Our Lady of Good Help

Marian Advocation of Champion (Wisconsin)

According to the documented historythe young Belgian woman Adele Brise (1831-1896), an immigrant with his family to the United States, lived in the Robinsonville area (now Champion) in the state of Wisconsin. From the end of September to the beginning of October 1859 She experienced several apparitions of a "Lady in white, surrounded by light," who identified herself as the Mother of God and entrusted her with a catechetical mission with the children of the area, many of immigrant families who did not receive religious instruction.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the documented historythe young Belgian woman Adele Brise (1831-1896), an immigrant with his family to the United States, lived in the Robinsonville area (now Champion) in the state of Wisconsin. From the end of September to the beginning of October 1859 She experienced several apparitions of a "Lady in white, surrounded by light," who identified herself as the Mother of God and entrusted her with a catechetical mission with the children of the area, many of immigrant families who did not receive religious instruction.

Tradition indicates as the main date of the apparition of the 9 October 1859On the day when Adèle, on her way to the church, saw the Lady again and, by the guidance of the priest, asked her, "Who are you and what do you want from me?" Our Lady asked her to devote herself to teaching children "what they must know to be saved" and she urged her to offer her communion for the conversion of sinners. From then on, Adèle dedicated himself to a life of prayer, itinerant catechesis and the foundation of a small community of women dedicated to Christian teaching.

On the plane historical-legal ecclesial, the bishop of Green Bay, David L. Ricken, after a study process with theological commission, he issued the 8 December 2010 a decree in which it declared that "the apparitions and locutions given to Adèle Brise in 1859 have the character of private apparitions worthy of faith" and approved them officially, making them the first Marian apparition approved by the Catholic Church in the United States.

As regards tradition / legend, numerous devotional accounts reflect the special protection given to the Virgin during the great fire of Peshtigo and the forest fires of 1871: it is reported that the sanctuary and the people who spent the night praying there with procession of the Most Holy were miraculously saved from the flames that swept the surroundings. This fact is widely venerated as a sign of intercession of Our Lady of Good Relief, although the specific details are transmitted mainly by pious tradition and devotional chronicles, rather than by exhaustive historical documentation.

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The image and the sanctuary

In the Shrine of Champion venerates the Virgin under the title Our Lady of Good Help / Our Lady of Good Help. The official sources do not contain a detailed and universally accepted description of an original image directly linked to the apparitions (exact size, author, date of execution), so does not accurately contain the original historical iconography. Today devotional images are used in which the Virgin is usually represented standing, with clear garments, white veil and serene attitude, evoking the general description of Adèle and the maternal character of the advocation, but without fully documented technical data (material, author) in the sources consulted.

The place of apparition became over time a sanctuary with chapel and later a larger complex. The official title is "National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion", recognized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States as a national sanctuary. It is a pilgrimage complex with a higher church, crypt or lower chapel in the place of apparition, spaces for Eucharistic worship, candles and personal prayer, as well as dependencies for the reception of pilgrims.

The sanctuary is located in the diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, United StatesIt is not known that the temple has been raised to the title of minor basilicaand their official recognition is that of National sanctuary inside American territory.

There is no canonically erected sanctuary in Champion, "Department of Wisconsin, Colombia" dedicated to this advocation with recognition equivalent to the American sanctuary; the reference seems to be a location error and not a documented reality.

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Sponsorship and coronation

Our Lady of Good Relief, in her concrete form of Champion, is especially linked to the Diocese of Green Bay and, by extension, is a national reference point such as only officially approved Marian apparition in the United States. Devotion particularly emphasizes the protection of immigrants, rural families and children in need of Christian formation, in continuity with the mission entrusted to Adèle Brise.

Although in some contexts it is also invoked as a patron of agricultural communities and those seeking spiritual and physical help and healing, the sources consulted do not point to a Specific canonical patronage (for example, "principal patron of the Diocese X" or of a nation) formally proclaimed. Therefore, beyond his great spiritual influence, does not contain an official title of principal civil or ecclesiastical patron beyond its special association with the sanctuary and the diocese.

On the canonical coronationthe available sources (sanctuary, diocese, encyclopedic summaries and Catholic press) do not mention any coronation decree granted by the Holy See or the holding of a solemn canonical coronation with clearly documented date and delegated authority. Consequently, and in the absence of confirmed data, does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

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Party and devotion

The main memory of the apparition is remembered the 9 October 1859, the date associated with the definitive meeting in which the Virgin identified herself and entrusted her request to Adèle Brise. Various devotional sources also indicate a celebration around the September 8, party of the Nativity of the Virgin Marywhich in some calendars linked to the sanctuary has been indicated as Marian holiday in honor of Our Lady of Good Help. Since the sources are not fully unanimous on a universally established "own party" for this advocation, for devotional use it is important to highlight the 9 October as the historical date of the apparition, while the other celebrations are integrated into the general Marian calendar of the sanctuary.

The Shrine of Champion has become a important place of pilgrimage within the United States. There come faithful who seek prayer, confession, Eucharistic worship, spiritual direction and inner healingaccompanied by the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Contemporary chronicles point to a remarkable influx of pilgrims during the year, especially around the Marian parties and the anniversary of the apparitions, with parish groups, families and people who travel long distances to the sanctuary; however, no precise official annual flow figures in the sources consulted.

Between devotional traditions The following are highlighted:

– La prayer to the place of apparition, en la capilla inferior donde se recuerda el encuentro de Adèle con la Virgen. – Las Misas de peregrinos, con especial solemnidad en las grandes fiestas marianas y el aniversario de las apariciones. – La memoria agradecida de la 1871 fire protectionwhich has nurtured strong confidence in amparo d