Pond Brook Chapel

In 2022, the floor and fences were renewed.

Rectangular brick chapel under a slate roof. White top of the obtuse front with the inscription "18 < > 74" below illegible text and a cross; chapel probably built in 1874 to replace the old chapel from at least the second half of the 18th century, marked on the Ferraris map (1771-1778) with "C (hape)lle de la Vierge". Round arch with gray brick arch; cross in the wrought iron gate. Crucifix on a metric altar flanked by a plaster statue of Our Lady with the Child on the left and the Sacred Heart on the right. Semicircular arch in the two inner chamfered corners in which is the left statue of Saint-Thérèse and Saint-Antoine, on the right that of Saint-Joseph. When she was ten she became seriously ill until the statue of Mary above her bed smiled at her on May 13, after which she recovered completely. From an early age she felt that her calling was to serve God. She was exceptionally devout, but also known for her willpower and sense of humor. She decided to join the Order of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Lisieux (Normandy), where two sisters of hers, including her favorite sister Pauline, had already entered (a third sister would follow in 1894). At the age of fifteen, with the permission of her Bishop and Mother Superior, she actually entered the Order, even asking Pope Leo XIII for an exception because of her age (the Pope replied, "God willing"). In 1890 she made her profession and in 1893 she was assigned the care of the novices. On the instructions of her sister, who was also superior at the time, she started writing down her life story in 1895. In 1896 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She died of the disease at the age of 24 and Theresia was beatified on April 29, 1923. Her canonization followed on May 17, 1925. In 1997, Theresa, as the third woman in history, was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. A well-known statement of hers is: "I want to make it rain roses [= blessings] on the earth". That is why she is depicted as a Carmelite woman holding a crucifix and roses to her chest. She became the patroness of missionaries and missionary work. She is also patroness of France and Russia. On the outskirts of the town of Lisieux, a huge basilica was built in honor of Therese, frequented by many pilgrims and tourists. Saint Anthony is depicted in a brown Franciscan calumet; it is decorated with lilies (virginity) and a book on which the Infant Jesus is written. The story goes that already severely weakened, he was persuaded to undergo treatment at the property of a kindly earl, Tiso. One evening Tiso saw a very bright light shining through the cracks in Antoine's room. Fearing that there had been a fire, he opened the door. To his surprise, he saw Antoine standing with a radiant child on his arm. The brilliant light broke away from this child. While everything was back to normal moments later, Antoine asked his friend not to talk to anyone about it. This was Tiso's promise, but he believed that after Antoine's death he was cut off from that promise. He came from the Portuguese capital Lisbon and seems to be descended from Godfried de Bouillon. Legend of the donkey: Antoine lived at a time when the Albigensian heresy was rife. The Albigensians denied the divinity of Christ. Unlike an Albigensian leader, Antonius chose a most remarkable way of convincing the man. He bet that the Albanian donkey would show respect for the host, or his master wouldn't have done that! To begin with, the animal was not fed for three days. Then the manger was filled to the brim. Now Antoine kept the animal as a holy guest. He left his bowl behind and got on his knees to show his respect. to which the heretic has indeed repented.

Willem Vandenameele