The Saint Lucia Chapel. Thanks to the 'red carpet'

The current chapel dates from 1950. It replaces the former chapel that stood across from Sint-Luciastraat. This chapel was oriented towards the Balenberg and not - as today - towards the village center of Begijnendijk.

Since 1730, this chapel has been the destination of a pilgrimage and the place of prayer during the octave of Saint Lucia from December 13 to 20. That year, Begijnendijk was 'saved' from an epidemic of dysentery or 'bloody flux'. This name was associated with the bloody diarrhea caused by the disease. Dysentery was a disease that often occurred epidemically during the 18th century. Such epidemics were accompanied by conditions of famine, lack of clean water, and resulting physical weakness. Poor harvests and unfavorable weather conditions were often the cause. The spread of the disease frequently coincided with troop movements. Therefore, the disease was also called the 'soldiers' disease'.

The fact that Saint Lucia is prayed to for dysentery refers to the legend of Saint Lucia, whose mother was healed by Saint Agatha from a 'blood flow' that had lasted for four years.

Jan Rymenams