History
The miraculous statue was housed in the Sint-Jozef en Bernardus Church, also known as the Lisp Church in Lier. The church dates from 1873 and was deconsecrated in 2025. After the church's closure, the statue was moved to the adjacent chapel. The church building is undergoing a change of use, and the veneration of the miraculous statue will continue in the chapel.
The church is a design by Eugène Gife (1819-1890). The miraculous, polychromed statue was made in 1874 and placed in the church on 23 August 1874.
Miracles precede the fame of the miraculous image. The first miracle occurred on August 14, 1874, involving Florence Broes (*1845). She had been bedridden for 2.5 years due to paralysis. The statue of Mary was brought to the sick woman. The nursing Sister asked Florence to place a medal of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart around the neck of the statue. Thereupon, the woman got out of bed and hung the medal in the designated spot. Florence was suddenly healed and could walk again. When the miraculous image was in the church, more miraculous healings occurred, such as of a brain disease and a deformed foot. These miraculous events made Lier a pilgrimage site. Due to the wondrous events, the statue received the honorary title “Hope of the Hopeless”.
If the church building is no longer used for services, the miraculous statue will be moved to the adjacent chapel in 2026. This will upgrade the winter chapel into a prayer space for pilgrims. Other destinations have been found for the church inventory, including the six Neo-Gothic processional banners. The Brotherhood of Saint Gummarus will take them over from the church board in 2025. The aim is to preserve the valuable banners in good condition and to show them to interested parties on occasion.
The church building is being repurposed with opportunities for overnight stays and breakfast. There is also space for an office, a meeting room, and a function room.
Pilgrimage site
The statue of Our Lady is located in the chapel next to the church building. It is a miraculous statue of Mary. The church has been deconsecrated, which is why the image is in this space. The chapel is the former winter chapel and serves as a place of prayer and a pilgrimage site. Pilgrims come to the image of “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart”.
In the chapel, there are many statues and candles are burning. Visitors come for the miraculous image of Our Lady, and to do so, they look upwards, as the effigy hangs at a height of about four metres.
Other images include the coronation of Mary in heaven and the visit of the archangel Gabriel to Mary, telling her what is to happen. Mary becomes pregnant, visits her cousin Elizabeth, and a little later gives birth in Bethlehem.
The statue of Mary is named “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart” and has the honorary title “Hope of the Hopeless”.
ACCESSIBILITY
The pilgrimage chapel is located in the Lierse district of Lisp, close to the Herman Vanderpoorten football stadium of Royal Lierse Sportkring (K. Lierse S.K.).
Address: Lispersteenweg 275, 2500 Lier.
Experience
A few metres from the large football stadium lies the chapel, where a wondrous image stands. I enter a narrow path next to the church and arrive at the chapel of Mary.
Upon entering, immediately to the left, you look up at the devotional image of Mary with Child. I pray to Mother Mary and am reminded of the miracles that have occurred at this image. Mary has a golden crown with 12 stars around her head. Her arms are spread wide, and the young Jesus stands before his Mother. The Child makes a blessing gesture.
In the chapel, there is even more to see of Our Lady. I can see a depiction against the wall of the archangel visiting Mary, and this completely changes her life. Another image is the coronation of Mary in heaven, with two angels as witnesses.
In conclusion, I light a few candles, thank Maria for this lovely visit, and pray for a good friend who is struggling with their health.
After visiting the pilgrimage chapel, I'm going to the centre of Lier and arrive at the St. James' Chapel from 1383. Here stands a large statue of the crowned Mary with Child.
Next, I head to the Beguinage, where restoration work is underway. At the Beguinage, Oud-Kerkhof, I notice a painting on an outer wall depicting Mary’s motherly embrace.
Close to the beg
Environment
In Lier, you can visit the City Museum, which also focuses on the life and work of the Lierenaar poet, writer, and artist, Felix Timmermans (1886-1947). Address: Florent Van Cauwenberghstraat 14, 2500 Lier.
Going from Antwerp to Lier is 20 km southeast.
Leaving Mechelen and arriving in Lier requires travelling 25 km to the northeast.
After visiting the Lourdes grotto at Meersel-Dreef, travelling to the Maria chapel in Lier means travelling 65 km to the south.
Leaving the pilgrimage site at Scherpenheuvel and going to the shrine of grace in Lier means covering 40 km to the northwest.
To get from Breda in the Netherlands to Lier, you need to travel 75 km south.
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