The Lourdes grotto in the Marian Park of the pilgrimage site at Meersel-Dreef was built in 1895.
The grotto was created by a promise made by Father Johannes Baptista van Meerle (Jan Baptist Rutten), born in 1857, novice in 1873, profession in 1874, ordained priest in 1880, and died in Antwerp in 1923.
In 1894, the father is on his way to the Himalayas to build a sanctuary. During the outward journey to Punjab in British India, a heavy storm breaks out. While the ship is sailing in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and the island of Crete, the boat threatens to sink due to the high waves. The father prays to Our Lady, promising Her that if the boat, with its crew and passengers, gets through the storm, he will build a Lourdes grotto in gratitude.
The travellers survived the sea voyage and upon arrival in the large and high mountain region, the political situation was far from suitable for building a Lourdes grotto there. The priest returned to Flanders and in Meersel-Dreef, the promised Lourdes grotto was built in 1895.
On 20 October 1895, the Lourdes Grotto was consecrated by Leopoldus Godfridus Pelckmans (1854-1904) from Turnhout, Bishop of the Capuchin Mission in Lahore (Pakistan).
See also the section “Pilgrimage Sites in Belgium” for Meersel-Dreef.
