Most affectingly, on the roof of the reliquarium are six scenes which illustrate scenes from their stories including their imprisonment, their boat journey to Brielle, the last questioning of Guillaume de la Marck, their hanging, the carrying of their relics to Brussels, and their canonization.
Also in Brussels is the Cathedral of St. Michael, a modest version of Notre Dame in Paris. Inside is a truly unique Baroque pulpit by Hendrick Frans Verbruggen and a large organ which contains 4300 pipes, 63 stops, four manuals and one pedal. I spent some time there praying for the people of Belgium to return in greater fervor to the Catholic Faith.
And finally, worth mentioning is that Brussels too is home to the Traditional Mass. Tridentine Masses are offered in several locations: FSSP (Minimes) FSSPX (St. Joseph) Institute of Christ the King (St. Anne, Watermael-Boitsfort), Sacre Coeur de Linthout and also in nearby Maleizen, with Fr Gert Verbeken of the Servi Jesu et Mariae.
Conclusion
Most Catholics do not immediately think of the Netherlands and Belgium as travel destinations. Home to many protestant and atheistic ideas, the Faith has been under assault in these countries for years.
But as my travels illustrated, the Faith lives on.
Inside the cities in Belgium and the Netherlands are testaments of a Catholic past and the promise of a future which we can help attain through our work of catechesis and prayer. Join me in praying a Pater and an Ave for the souls in these nations. Lord have mercy!
About the Author: Matthew Plese blogs at acatholiclife.blogspot.com and is the lead catechist of CatechismClass.com. Matthew is a Third Order Dominican, an avid traveler, and a passionate traditionalist.
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