Our Lady of Good Help
Rue de la Chapelle
5555 Oizy (Bièvre)
Chapel | 1688 | | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
Permanently open.
A part of the chapel is only accessible on Sunday afternoon in May and August (or on demand : +32 61 51 11 20).
Description
The charm of a church or chapel is sometimes its setting rather than its architecture or its contents. This is the case of this little chapel of Oisy in the commune of Bievre. It is a distance from the village, high up and surrounded by majestic centuries old lime trees.
It was built in 1688. One comes here the 30th May and at the Assumption and Annunciation for the cult of the Virgin, due to a miracle attributed to the saint. Numerous votives on the walls recognise cures or answered prayers. The chapel and its trees are protected.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
Photos
Remarkable elements
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Above the altar, there is a magnificent painting depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Anonymous, 17th century. Oil on canvas, H 124 x W 89 cm, restored in 2021 by a painter, a nun from Cordemois Abbey in Bouillon.
Restored in 2017.
Inscription above the entrance door
A Latin inscription above the inner door of the chapel reads ‘ConCVLCa DeMones genItrIX perpetVa VIrgo’, which translates as "Crushing demons underfoot, Mother ever Virgin‘ recalls the date of the great pilgrimage of protest on 23 March 1876 to the chapel in support of Pope Pius IX, who had been dispossessed of his property and ’imprisoned" in the Vatican. The letters in bold, when added together, give: C(100) + C(100)+ V(5) + L(50) + C(100) + D(500) + M(1000) + I(1) + IX(9) + V(5) + VI(6) = 1876.
Ex-votos
Numerous ex-votos on the walls express gratitude for healings or answered prayers.
Paving
At the foot of the chapel entrance are several paving stones arranged in the shape of a chalice.
