In the 1859 deep Northwoods of Wisconsin, a young Belgian immigrant woman was chosen to receive an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary commissioned Adele Brise to “teach the children their catechism and what they need to know for their salvation.” Adele took that mission seriously, traveled a radius of 50 miles on foot, going from house to house to teach the family’s children. Eventually, she formed a lay Franciscan community of women who joined her efforts, and together they built a boarding school called St. Mary’s Academy. Despite trials and tribulations, Adele continued her work until she died in 1896. Today, Adele’s mission is sustained at what is now the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. The cause for Adele’s beatification has been opened at the diocesan level.
Learn more about Adele, the apparition, and all the miraculous events that unfolded from Our Lady’s appearance to her on October 9, 1859, in my book, America’s Mary: The Story of Our Lady of Good Help (now Our Lady of Champion).
Join the Annual Novena to Our Lady of Champion on the Shrine’s website.
Invite me to speak to your group about America’s ONLY Church-approved Marian apparition and the phenomenal woman who received Mary’s vital message.
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