Ask... and you will receive. 

 

You will find here the memory of graces obtained with the intercession of St Madeleine Sophie for more than 150 years ! Those stories have been written into autograph letters from benefit holders or in the "journal des pèlerinages" (Pilgrimage newspaper). From 1905 to about 1960, pilgrimages were hold on the first Sunday of each month, at Jette, near Brussels (Belgium). Some graces have been reported through various testimonies.

Thanks Saint Madeleine Sophie, 2009

Oral testimony by JM, February 4th, 2004

Letter from Léonie P. Jette, February 13th, 1905

 

Thanks Saint Madeleine Sophie, 2009

I arrived in Brussels  March 25th 2008 and that was our first FACE to FACE with Saint Madeleine Sophie, I could not translate that feeling with words, saw your hands gave me the possibility to see your work, your feelings, your strongest, your prayers. There in front of you and with the help of Sister Madeleine Sophie Siret I asked you this little gift as I call it, that was to find that special person to form a family.

I was baptized in the  Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa in 1978, and when I was four years old I entered in the Sacred Heart and I was there up to my 18th years old when I finished the secondary school. The school and the big family of the sacred heart were and are my second family, I passed through some very difficult moments as the death of my little brother of 5 years old and in the family of the Sacred  Heart I found contention and peace. The Sacred Heart is my second family.

When I returned from Brussels I found in my way Diego, whose first words were “What I really want in this life is to form a family”. I asked St. Madeleine Sophie to give me some signal that he was that special person, and this were those, Diego was baptized in the same church as me; he lives very near another Sacred Heart School in a very popular neighborhood, and also he lives very close to were I have done voluntary work in a school that is run by an RSCJ Magdalena Kissner, this is a school for people with mental disease. 

Since 1st May 2008 we start a Project of life in common, 29th August 2008 we make our compromise in front of God in the Parroquia de Nuestro Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa and in 2009 we are going to be married 20th October legal ceremony and 24 October the in front of God.

In 2010 we are planning to visit Saint Madeleine Sophie to thank her.

Saint Madeleine, I have no words than Thanks …!!

ANA DRISALDI

Oral testimony by JM, February 4th, 2004

Who's that Saint for me ? Someone present in my life since the beginning, when I went as a pupil to the Sacred Heart School. Mummy, who also had been a "child of the house" often spoke to me about Saint Madeleine Sophie and that adorable teacher of the first class in the primary school, Mother M. spoke about her with love and admiration.

The years went by, Saint Madeleine Sophie went with me. I often prayed for various intentions and I addressed prayers to her. I got married and quickly became pregnant. After 5 months of pregnancy, I had a terrible haemorrhage.  The verdict was as terrible : the baby I was carrying was dead. The surgeon wanted to speak to my husband. !  I refused: "My life, it's my life, I can manage it myself; I'm able to hear what is to be heard." At the first appointment after I left the hospital, I brought a gynaecology book which I had thanks to my sister C., a nurse. At the end of the book, there was a chapter about sterility problems, deformities, etc. I gave him the book: "You wanted to say something to my husband ? This is the moment to say it, to both of us. I want to know the enemy to fight against. One cannot fight in a vacuum, without knowing the enemy, without knowing what to fight against." He was annoyed, but he took the book and explained me: "You have a deformity that was the subject of my Ph.D. thesis, I know it particularly well. I treat cases like yours from the whole of Belgium. I followed eight ones: none of those eight women had a successful pregnancy, because this deformity is a major cause of sterility." There and then, I collapsed. We wanted six children and all our dream were shattered. It was catastrophic. The doctor allowed us one or two more trials, and then suggested to us to "think of adoption" !

I thought: "It is not possible, I don't feel generous enough to educate somebody else's child ". I was stunned. I phone Mummy, who told me: "Listen, darling, this is an intention for our Holy Mother". She visited her in Brussels, from where she brought a postcard with Our Holy Mother in her shrine and said: "Listen: put it on your bedside-table and pray every night. I will pray as well." As my husband was not a believer, I put the postcard on my bedside-table and said to him: "I will pray every night. If you like, you may pray with me". He answered: "You know, I don't believe but won't stop you from praying". Three months later, I was pregnant. The gynaecologist reminded me:

- "Madam, you know there is little chance this pregnancy will succeed..."

- "No, I know it will be little boy and he will be born by a caesarean section", I said.

- "Well, Madam, that is only your imagination !"

- "No, no, it isn't imagination, it's the impression I have, that's all".

There was a great anxiety at the 7th month. I needed to rest. Finally, O. was born by a caesarean, on time: a good size, good weight and fully perfect. The docter, astonished, considered it as an incredible piece of luck.

Slightly more than two years later, I became pregnant again. The child had no space to grow, like in the first pregnancy, so there was no chance...! But this was without counting on Our Holy Mother, on the one hand, and on the baby's strong character. She was extraordinarily willing to live, for her nothing was impossible. V. was born on time, by caesarean, but lacked space: her face was ugly with her nose crushed against her cheek. I cried and I cried. (Don't worry, over time everything became right. She is pretty now.) She also had another even more serious problem: her feet were badly deformed. "The lack of space, too" said the paediatrician, "but with time and treatments, it should be all right !" I went to several orthopaedists; she was given iron, gips or leather splints. It was horrible for her for two years: it was even more horrible as there was no improvement. V. began to try to walk, but did not succeed as her feet were turned inwards, and she kept falling within her own legs. Our dear paediatrician, Dr V. suggested to us to consult another orthopaedist, Dr C. I visited this doctor who preferred good old methods, not like the younger doctors I had visited. "I suggest you try a grandmother's method, it is often the best way. Buy her strong small boots and you put her left foot in the right boot and so for the other foot. Do so until she walks correctly. You'll see: herfeet will turn outwards." And in fact, after six months, V.'s feet were perfect, and three months later, she began to follow classical dance lessons, her dream. She was only two and a half years old !

I trust Our Holy Mother, as I feel she protects me. Indeed, she answered my prayer. Mummy continued to pray to Saint Madeleine Sophie with a constant faith. Like her, and encouraged by her example, I always pray to Our Holy Mother, too.

The place of the saints in our relation with God ? Since that time, I trend to pray to Our Holy Mother more than to Our Lord. I pray to Our Lord through the intercession of Our Holy Mother; often, I don't go directly to Our Lord. I also pray much to Our Lady. I don't know whether it's good. Perhaps I should pray directly to Our Lord more often ... Our Lord will judge. Anyway, my way of praying through Our Holy Mother worked. When I see that she obtains graces for me from Our Lord, I think it's perhaps the best way to reach God.

Why does he allow St Madeleine Sophie's body to be incorrupt ? It is one of the signs we receive from God's presence and action through exceptional events, like the miracle of our two children. We mustn't be blind before those signs God sends us about his existence. We must recognise them and testify to God's presence.

If my testimony helps people to discover faith through Our Holy Mother, I don't ask more; it would be marvellous that my adventures, my misadventures and my happiness serve this purpose.

I have a debt to Our Holy Mother. She was so good for me, she granted me the privilege of being a mother: something very important in my life. I have a infinite debt, hence, my testimony is a way to thank her.

 

 

Letter from Léonie P. Jette, February 13th, 1905

"I was ill for years. In 1902, I couldn't stand it any more; I went to Brussels hospital, 26 rue des Eperonniers. Dr G. said surgery was absolutely necessary. I went into hospital for the operation, but the same evening I returned home, because I changed my mind about having the operation. Then, I prayed but it didn't help. I heard that the body of Mother Barat was venerated in the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Jette. With great confidence I prayed to Mother Barat and made a novena and after it I felt better. I made a second novena and was fully cured. I must say that I carry her relics." Léonie P. Rue des Flamands 17, Jette-Saint-Pierre.

 


Last update: 2005-06-29