where, sentence given, to death she was adjudged: and meanwhile passing before the place of her habitation, she asked instantly of the bailiff, that to her before the image of the glorious Virgin to pour out a prayer might be permitted, before from this life she should emigrate.

[9] She prays for herself, for her killers, Which when at her nod she had obtained, she fell down with sorrowing heart to her knees, supplicating first of all, that to her with the refuge of all the mourning and the desolate in so great her anxiety and straits there might be provision. Her second petition was for those, who to her had been the cause, or instrument, or occasion of so undue a death, that to them might be made an indulgence. Her third petition was, and for others who would come there, that whoever in whatever necessity placed, in that same place a speedy of their petition might feel the effect; whether it be about women pregnant, or about houses set on fire, or about regions of men ill-pacified. Her fourth obsecration was for those serving in her name the blessed Mother of God in that very place, that by her intervention from all griefs and plagues, confusions and damages, or whatever incommodities they may merit to be rescued: likewise that place with their devout prayers and alms from far or from near caring to visit may obtain the same grace: peace also and concord may find and bring back, in view of the excessive grief, and her own eternal salvation, disturbance and anxiety, in which then she was when these things she prayed; and from all evils freed may depart. Her last and final supplication, intimate, was for the salvation of her soul: that after this transitory life, she might merit by the Queen of Virgins to be introduced to the eternal, to be laureled with a double crown, namely of virginity and of martyrdom.

[10] But the prayer finished she rose and promptly offered herself to the judge, who handed her over to the lictor, that he with bound hands and feet and eyes veiled might bury her in the earth. and she pardons the lictor, The lictor therefore took the Virgin, and did as to him had been commanded. And a pit made to the measure of her body, he laid her within; asking and saying to her: I beseech you, beloved of God, Virgin Mary, intercede for me with your spouse. Who answered: Friend: I pray God that he remit to you this which against me you are about to commit, and all your sins: but also to all who me ever by words or deed have offended, from my heart I pardon; and with the merciful Lord for them pardon to ask I intend, with those who mindful of my grief this place devoutly shall have visited, that without spiritual consolation they may not depart. Meanwhile is prepared a four-cornered stake and sharpened, that through the little body of the Virgin it might be transfixed, as the custom required of that time. Furthermore that iniquitous man, the accuser of the innocent, always and everywhere stood by: who when very many he saw weeping and grieving over the unjust death of the Virgin, buried in the earth, with a stake she is transfixed. by no means his heart could be softened to compassion, for the reason that by the devil too much it was hardened, whose will to do he busied himself; who him, as below will appear, into his right actually possessing reduced. Meanwhile the Virgin is buried in the earth and the sharpened stake is placed over the mound, and by three men into her little body is driven: and at last by them with great mallets so strongly it is struck, that for the space of half a mile the sound could have been heard.

[11] The impostor possessed by a demon rages 7 years: Without delay: the most wicked accuser of the Innocent was compelled in the instant to render the requital of the committed crime, for before from the place he departed, he was made the possession of a most savage demon. For having returned home, when on the following night he had given himself to sleep, he began to rage and horribly to cry out; and those who heard and approached into dread he stirred up. Finally he was fettered and bound, and scarcely by the strongest bonds could he be kept, but that he broke them; until he was put into a cage, where neither to eat would he nor to drink, unless violently driven and compelled. In this calamity therefore passed seven years, in which that wretched man deprived of his senses endured, and after visiting other sacred places whence much grieving his friends destined him to diverse places, for acquiring a salutary remedy. For he was carried first to the place of rest of S. Dympna near Geel, then to Wincsele, third to Haspere, fourth to S. Mary of Hanswyck near Mechlin; but nothing profited him, but rather through each of the aforesaid places the demon cried out, that by no means there, but at S. Mary's, where Mary the Sorrowful rests, he ought to be expelled.

[12] And so mutually taking counsel those who were with him, placed him on a wagon, to Mary the Sorrowful by force broughtthat thither him they might bring back. Which done, of so great weight was found that demoniac, that with great peril scarcely him to the aforenamed place could they bring. But in the setting-down of him from the wagon, and in the introduction into the chapel, to which they had gone, so troublesome he was to those, who with him had come, that by no art nor force him could they carry in, until, the bell rung, the neighbors they had convoked: he is freed, by whose help he was let in and led before the altar of the glorious Mother of God Mary. Where, interceding for him all who were present, they saw all the demon, who had possessed him, through the window with excessive crash fly out: and also the fetters and bonds from the hands of him and feet to leap forth they beheld, as if of glass they had been, and the man whole to rise up. Who bending his knees, and he confesses his crime, gave magnificent thanks to God, and to his glorious Mother, and to Mary the Sorrowful, for his liberation; confessing before all his sin, namely how the innocent Virgin he had defamed, as has been set forth, for the reason that the consent of her body he required, but obtain it could not. But these so many marvels heard and seen, and being made a venerator of Mary. all who were present praised God, who his faithful does not leave inglorious, nor their adversaries unpunished, even in the present; and that place in memory of Mary the Sorrowful more confidently with prayers and gifts they frequented. Furthermore the aforesaid man, whole and unharmed returned into his house, made thenceforth Mary's praiser and venerator, who had been the procurer of her death.

[13] Her funeral rites seen to be performed by the Mother of God. Nor is it to be passed over at the end of this narration, that there were seen from heaven to come thirteen most beautiful girls, with immense light; and each, clothed in white garments, a wax-candle bore in their hands: of whom the foremost more excellent than the rest seemed, bearing a most resplendent crown on her head. These all processionally went around the sepulchre of the Virgin three times, her funeral rites in this manner in some way celebrating, and her of a triple crown worthy declaring, for the threefold beatitude, which by the Lord's testimony she obtained even in the present; namely of voluntary poverty, of chastity and of martyrdom. About the first says the Lord: Blessed are the poor in spirit; about the second, Blessed are they who have made themselves chaste for the sake of the kingdom of God; about the third, Blessed are they who persecution suffer for the sake of justice. But the threefold circuit finished they nowhere appeared; but from this the said Virgin and the place, venerable they demonstrated.

ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.

MIRACLES

By the same author from the same Manuscripts.

Mary the Sorrowful, in the Brussels territory in Brabant (B.)

BHL Number: 5438

FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.

[14] But that it may become known, of how great merit Mary the Sorrowful is with God, who, while still on earth she lived, for those about to visit the place of her rest interceded; A dying man is healed: a few of many miracles to recount we take care, which by the prayers of her interceding in that same place the glorious Mother of God Mary deigned to show. For first of all Lord John of Meldelt, even unto death sick, when it was announced to his mother that he was in the agony of death; she when she heard, vowed herself with bare feet and clothed in wool, yearly with five gold pieces the blessed Mother of God at Mary the Sorrowful's to visit, if through her she might merit to be consoled over her son near to death. Without delay: the vow uttered, the son recovered: and he within three days made whole, his mother what she had promised fulfilled.

[15] A certain man thereafter of the same parish, who proceeded to bathe near a certain mill; a drowned man is resuscitated, there submerged, for the space of seven hours, was carried dead to the aforesaid place, and upon the altar of the Virgin is placed: and interceding for him all who were present, he revived and rose up whole. The like happened about a certain girl of seven years, who under the wheel of a mill had fallen, and one extinguished under a mill-wheel. dead from the ninth hour until evening: whom when to the aforesaid place they had brought, and a vow made her as a perpetual pilgrim to the blessed Virgin had deputed, she revived. A certain man of Brussels, going to a fair, met on the way his enemies who were prepared for his slaying. He in so great a peril placed, A certain one is freed from death: promised himself to visit the aforesaid place if escape he could. And immediately the vow uttered the enemies stood still, nor to him approach could they; and the cause known the enemies are pacified: and he what he promised devoutly fulfilled.

[16] A certain sacrilegious thief had snatched something from the aforesaid oratory of S. Mary the Virgin at Mary the Sorrowful's: a thief cannot leave the oratory: who when he wished to go out through the window, by which he had entered, neither to go out could he nor to come in; but with the booty there by divine vengeance he is held fast: until, the Custodian coming, and the prayers of that blessed Virgin for him interceding, an infant who had died is found free to depart he was permitted, and is made a pilgrim of the same Virgin. A certain Knight's wife her offspring had lost, who vowing herself with the same one to visit the aforesaid place, was consoled; and completing her vow, offered there two wax images for both. A woman another of Brussels, A drowning is avoided. persisting in a voyage, was endangered: who when she had promised an offering she would make in the aforesaid place, unharmed escaped, and what she had promised paid.

[17] There are healed a despaired sick man, A certain man of Mechlin, with excessive swelling weighed down; by the physicians is despaired of: who a vow made, that if he recovered the said place he would visit, in a short time healed, what he had promised fulfilled. A certain woman in childbed in Sterrenbeek, in great straits of birth was placed; whence the other women, who around her were, asked the blessed Virgin, the illuminatress of this place, that through her she might merit to be consoled and unburdened. Which in an instant obtained, and a woman in childbed. they visited the aforesaid place with offerings. Certain Brusselers gold and silver losing, for by theft they had been taken from them, A theft is recovered: the aforesaid place clothed in wool to visit, and with bare feet a pilgrimage to make promised, and not long after the thief was apprehended.

[18] A certain Beguine of Louvain feverish, a vow made that the oft-said place with an offering she would visit, was cured. a fever is healed, Who going to her church within the city, offered there those things which she had promised: and immediately again the fever seized her. At length she did, as she had vowed, and then she recovered. A certain minister of Vossem, going from the city of Louvain, came to three lime-trees, and there was loosened below his foundation, and a flux of the belly: whence very much he was made anxious. He vowed therefore to the blessed Mary of the aforesaid place perpetually, and hereditarily to delegate 36 solidi, and perfectly healed he was. A certain carpenter of Brussels going to work in the Ardennes fell into a great river: which by its force carried him into a remote place. Who a vow promised, that, the peril of drowning is avoided, if he could get out, of the aforesaid place a pilgrim he would be; soon against the force of the water he swam out and escaped.

[19] A certain servant of Lier, asked by his kinsman went outside the city with him: where his adversary being found, he is killed by the kinsman, and this one is captured. When therefore he had been in prison for many days, namely 22 weeks, an innocent man is freed from prison: he cried out to B. Mary the Patroness of the aforesaid place, that by her he might merit to be consoled. Without delay within three days he is freed, and the very place to visit he delays not.

[20] In the village which is called Lewis, between Halle and Brussels, a certain man bore in his leg a fistula for three years. are cured, Who despaired of by the physicians wholly betook himself to asking our Lady, a fistula, promising himself the place oft-said to visit. A vow therefore made he recovered, and what he had promised fulfilled. A certain man of Forest going to Rome, when he was distant by a day's journey from the city, powerless of all his members became: and a paralysis, so that neither to proceed nor his companions to follow could he. Who a vow uttered recovered: and on the following day to proceed he began and as quickly as the rest, he too returned home, and the place aforesaid as a suppliant visited. A certain boy, a crumb of bread having in his throat, bread sticking in the throat is vomited up: by no art to throw it out could he or swallow. Whose parents uttered a vow and the Patroness of the aforesaid place invoked: and in an instant the boy free and whole, the bread vomited up, they received.

[21] A certain woman at the village, which is called Wemmel lying in childbed, was caught up into a frenzy: so that it was necessary for her to be bound with chains and fetters. But her mother, a frenzied woman is cured, a woman in childbed; exceedingly desolate, vowed her offering to the aforesaid place, and in the twinkling of an eye there leaped off the fetters from her. And when therefore the mother had ordered her more tightly to be bound; a certain good man forbade who stood by. Who immediately returned to herself and came to the aforesaid place making her offering, and carrying with her the fetters which miraculously had sprung off. In the Village of Scharenbeek, a certain woman labored in childbirth for three days and three nights: so that the child put forth one arm over the space of one day and a half, and another endangered nor otherwise came forth; so that by the women there present it was declared to be dead, and the pregnant woman half-dead. They invoked therefore all, the oft-said place's Patroness and the woman brought forth a boy, who afterward lived nine weeks.

[22] A certain man from the parish of Crejinhem, who all his members had lost, on a bed lying for the space of nearly six months, promised himself the aforesaid place he would visit with as many men as he could to this ask. a paralysis, Who a vow uttered immediately to rise began: and after three days with a staff supporting him to proceed began, and the aforesaid place as he had promised visited with a solemn offering: and his staff there he left. In the city of Brussels, near Coudenberg a certain boy fell into the fire, so that his face wholly burned appeared and the little skin laid bare, but also the eyes burned out nowhere appeared, so that his sight seemed to the physicians and surgeons irreparable or irrecoverable. And so his father and mother exceedingly grieving, what they could undertake they knew not. Meanwhile the Patroness of the aforesaid place the blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the infant; a burned face with the eyes and that the place of her patronage he should visit if his sight to recover he wished, she admonished. The father therefore being summoned, the boy what he had heard indicated to him. Who made glad about the promise and certain about the exhibition, took the boy in his arms, and to the place to the infant designated came, and a prayer with an offering there made. Who before he departed from the place the boy to see began, and within three days most completely healed was, so that not even any sign of burning in his face appeared.

[23] A certain woman in the city of Tienen had a son of eighteen years, frenzied become, a frenzy, so that he was bound by hands and feet, lest against others he should rage. She hearing related the miracles and prodigies, which were done in the aforesaid place, promised herself the same with a silver boy, that is a silver image in the likeness of a boy, to visit: and immediately the vow uttered there leaped off the bonds from the hands and feet of her son: who made whole, came with his mother, a rupture, and she fulfilled devoutly what she had promised. In the Fair there was a certain youth, who for nine years had been ruptured: to whom his Mother compassionating, had promised herself to offer in the place aforesaid to the blessed Mary as much of wheat as the body of her son could outweigh: and immediately the son whole and entire was found, and she what she promised lawfully fulfilled.

[24] There was a certain Beguine of Louvain who letters certain or little documents of great weight had lost, lost letters are restored by a dog, whence very much she was sorrowful: on account of which it was advised her by the other Beguines, that she should promise the oft-said place to visit. Without delay: on the following day, with the others sitting together, there came a certain black dog spitting and vomiting them out from his mouth. Terrified were all at the sight of him, but after they saw the letters restored, they glorified God, and his mother at Mary the Sorrowful's with assiduous devotion visited.

[25] A certain woman in Wesenbeek had offspring, which by the loss of a side had been made lame. there are healed a lame one, She to many saints and places much promising, no remedy experienced. On a certain day therefore from impatience, the boy left in the hall alone, she went to milk her cow: and while milking she remembered at last the aforesaid place, where herself and her offspring soon to come she vowed, if to her health were granted. And immediately, after she had milked, she returned home, and found the boy standing at a certain table, asking of her to eat. At which exceedingly rejoiced, she called him to her, immediately without any impediment he came. And soon the mother taking up the boy, this which she had promised fulfilling, an offering made. In the village which is called Diegem, there was a woman having a boy: an arm sticking to gold: whose arm to gold stuck, which not even to move could she. She as much of grain for the boy to the aforesaid place to offer promising, of as great weight as could be estimated, in an instant obtained his health: for the arm from the ear soon is separated, and to whatever is to be done promptly is moved.

[26] In the Fair a certain boy had fallen into a deep well of water: fallen into a well: whose mother when to the aforesaid place to come she had promised, received him alive and whole. A certain boy in Boitsfort had an eye, which for three days blood flowed out: on account of which despaired of was the sight of that eye in the future. Who with devotion was devoted to that place of B. Mary to be visited, a flux of blood from an eye; and immediately received an eye beautiful, seeing and whole. A certain matron going on pilgrimage, with many others from the city of Brussels, to S. Judocus over the sea, such misfortune with her own incurred on the return. For by chance it happened that a certain boy expired under a wagon, in which he was carried, and cruelly was killed. On account of which the judge of that village arrested all, and imprisoned them. And when they perceived themselves placed in peril, a captive woman is freed the aforesaid matron remembered the aforesaid place and its Patroness; promising herself to her a silver boy to offer, and this miracle to be described to command, if by the same she might merit to be consoled: and immediately unexpectedly she was helped, the freed ones.

[27] A certain woman in Sterrenbeek was endangered in childbirth, who remembering the Patroness of the oft-said place, asked her that the birth, together with the mother to have mercy she would deign: promising herself and her offspring through their whole life to be future pilgrims, pregnant women are preserved and to her worthy gifts to offer. Who immediately after the vow, in the moment of breaking one egg, was unburdened. In like manner it happened at Brussels for a pregnant woman to be endangered, nor in any way to be able to be unburdened, until a vow uttered this which she asked she obtained. A boy a certain one in the neighborhood had fallen into a certain fish-pond: whose grandmother most sad over this is made. Who drawn out and to the aforesaid place initiated and directed, fallen into a fish-pond, immediately alive and whole appeared.

[28] A certain woman in the village of Semse, languishing for three years, was admonished by her neighbors, that the aforesaid place's Patroness she should invoke for the recovery of health. languishing for three years. Which when she had done, she recovered, and the place itself within nine days with a numerous company visited.

It is to be noted moreover, that of the aforesaid place of B. Mary at Mary the Sorrowful's the neighbors testified, that they had seen 13 thieves, by the same Mother of God freed, to have come there, and the nooses on their necks suspended there to have left.

ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.

p Wesenbeek a village near Wolue itself, toward Louvain.

q Diegem is distant twice as far from the same, toward Mechlin.

r S. Judocus is venerated, commonly Saint-Josse, on December 13, in the church of his name, in Ponthieu near Montreuil commonly Monstroeul near the sea.

s "Matrix" here signifies the very mother giving birth.

t "Vivarium," a fish-pond, a pool, in which live fish are kept.

u Semse, otherwise Semps, between Vilvoorde and Mechlin.

OTHERS

From a Belgic Manuscript.

Mary the Sorrowful, in the Brussels territory in Brabant (B.)

FROM THE MANUSCRIPT.

Lacking from this Manuscript were the first nine miracles and again after the nineteenth another, the tenth: a transcript of the rest sent to Brussels to our Father Otho Zylius, and by him to Father Bolland, we render thus into Latin, adding, that the Manuscript itself was of Lord Advocate de Buscher.

[29] There was a boy in the neighborhood, mute, for whom when a vow had been made, on the third day to speak he began: To a mute man speech is given: but he saw before himself a burning wax-candle, for the time which is of one Mass, and afterward it disappeared. While the chapel was being built, one of the workmen for nine days and nights continued his labor, with great joy of his mind, nothing meanwhile eating: to an unfed workman strength is supplied for 9 days; because it seemed to him in a bower of roses to stand before God and the Mother of God. To the bailiff in Oppeghem a thief had escaped from prison, on whose account he feared himself to be called into question; but a vow made of going to this place, he was judged to have no fault. Among certain Mechliners and Brusselers an irreconcilable dissension had blazed up; but the aid of the Mother of God at S. Mary the Sorrowful's having been implored, peace is reconciled: with a vow of making an offering, peace coalesced. It is to be known moreover, that two youths, one a Brusseler, the other a Mechliner, when they had brought woolen cloths for sale, a lawsuit is laid to rest, and themselves on their account saw to be about to be called into question, vowed to come hither; and consolation soon obtained, they were permitted to expose their wares for sale.

[30] A certain woman laboring in childbirth, the fetus dead, declared the midwife, nor far from death the woman in labor herself to be distant. Then all present invoked the Mother of God, a woman in childbed helped: who at S. Mary the Sorrowful's is venerated; and solace perceived, they came all together with a double offering, for the mother and the fetus. Another woman in Wolue of S. Stephen, an infant had placed in the cradle whole: but returned home, and into her bosom him placing, no more sign of life could she in him detect. Hence terrified when again in the cradle the little body she had laid down, she went to her neighbors, a dead boy revived; praying the Mother of God at Mary the Sorrowful's that some consolation she might merit to perceive. Within herself indeed thinking, that if she were frustrated in her hope, the infant taken she would secretly depart; but again to the cradle returned, she found him with arms spread out playing. Then indeed, all the neighbors being convoked, the case to them she related, and the boy to the Mother of God the Virgin brought, many from the neighborhood accompanying, and for his head a good alms presented.

[31] In Semse a certain woman had languished for 15 years; to whom at length her neighbors persuaded the Mother of God at Mary the Sorrowful's to invoke: which when she had done quickly she recovered, and a votive pilgrimage discharged, a consumptive woman cured, on the third day after, bringing as many companions as she could entreat. A certain man through calumny had been placed on the wheel alive; nor did he know, by whose accusation that punishment he suffered: but by night appeared the aforesaid Mother of God, and him from the wheel absolved showing him the author of the slaying of which he had been judged guilty: an innocent man absolved, who his own wheel bearing on his shoulders, came to the place of S. Mary the Sorrowful, and approached the man to him indicated; who with the kinsmen of the slain to be reconciled obtained, and the pilgrimage which he had vowed discharged also himself. To a certain man so were sick the four horses which he had, that nothing but the slaughterer he awaited, who from them the hide should draw off; horses healed. meanwhile he devoted them to B. Mary the Sorrowful; and all to their former health returned.

INDULGENCES

Given by twelve Bishops of the Roman Curia.

Matthias, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See Archbishop of Mechlin, to all and each about to see the present letters, or to hear them read, greeting in the Lord. There were presented to us Apostolic letters, In the year 1363, on parchment written, given at Avignon under the day 28 of the month of January in the year 1363, in Indiction I, of the Pontificate of the most holy in Christ Father our Lord D. Pope Urban the fifth year I, sound, whole, unharmed, and from all suspicion removed; of which letters, through our undersigned Secretary, the tenor to be transcribed, and into the public form of a transcript to be reduced we commanded; willing and decreeing, that to our present public transcript credence be given, and to it be given and applied such faith, as much as to the original letters would be applied. And of this kind of letters the tenor follows, and is such.

To all the sons of holy mother church, to whom the present letters shall have come, from XII Bishops, We by the mercy divine Cosmas of Saren, Nicholas of Laicisana, Archbishops; Albertinus of Surmena, Raphael of Archada, Robert of Danata, John of Aytona, Augustine of Salubria, Bertold of Cisopolis, Peter of Suacia, John of Armirota, Peter of Divonia, Thomas of Silena, Bishops, greeting in the Lord Everlasting.

The splendor of the divine glory, which its world illuminates with ineffable brightness, the pious vows of the faithful, of his clemency and majesty hoping, are given to those visiting the chapel then with benign favor follows, when the devout humility of them is by the merits and prayers of the Saints helped. Desiring therefore, that the chapel of S. Mary, called commonly der Ellendigher Marien, in the parish of Voluwe of S. Lambert, of the Cambrai diocese, with fitting honors be frequented, and by the faithful of Christ continually be venerated; to all truly penitent, contrite and confessed, for various feasts who the said chapel on each of B. Mary's festivities, and all other things written below, of the Nativity of the Lord, of the Circumcision, of the Epiphany, throughout all Lent, of Good Friday, of Easter, of the Ascension, of Pentecost, of Trinity and of Corpus Christi, of the Finding and Exaltation of the holy Cross, of SS. Peter and Paul the Apostles, and all the other Apostles, of SS. John the Baptist and the Evangelist, and all the Evangelists, and the four Doctors of the holy Roman Church; on the day of all Saints, and the Commemoration of Souls, and the said chapel's Dedications; and of Saints Stephen, George, Lawrence, Martin, Nicholas, and of the holy women Mary Magdalene, Martha, Anne, Margaret, Ursula, Dorothy, Barbara, Elizabeth, Catherine; and through the Octaves of all the aforesaid festivities having Octaves, and on each Sunday and festal day, and for other causes for the sake of devotion, prayer, or pilgrimage shall have come; or who at Masses, Vespers, Sermons or other divine Offices there shall have been present, or who to the fabric of the said chapel, lights, ornaments, books, chalices, gold, silver, both in their testaments and outside, shall have given, bequeathed, or to be given, to be bequeathed procured, or in any other way to the said Chapel hands shall have extended helping; or who for the salutary state of the Lord Bishop the confirmer of these presents, and also for the Lord Henry Wanss Priest of the Liège diocese the impetrator, and for the souls of their parents, friends and benefactors, and other faithful of Christ existing in Purgatory piously and devoutly shall have prayed; as often soever or wheresoever the aforesaid, or any of the aforesaid they shall have done, of the almighty God's mercy, from each one Indulgences of 40 days. and of the blessed Peter and Paul the Apostles his benignity confident, each one of us forty days of Indulgences, of the penances enjoined on them mercifully in the Lord we relax, provided that the diocesan's will to this shall have acceded and consented. In testimony of all which our seals to the present are appended, as still appears from the vestiges of the little cords, through the membrane below folded transmitted, but now with the seals themselves torn away. Given at Avignon, in the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred sixty-third, in the indiction first, on the twenty-eighth day of the month of January, of the Pontificate of the most holy in Christ Father and our Lord Urban the Pope fifth in the first year.

In faith of which our present letters with our seal to be sealed, and by our undersigned Secretary to be subsigned we caused; on the fifteenth day of the month of April, in the year of the Lord one thousand six hundred eleven. and they are confirmed in the year 1611.

Matthias Archbishop of Mechlin. By mandate of the Most Reverend and Most Illustrious Lord Archbishop aforesaid. Jac. van Saffegeghem Secretary.