On the banks of the Oude Maas, which separates Dutch and Belgian Limburg, lies Heppeneert, a Belgian hamlet of the city of Maaseik. However, even before the creation of Maaseik around 1244, the church of Heppeneert is already mentioned, namely in 1202.
In 1567 the parish was incorporated into the Crosier monastery of Maaseik. The Crosiers are still buried in Heppeneert. The current neo-Romanesque hall church of Heppeneert was built in 1871-1886.
In the church you can see the grace image of Our Lady of Rust, which still adorns the church thanks to Crosier Arnoldus Coopman. He ensured that the statue of Our Lady of Rest was hidden from the destructiveness of the French revolutionaries and placed it in the church in 1801.
From 1883, the veneration of the miraculous image began, which continues to this day. At the foot of the cross sits Mary, huddled on the brown-green rock in her gold-colored, blue-lined shawl.
Her posture, face and hands radiate peace, resignation and calm. Resignedly, she put her hands together. You can still feel the tranquility that Mary radiates when you enter the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Rustkerk in Heppeneert.
This text has been automatically translated using an online translation service.
