The history of the Filipov (Phillipsdorf) miracle
In 1866, there was only a field on the spot where today the basilica stands. Next to it, there stood a little house in which a daughter Magdalena was born to a German speaking family the Kades on June 5th, 1835. She was their second child. Despite their poverty, their childhood was happy. However, it was spoiled by their father’s death. Magdalena was 13. Another blow came when she was 19, she
became seriously ill. She underwent pneumonia and pleurisy and later also meningoencephalitis. In February 1865, ulcers appeared on her chest and started to grow. Not only her brother Josef and his family took care of her, but also two doctors: Dr. Görlich from Gersdorf, Sachsen and Dr. Ullbrich from Jirikov (Georgswalde). In November 1865, both doctors pronounced Magdalena’s illness incurable adding that she was going to die. She got out of her bed no more; when her brother was cleaning her wounds she suffered a blackout out of pain. The chaplain from Jirikov Franz Storch granted Magdalena the last rites on December 21st 1865. Then they all waited for merciful death which would get Magdalena rid of her suffering.
Magdalena Kade
The orginal bed of Magdalena Kade
The miracle
Three weeks later, at night on January 12th and 13th, Magdalena could not fall
asleep because of the pain. Her friend from next door Veronika Kindermann combed
Magdalena’s hair out that night. Both of them said a prayer and Veronica fell
asleep. Thanks to the Bishop Committee protocol, we can hear about the night by
Magdalena herself: “Suddenly there was a bright light in my room, brighter than
daylight. The bed curtain was moved aside. I god frightened. I pushed Veronica with my elbow and told her: Veronica, wake up, can’t you see, it’s bright in here! Veronica said: But I don’t see anything. In front of my bet there was a person standing and shining with white light, a yellow crown on her head. At the very moment I thought she was Mother of God. I put my hands together and started to pray: My soul glories the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. After these words I heard a voice, unusual voice, different from the voice of people: “My Child, from now on, it’ll heal.” Then the person disappeared and I felt pain no more.
The chaplain of Georgswalde Franz Storch F.S.
Nothing more, nothing less
The very same night Magdalena got up from her bed alone. Her closest people were very happy. The next morning she went for a bread to a bakery. When the neighbors saw her completely healthy walking around the village they asked her what happened. Magdalena answered: “I saw Virgin Mary last night and she told me I would recover. And I did. Nothing more, nothing less happened.” The news spread immediately. Everybody wanted to see for himself. Many people hurried to the Kades’house and Magdalena had to retell her story over and over again. Soon distant pilgrims started to visit her house. In May 1866, the room where everything took place was emptied and became a provisional chapel. An altar was made out of an old table. Candles were burning on the altar from dusk till dawn. A beautifully embroidered pillow was put on the spot where Magdalena saw Virgin Mary.
Another miracle happened one year later in the time of first anniversary of Magdalena’s recovery. Magdalena Langhans from Jirikov recovered from her illness in this house on January 8th 1867. She could not walk at all. Her relatives had to carry her into the house. They put her down on the place where Magdalena Kade used to lie. Suddenly this unhappy girl who lay with deformed legs for 11 years got up from the bed completely healthy.
The news of miraculous recoveries spread. The number of pilgrims rose. The chaplain of Jirikov, Mr Storch, bought up the house from the Kade and decided to build a of a church.
The healing of Magdalena Kade happened in Filipov on January 13th 1866 at exactly four o’clock in the morning. Setting up of an investigation committee followed the miracle almost immediately. It verified carefully all the events and investigated all people concerned. Testimony of both Magdalena’s doctors appeared to be important since they couldn’t find any natural causes of recovery. Filipov is the only pilgrim place of Virgin Mary which arose in Bohemia in the 19th century.
The official statement of the head of Roman Catholic Church – pope Pius XI. – confirms acceptance of the Filipov events. The pope promoted the risen church of Virgin Mary the Helper of Christians to “basilica minor.” It also bought special privileges for pilgrims.
The bed which Magdalena was healed on was placed in the church. After her miraculous recovery Magdalena worked for years in a house for old people in Jirikov. She lived to be 70 and died on December 10th 1905. The remains of Magdalena were examined closely by anthropologist professor Dr. Vlcek and placed not far from the chapel entrance. The statue of Virgin Mary which now stands on the place of the recovery was made of white marble of Carrar and was financed by Polish countess Raczynska.
The original grave of Magdalena Kade
The grave of Magdalena Kade
in Filipov cemetery (around 1977)
A place to meditate.
The custody of this pilgrim place was given to
fathers Redemptorists in 1885.
Around 1930, Filipov became one of the most visited pilgrim place in central Europe.
Pilgirm mass on the occassion of 130th anniversary of the miraculous recovery of Magdalena Kade - January 13th 1996 at 4am