Septennial Festival in Huy, Belgium

The original chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sarte was destroyed in the 16th century, during the Wars of Religion. So there stood the Black Madonna, disfigured in the ruins, a plaything for children. In the summer of 1621, with the town still occupied by Dutch Protestant troops, a local woman by name of Anne Hardy was passing the ruined chapel on her way home from collecting fire wood. Looking at the statue, she decided to give her a better home (or did she mean to burn her?!). She hid the Black Madonna among her firewood and meant to carry her off, but to her surprise, she could not lift the bundle at all, even when she asked two passers-by to help her. The three realized that the Madonna was refusing to leave her sanctuary and so they returned her to her niche. For this purpose the miraculous statue allowed herself to be picked up with ease. The news of this supernatural event immediately drew crowds of pilgrims. Three sworn affidavits were obtained from witnesses. Soon the chapel was rebuilt and Heaven granted more miracles. The church could not hold the crowds of pilgrims and so a bigger church was built from 1624 to 1628.

In 1656, when a drought threatened the country with famine, the local government and clergy organized the usual public supplications to the Virgin, only this time they added a procession. The Black Madonna was solemnly brought down from her mountain into the city. She had scarcely returned to her sanctuary, when the rain, that was so desperately needed, began to fall abundantly. From then on, the ritual has been repeated every seven years. It begins with special devotions the night before August 15th, the feast day of the assumption of Mary into Heaven, followed by the procession the next day.