Church of Our Lady of Leliëndaal - Mechelen

The Sisters of the Norbertine Priory Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Leliëndaal in Hombeek , after the damage sustained during the Wars of Religion , decided to rebuild their monastery within the walls of Mechelen .

Construction of the church began in 1662 under the direction of Lucas Faydherbe. This man was not a successful architect and the first version of the facade collapsed . The facade was demolished and rebuilt on behalf of the client. The gatehouse to the right of the church survives , where a charitable institution was located after the dissolution of the order in the 18th century.

The monastery behind the church was put into operation in 1786 by the Ursulines of Mechelen.

On the facade we see a statue of Ignatius Loyola and the empty niche at the bottom of the facade was filled with a statue of the Virgin and Child around 1814. Inside, the painting of the high altar , the Lourdes Grotto and the prominent presence of Mary are examples of this Jesuit inspiration.

The heart of Saint Jan Berchmans , a young Jesuit, is also kept as a relic .

Willem Vandenameele