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History
In Beauraing, Wallonia, 33 apparitions take place between 29 November 1932 and 3 January 1933. Mary shows herself to five children, who belong to two families. The seers are Fernande Voisin (1917-1979), Gilberte Voisin (1919-2003), Albert Voisin (1921-2003), Andrée Degeimbre (1918-1978), and Gilberte Degeimbre (1923-2015). The first appearance of a White Lady (Mary) is on 29 November 1932. Father Voisin, around 6:00 PM, asks his children Fernande and Albert to collect their younger sister Gilberte from the boarding school run by the Sisters of Christian Teaching of Nancy. On the way, the two young children meet their friends Andrée and Gilberte and ask them to come along. At the boarding school, they ring the bell and suddenly little Albert sees Mary above the bridge of the railway line there, from Beauraing to Rochefort. It is then around 6:30 PM. She is walking on a small cloud in the air. Albert tells his sister and friends this, and they also look in the direction of the railway bridge and see a “beautiful Lady”. This beautiful Lady is very brightly lit and is walking about 50 cm above the railway bridge. Sister Valéria opens the door. The children tell her what they see, but the sister does not believe them and fetches Gilberte from the study room. When this child comes outside, she too sees the beautiful Lady.
Most apparitions occur near a hawthorn tree on the grounds of the convent of the Sisters of Christian Doctrine of Nancy. This is located at number 6, Rue de l’Aubépine in Beauraing. Mary is dressed in a long, white gown and She wears a white veil that covers her head and comes down to her shoulders. Thin rays of light emanate from her head, forming a crown. Mary usually appears smiling slightly, with her hands clasped. Our Lady is seen by five children: Andrée Degeimbre (14 years old) and her younger sister Gilberte (9 years old), the neighbours' children Fernande Voisin (15 years old), her younger sister Gilberte (13 years old), and her younger brother Albert (11 years old).
The next day, 30 November 1932, Our Lady appears again on the railway bridge. The third apparition is on 1 December 1932 and once again the Mother of God is on the railway bridge. She disappears from there only to reappear, lower down, first by the holly bush and then by the hawthorn. Mary will appear another 30 times by this hawthorn, the last time being on 3 January 1933.
In Beauraing, Mary confirms that She is the Immaculate Conception. She also states, among other things, that She is the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, and that She will convert sinners. She also desires a chapel.
On 2 December 1932, the Apparition speaks for the first time. When asked by the Apparition what She expects of them, the answer is that they are always good. In the evening, there is a second apparition, and She asks the question: “Is it true that you are always good?”
On December 8, 1932, around 6:00 PM, approximately 10,000 interested spectators were present. Maria appeared, and only the children saw Her. The children saw a heart glowing as if it were made of gold. For fifteen minutes, the children remained in ecstasy. They said the Apparition was more beautiful than ever. During the vision, four doctors conducted experiments, such as holding a burning match under Gilberte Voisin's hand and pricking the hands of Gilberte Voisin and Gilberte Degeimbre with a penknife. They also squeezed Gilberte Voisin's arm, calf, and thigh firmly. The children did not react to this and were in full ecstasy. After the vision, the four doctors determined that none of the children had visible injuries from the experiments performed on them. This was considered miraculous.
During the apparition on 17 December 1932, Mary asks for a chapel to be built. On 21 December 1932, the apparition reveals itself. Mary appears again and at the children’s question of who She is, the answer follows: “I am the Immaculate Virgin”. During the apparition on 23 December 1932, Fernande Voisin asks Mary: “Why do you come here to Beauraing?” Mary replies: “So that people might come here on pilgrimage”. Through these words, Our Lady of Beauraing is called to be a place of pilgrimage. From the apparition on 29 December, Mary shows her shining heart between her open arms, as a sign of maternal love. This gave rise to the name “Our Lady of Beauraing, the Virgin with a Golden Heart”. On 30 December 1932, Mary says: “Pray, pray much!” and this is the most essential part of her message in Beauraing. Mary tells the children on 1 January 1933: “Pray always!” On 3 January 1933, the last day of the apparitions, Mary entrusts a secret to the youngest three children and promises: “I will convert sinners!” She again calls herself: “I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven”. Mary also asks questions: “Do you love my Son?” and “Do you love Me?” She adds: “Then offer your life for Me.” and “Pray. Pray much. Pray always. Farewell!” This shows that the apparitions at Beauraing are particularly rich in content.
In Beauraing, Mary appears standing, with a rosary on her right arm, and a brilliant light surrounds her in the darkness of the winter evenings. The Apparition has her hands clasped and her eyes are often raised to heaven. Mary looks at the children as she speaks to them or listens. The Apparition often smiles. Before Mary disappears, she opens her arms.
Doctors have conducted experiments during the children's ecstasies. For example, Gilberte Voisin's calves were pinched hard. She felt nothing from this, and later there was no mark to be seen on her calves. In the case of Andrée Degeimbre, a doctor made cuts on her cheek with a small knife, and the child felt no pain. A match was lit under Gilberte Degeimbre's hands, and she also felt nothing. There was also no sign of a burn visible on her skin.
Thomas Louis Heylen (1856-1941), Bishop of Namur (1899-1941), travels to Rome. He tells Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (1857-1939), in the Vatican about the events in Beauraing. The Pope subsequently instructs him to conduct a discreet inquiry.
Since 4 January 1933, the day after the last apparition, the rosary has been recited daily in the sanctuary.
From 2 February 1943, the Diocese of Namur declared that worship was permitted in Beauraing. André-Marie Charue (1898-1977), Bishop of Namur (1941-1974), announced this.
In 1940, artist Aurélien Pierroux (1905-1982) created a painting of “Notre-Dame de Beauraing”. He was also the first secretary of the Comite Pro Maria of Beauraing. The painting served as the starting point for the creation of the statue in the garden. Pierroux fashioned this statue from marble from Carrara, Italy, in the final months of 1945. The work was approved by the five visionaries. The statue is placed on a pedestal, elevating it to the same height as during the apparitions. The representation of Mary is rotated by 90 degrees to ensure good visibility for pilgrims. On 22 August 1946, the statue of Our Lady was erected.
Construction of the sanctuary began in 1947. The monumental chapel “Le Mémorial” was designed by architect Michel Claes (1913-1995). The entrance has 17 keystones, as it was on 17th December 1932 that Mary requested a chapel.
André-Marie Charue (1898-1977), Bishop of Namur (1941-1974), recognised on 2 July 1949 the supernatural character of the apparitions to the 5 children from late 1932 to early 1933. The bishop confirmed the miraculous healings of two Flemish women in 1933. The miracles occurred through the intercession of Our Lady of Beauraing.
On 21 August 1954, Bishop Charue consecrated the Chapel of Grace.
The covered church, Esplanade, was inaugurated on 6 October 1968. The architect was Roger Alexandre Joseph Bastin (1913-1986). The building is a large indoor space with rows of pews. This Esplanade leads to the Rosary Church, with large works of art by Max van der Linden on the walls; this ceramicist lived from 1922 to 1999. The church serves to support the “Upper Church”. The Esplanade was modified in 2024 following renovation after storm damage in 2021.
Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in Beauraing on 18 May 1985. This Pope shows great devotion to Mary. He comes to Beauraing to place his life and intentions into the golden heart of Mary. The Pope prays specifically for vocations.
The upper church of the sanctuary has been elevated to the “Basilica of Our Lady of the Golden Heart”. This space is used for services with large groups.
The five seers have had a difficult time during and after the apparitions. People showed disbelief in what the children had seen. Doctors carried out tests to investigate the credibility of the five seers.
Andrée Degeimbre (1918-1978) recited the rosary every evening at 6:30 PM by the hawthorn for over 40 years. She did this regardless of the weather, except when she or her husband was ill. On November 29, 1977, the 45th anniversary of the apparitions, she did this for the last time. Gilberte Degeimbre (1923-2015) lived in Italy for 47 years from her marriage. She is married to an engineer and has two children. In 2007, she returned to Beauraing. Gilberte Degeimbre gives many testimonies of the apparitions. Gilberte also says: “Since the Blessed Virgin left us, we have missed Her.” According to witnesses, Fernande Voisin (1917-1979) was the most humble of the five visionaries. During the apparition on January 3, 1933, the day of Our Lady's last visit, Mary asks her: “Do you love my Son?” Gilberte Voisin (1919-2003) lost her husband in an accident, and she herself was also in an accident. This happened on January 3, 2003, the 70th anniversary of the last apparition. Mary promises her: “I will convert sinners.” Albert Voisin (1921-2003), after a long stay in the Belgian Congo, worked for many years as a teacher at the Institut Notre Dame of the Brothers in Beauraing. He died after a long illness.
On 19 June 2021, a mini-tornado tore through the town of Beauraing. Around 100 homes were severely damaged, dozens of residents were injured, and several families suddenly became homeless. In the pilgrimage site, buildings were damaged and trees blown down. Remarkable is that the statue of Mary with the golden heart remained standing and did not suffer any damage. It is a miracle that the statue of Mary remained unharmed.
In 2024, storm damage has led to changes in the apparition garden. The statue of the Virgin Mary has been placed where she appeared in 1932. Another change is that a large wall has been built on the side of the railway bridge, displaying messages from Our Lady to the children of Beauraing. The apparition garden has been renovated, and the crypt has been removed.
In Beauraing, two healings have been recognised as miraculous.
Pilgrimage site
The most relevant feature in the Basilica of Beauraing is the white marble statue of Our Lady with the Golden Heart by the hawthorn bush. The sculptor Aurélien Pierroux created it. Additionally, there is a second beating heart, namely the Chapel of Grace of Our Lady. This chapel has striking, thick walls. Within the basilica, there is a church “above” and a church “below” for celebrating Mass with large congregations. In the early evening, at 6:30 pm, the Rosary is recited at the hawthorn bush.
In the crypt, a relic of Pope John Paul II is kept. The text on the gold-coloured plaque states that it is a piece of clothing soaked in blood, which the Pope wore on the day of the assassination attempt on him, 13 May 1981. In 2024, the crypt disappeared during the renovation of the garden of the apparitions.
Opposite the sanctuary is the shop, called Pro Maria, which sells a wide variety of devotional items. These include statues, prayer cards, books, films, icons, nativity scenes, medals, and rosaries. Behind the shop area is a museum, primarily featuring statues of Mary from many pilgrimage sites.
Near the sanctuary is “Castel Sainte Marie”. There is a restaurant here and it also offers accommodation. This castle is located at Rue des Ardennes 57, 5570 Beauraing. Overnight stays with meals are also possible at the Accueil, Rue de l’Aubépine 12.
There are many routes set out for pilgrimages to Beauraing. Some paths are suitable for wheelchair users. Additionally, there are mapped-out routes for walking, inline skating, cycling, or going to the shrine on horseback.
The number of visitors to the shrine fluctuates. On average, around a hundred thousand pilgrims visit each year in the 21st century. Most visitors come from Belgium, but many pilgrims come from the Netherlands. Dioceses in the Netherlands organise annual pilgrimages to the place of Mary with the Golden Heart.
It is possible to become a friend of Our Lady of Beauraing. The friends of Beauraing wish to experience and spread the message of the Virgin of the Golden Heart more deeply. Five core points are central to this, namely prayer (“Pray, pray a lot, pray always”), service (paying attention to others), spreading the message (“That people come here on pilgrimage”), fraternity (being brothers and sisters to one another), and formation (in the school of Mary to better know and experience her message). There is an annual friends' day in Beauraing.
Beauraing is a small-scale and understated place of pilgrimage, and this is what makes the shrine beloved by many.
The Non-Profit Association (VZW) Pro Maria manages the sanctuary. This organisation is responsible for maintenance, restoration, and changes to the pilgrimage site, among other things.
Around 200,000 pilgrims visit the pilgrimage site annually.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Sanctuary of Beauraing can be reached by taking the Brussels-Luxembourg motorway (A4, E411). Then take exit 22, followed by the N94 and N911. Beauraing is located approximately 15 kilometres from the main motorway.
Beauraing is located about 20 kilometres from Dinant, 46 kilometres from Bouillon, and 10 kilometres from the French town of Givet.
The Beauraing Sanctuary is located at Rue de l’Aubépine 6, B-5570 Beauraing.
For more information, the following options are available:
– Website: www.sanctuairesdebeauraing.be/nl
– email address: ndbeauraing@gmail.com
Experience
I am attending a celebration in the lower church. There are about 300 pilgrims present. They come from Dutch Brabant and Zeeland, as the Beauraing committee from the diocese of Breda organises a pilgrimage every year before and after the summer period. In the morning there is a Eucharistic celebration and in the afternoon the benediction with a blessing of the sick. This latter takes place in the garden of the apparitions of Beauraing. I experience it as very special to be here, where Mary showed herself to the five visionaries several times and still makes herself felt. Here Mary showed her Golden Heart.
I am standing close to the crowned statue of Mary with the Golden Heart. I find this large statue more than magnificent, partly because Mary holds her arms and hands open. What an inviting posture that is. I can't help but respond to it. Mary shows her Golden Heart to make love visible. She shows what the power of love makes possible.
Later, my intentions towards Mary will be deeply personal, filled with thoughts of my deceased parents, my current friends, and my dear friends. Even now, I am fully aware that love is the most powerful element in life, and this strengthens my faith in Mary. Once again, I am convinced that the word 'love' is the most frequently used word. The word love has been used for centuries and has absolutely not become worn out.
More than once I've heard it said: “They have a heart of gold!” This is very fitting in Beauraing, because here is Mary with the Golden Heart. It strikes me that in this sanctuary I feel an intense urge to be here and to keep on coming back. In Beauraing, I can share joy, pain, and sorrow with Mary very well. I become absorbed in prayer...
Suddenly I realise that the five young visionaries met Mary here. Quite a peculiar spot by the hawthorn tree, with roaring trains on the viaduct in the background. I look at the hawthorn tree from very close up, and also at the holly, which are defining features of the apparitions. I notice that quite a few leaves have disappeared from the branches of the holly. Apparently, visitors appreciate a souvenir from nature. A strange way of stripping it bare… I wonder why Mary chose to appear by a hawthorn tree in Beauraing, as there are other trees here too. Perhaps Mary's choice has something to do with the meaning of the hawthorn. The strongly scented blossom of the hawthorn symbolises prosperity, spring, virginity, fertility and purity, and the branches often blossom in the May-June period. The botanical name for the hawthorn is “crataegus”, derived from the Greek word “kratos”, meaning “strength” in Dutch. Because the hawthorn has a long lifespan, it also refers to “fidelity”, and because the hawthorn blossoms every year, there is also “hope”.
In the shop opposite the shrine, many pilgrims are staying. I see them looking, examining, weighing up, and then the decision follows whether or not to buy something. There is a lot available in this shop, as the range of devotional items is very extensive. I see some Dutch-language books about the apparitions, but I already have these works. After all, I have been allowed to come here more often and I have purchased a lot from this shop. The stories of the Marian apparitions are familiar to me. I decide to buy something for a male and female friend to take with them. To this end, I buy some candles with images of Mary in Beauraing. This establishment also has a museum, where statues from many Marian pilgrimage sites can be seen.
During my visit to the pilgrimage site, I make a prayer:
Golden Heart
Dear Maria,
I lay my cares at Your feet,
The Mother with the Golden Heart.
I know people in need.,
they are buckling under heavy burdens,
suffering pain every day
and yearn for relief through Your light.
They are good people,
that tell me a lot
You too, perhaps.
Mother of the Golden Heart,
crowned with light
to help faith grow
and to strengthen with might.
Thank you, Maria.
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