Sometimes you have to go to a place just because you have to. So we talked at home about visiting Kevelaer (DE). Well I visit Kevelaer a lot but just for some quick shopping like many Dutch people we do not visit the city centre. But this time on the Summer Solstice we went to the Basilica of Kevelaer.
So my personal pilgrim journey brought me to this place. I rarely go to church and if I go it’s just like a tourist and not to pray. But it felt like this was the moment to go not to pray just to see. We arrived the square exactly at 8 when the bells for the morning prayers started with the sun from behind the basilica on my face and the church service near the Maria Chapel on the square started. We listened to the the preach and deiced to go to the basilica. There was no one inside just us and the magic of the moment and it remined me of my family and my past.
Next we decided to go to the Kerzenkapelle (candle chapel) it felt more like me in the present that on my personal pilgrim my light already has awakened. And again no one else was there.
The third we crossed the mercy chapel. When I entered the chapel only I could think of the Benedictus song. Under the alter there was a little box that cought my eye. With still the Benedictus on repeat in my head. Later I found out that the remains of Canisius where in the box. And my bone transplantation that gave me the confidence to sing was in the Dutch Canisius hospital. But still standing there in the chapel no one else there I sang. Just sang not loud not much but let it go what blocked me.
”Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini” – Karl Jenkins
Back on the square the service still there. The last words ready to leave just like the visitors of the service left the square.
We walked around the town and got back to the square. Tho the Maria Chapel with doors open to welcome us. Mesmerized by it’s beauty and all the details. I decided to pray and I never pray. But it was a moment that caught me a moment I needed just within me and again there was no one there but us.
Later we walked in nature a place I always feel more home. But still somehow I needed to visit Kevelaer just for me just because it needed to be on my personal pilgrim. Not for religion just for personal reflection. So now time to continue on my path and build new chapters.
With love,
Helene Smits
