Adele’s Story and the Strange Fire
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Adele Brise did not speak English. It is unclear whether Our Lady spoke to Adele in French or in Adele's native Belgian dialect, Walloon. Adele spoke both easily.)
The Account of What Happened
"It was the early part of October 1859 that Adele is said to have seen our Blessed Mother the first time. She was going to the grist mill about four miles from here (Robinsonville) with a sack of wheat on her head. She followed an Indian trail that passed where the Chapel now stands. The trail led toward Dykesville and branched off to Bay Settlement. At this time, this was all wilderness.
As Adele came near the place, she saw a lady all in white standing between two trees, one a maple, the other a hemlock. Adele was frightened and stood still. The vision slowly disappeared, leaving a white cloud after it. Adele continued on her errand and returned home without seeing anything more. She told her parents what had happened, and they wondered what it could be – maybe a poor soul who needed prayers?
On the following Sunday, she had to pass here again on her way to Mass at Bay Settlement, which was the nearest place, about 11 miles from her home. Despite the great distance and the inclemency of the weather, Adele would never miss Mass on Sunday. This time she was not alone, but was accompanied by her sister Isabel and a neighbor woman. When they came near the trees, the same lady in white was at the place where Adele had seen her before. Adele was again frightened and said almost in a tone of reproach, "Oh, there is that lady again."
Adele had not the courage to go on. The other two did not see anything, but they could tell by Adele's look that she was afraid. They thought, too, that it might be a poor soul that needed prayers. They waited a few minutes and Adele told them that it was gone. It had disappeared as the first time, and all she could see was a little mist or white cloud.
After Mass, Adele went to confession and told her confessor how she had been frightened at the sight of a lady in white. He bade her not to fear and to speak to him of this outside the confessional. Pater Verhoef told her that if it were a heavenly messenger she would see it again and it would not harm her. But to ask, in God's name who it was and what it desired of her. After that Adele had more courage. She started home with her two companions, and a man who was clearing land for the Holy Cross Fathers at Bay Settlement accompanied them.
REGINA| 91