Mariehof

I had to bring my car to the garage (again) , there's this continuing fault message which has been playing up since I got the car over a year ago. It's been 'repaired' twice to no avail. Anyway, the garage is in Jezus-Eik right across from the church, and as it was a beautiful morning I decided to walk the long way home and have a nosey around the Our Lady of the Woods (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe) church. That was the first time I realised there is actually this Mariehof "Mary Court", which was used by pilgrims to say prayers to Mary before they entered the church. I've once blipped on of the chapels on the outside of the wall, but this is the inner court.

The small village of Jezus-Eik (translated Jesus Oak) became a place of pilgrimage in the 17th century. Jezus-Eik borders on the Sonian Forest and there used to be this huge oak tree which had been hit by thunderbolts several times. A crucifix was attached to the tree to protect it and then later somebody attached a statue of Mary on the tree. After a while stories emerged of miraculous healings after ill people prayed at this tree and that is when initially a small wooden chapel was built near it. As it became more and more famous a stone church was raised , and several other buildings and chapels around it. It's the only baroque church in this region. The altar is raised on top of the stump of the initial oak and pilgrims can still touch the tree stump through a niche. Because of the pilgrims many inns and restaurants were built around the church and though there's hardly any pilgrimage anymore people now flock to Jezus-Eik to walk in the woods and to have lunch at one of the many restaurants.

Thanks for your comments and stars on the local rainbow Blip , I'm almost done catching up , I hope !