Chapel of Helshoven or Chapel of Our Lady of Happy Peace

About

The Chapel of Helshoven or Chapel of Our Lady of Happy Peace is an ancient place of prayer in Helshoven, a hamlet of the Borgloon district of Hoepertingen, in Belgium. The chapel is located at the Boulogne-Kassel-Keulen. Originally, there was an oratory or prayer chapel, built by the Johannites, which were later called knights of the Order of Malta.

The Johannites owned a guest house opposite the chapel to take care of the passing pilgrims. In the 14th century, when they ran out of money, their possessions in Helshoven sold to Gozewijn, a commander of the German Order. Around 1574 the chapel was destroyed by fire during the Eighty Years' War.

Edmond Godfried van Bocholtz (1615-1690), the land commander of Alden Biesen, built the chapel again around 1661. His coat of arms is still present above the entrance to the chapel. In April 1674, to provide for the maintenance of the building, Gerardus of Deventer from Terheijden was granted permission, until then hermit in Lantremange, to build a safe next to the chapel.

A total of 14 male hermits remained in succession. They maintained the chapel for 234 years...