The Sweet Mother

The Sweet Mother of 's-Hertogenbosch is one of the miraculous statues of Mary that form the center of a pilgrimage in the Netherlands. It has been venerated since 1380 in the Cathedral Basilica of St. John in 's-Hertogenbosch. Miracle statues are often not the most beautiful, but the Sweet Mother is the only one whose worship began precisely because people thought it was ugly.

In January 1380 it was 'discovered in the wood' by a young construction worker looking for firewood to warm himself.

Those who later mocked the "ugly image" were punished and plagued by dreams.

Due to riots in the city, the statue ended up in Brussels where it was highly revered. In the 19th century the statue returned.

Brackie