In 1466, to protect a statue of the Virgin from the war, it was transferred from Siegolsheim to Kientzheim. On August 7, 1466, the statue was seen weeping along with that of Saint John, a miracle attested by numerous witnesses. This pilgrimage became famous, attracting Emperor Frederick III and producing numerous healings recorded in the registers.
Guided reading
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OUR LADY OF KIENTZHEIM, IN THE DIOCESE OF STRASBOURG (1466).
Translation of the sacred statues
In 1466, to protect the statues of the Virgin and Saint John from the ravages of war in Siegolsheim, they were transferred to the fortified church of Kientzheim.
Our Lady of Ki entzheim ( Kientzheim Site of the fortified pilgrimage where the statues were transferred. Haut-Rhin, district of Colmar, canton of Kaysersberg), in the diocese of Strasbourg, is a famous pilgrimage site, which was established in the year 1466 in the church of Saint Felix and Saint Regula, on the occasion of the translation of a statue of the Virgin there. This statue had previously been, along with a statue of Saint John the Evangelist, the object of public veneration in the chur ch of Siego Siegolsheim Place of origin of the statues of the Virgin and Saint John. lsheim; but then the war that was devastating the region and was already at the gates of Siegolsheim having raised fears that these two statues might be profaned by the enemy, they were transported to Kientzheim, a safer and better fortified place.
The miracle of the tears
On August 7, 1466, a notary and several witnesses attested to having seen the two statues shedding tears during the office of Vespers.
Scarcely had they been installed in their new sanctuary, when they signaled by a striking miracle the compassion they felt for the calamities that afflicted the land. "In the year of grace 1466," says an authentic document of the time, "on the seventh day of August, the two statues of Our Lady an d Saint Jo Notre-Dame Mother of Jesus, who appeared to Bertrand. hn were seen weeping ostensibly at the hour of Vespers, by me the undersigned, sworn notary, assisted by respectable witnesses; the tears flowed fresh like pure water from the eyes of each statue; they furrowed the cheeks and reached as far as the neck...".
Rise and expansion of the sanctuary
The massive influx of the faithful following the miracle necessitated the expansion of the church, which was consecrated in 1470 and provided with a permanent preaching service.
This event, the official report of which was signed by more than thirty witnesses, nine of whom were priests, the others being eminent personages, landgraves, lords, and barons, attracted a crowd of visitors to the Virgin of Kientzheim; and the pilgrimage from then on acquired such celebrity that, to accommodate the prodigious influx of the faithful, it was necessary, three years later, to enlarge the church. In 1470, the completed edifice was solemnly consecrated and enriched with indulgences; three priests were established there to preach and hear confessions: even they had difficulty keeping up with the work, so great was the multitude of pilgrims.
Imperial recognition and wonders
Emperor Frederick III visited the site in 1473. A register records 187 miracles, including healings and resurrections, between 1466 and 1567.
Emperor Fre derick III c Frédéric III Holy Roman Emperor who visited the sanctuary in 1473. ame there himself with a large retinue in 1473, endowed the church with rich gifts, and left there, as a sign of respect, h is hat embroidered with gold a chapeau brodé d'or et d'argent Imperial ex-voto left by Frederick III as a sign of respect. nd silver. The chaplains of Our Lady of Kientzheim carefully noted the miracles that took place before the holy image, and they recorded them in a register. This register enumerates one hundred and eighty-seven, from 1466 to 1567; and among these wonders are resurrections of the dead, healings of the blind, the deaf, the crippled, the plague-stricken, and persons delivered from great perils through the invocation of Our Lady of Kientzheim.
If there is no register after 1567, the quantity of ex-votos, crutches, chains, and other emblems that adorn the sanctuary, as well as the large number of pilgrims, prove that Mary has always shown herself to be the help of Christians, the salvation of the infirm, and the comforter of the afflicted.
Source of the writing
The text is extracted from the work 'Notre-Dame de France' written by the parish priest of Saint-Sulpice.
Excerpt fro m Notre-Dame de Fran Notre-Dame de France Work from which the biography text is extracted. ce, by the parish priest of Saint-Sulpice.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- 1466: Translation of the statue from Siegolsheim to Kientzheim to protect it from the war
- August 7, 1466: Miracle of the tears on the statues of the Virgin and Saint John
- 1469: Expansion of the church due to the influx of pilgrims
- 1470: Solemn consecration of the building
- 1473: Visit of Emperor Frederick III
Miracles
- Miraculous tears flowing from the eyes of the statue on August 7, 1466
- 187 miracles recorded between 1466 and 1567 (resurrections, various healings)
Quotes
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tears flowed fresh as pure water from the eyes of every statue; they furrowed the cheeks and reached the collar...
Minutes of 1466