OUR LADY OF FLINES

 Day 9: May 19


Erected in the 13th century on the orders of Marguerite of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders and Hainaut, the abbey of Flines once took place in the town of Flines-lez-Raches, in the North. Former Cistercian abbey, it was the burial place of several counts of Flanders. Once considered one of the most beautiful abbey in the Netherlands, the Abbey of Flines was demolished during the French Revolution. Its last vestiges definitely disappeared in the course of the 19th century.

St Bernard had established a religious Order of his own. Marguerite donated the Abbey near Douay to St Bernard. The Abbey had been dedicated by the Archbishop of Rheims as the Shrine of Our Lady of Flines. This Shrine became a famous pilgrim center after the miraculous cure of Marguerite's child. The child was playing in the stable-yard and got seriously injured. The doctors gave up on the child saying that the child would be lame for life. The pious Marguerite proceeded to Our Lady's Shrine and prayed for the miraculous intervention of Our Lady. She frequented this visit several times and after the fifteenth time, the child cried out, jumped out of its mother's arms and started to walk. The Blessed Mother had already cured the child!

When Marguerite died, she was buried in the center of the choir. Many miracles occurred afterwards that pilgrims thronged there year after year. Unfortunately, the partisans of the French Revolution destroyed the Abbey. No trace of this beautiful abbey and the shrine is found now!


St Bernard's Prayer to Our Lady


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided.  


Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  
Amen.

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