Mary of Jesse
Feast Day: June 12
The tree of Jesse is a biblical name for the descendants of Jesse or Jesse, which also includes Jesus of Nazareth. Mary of Jesse has been venerated in the city of Delft since the Middle Ages.
In 1327, a new statue of Mary was placed in the “Oude Jan”. In that year, a woman from The Hague named Machteld, who had been blind for several years, had a vision one night. She was told to go to Delft to pray at the statue of Mary of Jesse. When she attended Holy Mass after praying, she regained her sight during the consecration. The statue was immediately placed on the shoulders of the bystanders and carried in triumph along the Delft canals. Out of gratitude, it was then decided to hold an annual procession, a "procession" in honor of Mary of Jesse.
In 1398, Pope Boniface IX granted an indulgence of two years and 80 days to all who visited the procession and venerated Mary of Jesse. This procession was repeated annually until it was put to an end by the Reformation (1573). In 1939, a statue was acquired that, according to old descriptions, is reminiscent of the original, dates from the same period and was made in Cologne or the surrounding area. This statue is located in the Maria van Jessekerk, in its own chapel, in the heart of old Delft.
The Catholic Student Association "Sanctus Virgilius" restored the custom in 1929. In 1930 there were fifteen participants, in 1931 approximately 300. In the former Joseph Church, now Maria van Jesse Church, a prayer chapel has been set up where there is also a medieval statue of the Blessed Virgin. Not the original Machteld wonder, because it was lost during the iconoclasm. Moreover, on the Sunday closest to June 12, Catholics hold a silent pilgrimage through the city center of Delft every year.
The annual procession in honor of Mary of Jesse will take place in Delft on Sunday, June 15. The theme for the 2008 event is The Power of Hope.
The day starts at 9.45 in the Hippolytus Chapel, Oude Delft 118 in Delft with a short meditation on this year's theme.
The procession will take place at 10:00 am. Following the Ommegang, the Eucharist is celebrated in the Maria van Jessekerk (Burgwal 20) with Mgr. Bär as main celebrant. In addition to the bishop, Pastor Tj. Visser and Deacon H. van Bemmel ofm lead and assist during the Eucharist.
The day ends at 4 p.m. with a Vesper with Praise in the Maria van Jesse Church.
Personal note from chairman Leo de Bondt:
I was Protestant and my wife-to-be Roman Catholic. I learned about the Catholic faith for 2 years from the fathers of the Open Deur in Delft.
In the chapel at Maria van Jesse's I became Catholic and Joke and I got engaged.