In 1641 two German soldiers brought back an image of Our Lady of Consolation from Luxembourg to Kevelaer, in what is now Germany. Today, Kevelaer is just across the border from the Netherlands. It's 77 miles from Scherpenheuvel. Kevelaer was part of the Spanish Netherlands from 1556 to 1713. Dutch Low German was spoken in Kevelaer until at least 1821 when it became part of the diocese of Munster and the bishop mandated sermons and catechesis in High German.
The picture was on a flat copper rectangle just 3 1/2 inches by 4 1/4 inches. Consolatrix Afflictorum was written above the image. The soldiers tried to sell this to a merchant's wife. She thought it too expensive. The merchant, Hendrick Busman, was traveling for business. On his way home he stopped by a roadside shrine outside of Kevelaer to pray. There he heard a voice say, "Here build me a chapel." He looked around and nobody was there. Several days later he is once again on that road and stops to pray at the shrine. Again, he hears the same voice, the same message. Again, he tells no one. On one more occasion this happens. This third time he tells his wife. She tells him about the picture and that she has been having dreams where she sees it in a chapel. They decide they need to build a chapel for this image of Mary. The soldiers are found, the image is purchased, and a small chapel is built.
The same thing that happened in Scherpenheuvel and Luxembourg happens in Kevelaer. Many healings are attributed to the intercession of Mary. In a short time, pilgrims are flocking there. The bishop investigates and approves. To handle all the pilgrims, the bishop has some of the Oratorians from Scherpenheuvel sent to Kevelaer in 1645. In 1649 design work on a larger chapel is started. The new chapel is a hexagon with a dome and is modeled after Scherpenheuvel, according to Fr. Norbert Siwinski, Phd., quoting "Kevelaer A Place of Reflection" 2012, ed. R. Kerkhoff and H. Schlensok. The title Consolatrix Afflictorum is in large letters above the little picture. Pope St. John Paul II visited Kevelaer in 1987.
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