Our Lady of Good Help
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Summary
October 8 of 1859, the Blessed Mother showed herself to a devout 28-year-old Belgian farm woman named Adele Brise in the area of Robinsonville (now Champion), Wisconsin. Mary stood in white between two trees, then slowly vanished, leaving a white cloud after her. The Blessed Mother desired evangelization. She wanted Adele to show others the Catechism. |
Timeline
January 30, 1831 |
Marie Adele Joseph Brise was born |
| August 7, 1855 |
Lambert and Marie Brise purchased 240 acres of land in the town of Red River, Wisconsin.
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| Oct 1859 |
First apparition of the Virgin Mary to Adele Brice (Brise). Adele could see the beautiful lady, clothed in
dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. Her dress fell to
her feet in graceful folds. She had a crown of stars around her head, and her long
golden wavy hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Such a heavenly light shone around
her that Adele could hardly look at her sweet face. Overcome by this heavenly light
and the beauty of her amiable visitor, Adele fell on her knees. |
| Oct 9, 1859 |
When Adele told her parents, they wondered if it was a poor soul who needed prayers.
On the following Sunday the young woman had to pass there again on her way to
Mass at Bay Settlement, which was the nearest place, when she saw the Virgin again.
When she asked what the apparition wanted, Mary responded:
"I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for
the conversion of sinners, and I wish you
to do the same. You received Holy
Communion this morning and that is good.
But you must do more. Make a general
confession and offer Communion for the
conversion of sinners. If they do not
convert and do penance, my Son will be
obliged to punish them."
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| 1859 |
A small oratory was built of logs. |
| 1861 |
A second chapel was built as a frame structure. |
| 1865-1868 |
Between these dates a frame convent and school was built near the Chapel. |
| 1869 |
A school known as St. Mary's Academy was formally announced. |
| October 8, 1871 |
The "Great Fires of Northern Wisconsin," popularly known as the "Peshtigo Fire" raged. |
| October 8, 1871 |
The Great Chicago Fire |
1880 |
A third chapel was built as a brick structure. |
July 5, 1896 |
Sister Adele Brise dies at the Chapel. |
| Dec 8, 1941 |
The Most Reverend Paul P. Rhode, Bishop of Green Bay, laid the cornerstone for the fourth Chapel. |
| July 12, 1942 |
The new Chapel was dedicated by Bishop Rhode under the title of "Our Lady of Good Help." |
January 2009 |
Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay opened an investigation into the authenticity of the apparitions |
Dec 8, 2010 |
Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay declared the apparitions to be authentic, making them the first approved apparitions in the United States. |
Description of the Virgin
"... there appeared between two trees, one a maple and the other a hemlock, which stood for years after, a blinding white light which paralyzed the poor girl with fear. She cowered before it and prayed rapidly and breathlessly as the light took definite form, and between the trees stood a marvelously beautiful lady, clothed entirely in dazzling white garments, with no touch of color save a wide yellow sash or girdle. Her hair was auburn; her eyes deep and dark and she bore a radiant and kindly smile. Adele trembled with fear. The vision faded gradually away." (Green Bay Gazette, August 13, 1925)
Messages
The Blessed Mother desired evangelization. She wanted Adele to show others the Catechism.
"I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for
the conversion of sinners, and I wish you
to do the same. You received Holy
Communion this morning and that is good.
But you must do more. Make a general
confession and offer Communion for the
conversion of sinners. If they do not
convert and do penance, my Son will be
obliged to punish them."
Click here to read messages.
Miracles, Cures, and Signs
On October 8, 1871 -- exactly 12 years to the date since her first
appearance -- a tremendous catastrophe struck by way of a raging fire that destroyed
massive swaths of northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan -- indeed, the worst
recorded forest fire in American history. By the time it was over, 1.2 million acres --
1,850 square miles (the size of Rhode Island) -- had been consumed, and one to two
thousand were dead. It was described in some parts as "a wall of flame, a mile high,
five miles wide, traveling 90 to 100 miles an hour, hotter than a crematorium, turning
sand into glass."
October 8, 1871 -- date of the Wisconsin catastrophe -- was also the day of the Great Chicago Fire.
Over the years there have been hundreds of stories of people coming to the shrine and being healed. Old crutches and canes were left behind.
Approval
Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona of Green Bay placed his imprimatur on a booklet describing the events and containing the messages.
In 2009, the most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay, opened a formal Church investigation into the Marian apparitions that occurred in 1859 on the site of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. While considered private revelation, the task of the commission was to review all the historical information on the apparitions, as well as the life of the visionary Sister Adele, and test their consistency with Public Revelation as guarded by the Catholic Church.
On December 8th, 2010, Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay declared the apparitions to be authentic, making them the first approved apparitions in the United States.
Reading from his decree, the Bishop stated, “I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance of supernatural character, and I do hereby approve these apparitions as worthy of belief (although not obligatory) by the Christian faithful.”
This declaration makes the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help at Champion the first and only Marian shrine in the United States that is on the site of an approved apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Click here to read the official statement of Bishop Ricken >>
Prayer
PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS
Penned by: Rev. Mr. Edward Lee Looney
Eternal Father, I kneel before you this day with a grateful heart because you have allowed me to receive the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus in Holy Communion.
Thank you for sending the Queen of Heaven to earth with a message calling us to conversion and emphasizing the sacraments. For when she appeared to Adele Brise in 1859, she asked her to offer her Holy Communion for the conversion of sinners. Just as Adele did long ago, I wish to do likewise this day.
I offer to you, Eternal Father, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of your Son, for the conversion of sinners, including my own conversion, in reparation for sin, and the salvation of souls. Through Our Lady’s maternal solicitude may the hearts of hardened sinners return to the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, especially to Sunday Mass, and to daily prayer.
As I go forward from this Holy Mass, help me to fear nothing knowing that you are with me and are always guiding me and that Our Lady constantly intercedes for me. Make me aware of your presence this day and always. Amen.
Source: http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2015/01/28/help-mary-mission-offer-communion/
Books and Articles
Visions lead to pilgrimage. Milwaukee Journal. August 03, 1919
Robinsonville ready to receive crowds on Assumption day. August 13, 1922
Links
Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Franken WI
Spiritdaily - Our Lady of Good Help
Shrines
Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help
4047 Chapel Drive
New Franken, WI 54229
Phone: 920-866-2571
Email: chapel000@centurytel.net
www.shrineofourladyofgoodhelp.com
Videos
Marian Shrine Makes Changes to Welcome Faithful Crowds (WBAY)
Bishop Ricken on the Marian Shrine's Faithful and Skeptics (WBAY)
Priest reflects on changes at Marian Shrine (WBAY)
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