Hermitage of Our Lady of the Closed Garden
The Hermitage of Our Lady of the Closed Garden is the youngest of the Dutch hermitages .
It was consecrated in 2001 in the former church of Warfhuizen in the province of Groningen . The hermitage in Warfhuizen continues the tradition of hermitages in the provinces of Limburg and Brabant , which arose during the Counter-Reformation. The last brother from this tradition died in 1930 in the hermitage on the Schaelsberg . Unlike most hermitages abroad, these hermitages had an accompanying chapel.
Since the way of life of the hermit provides the greatest possible seclusion, there is a retreat area in Warfhuizen in which the hermits work and pray. In the church this is visible through a choir screen that separates the sanctuary from the nave.
liturgy
As is customary in contemplative orders, in Warfhuizen the Liturgy of the Hours is prayed, which is spoken in Latin . The influence of the Limburg tradition can be seen in various additions, such as rosary prayers and various litanies that are sung at different times of the day. The veneration of St. Anthony the Great , of which a reliquary on the back wall of the right side altar testifies, occupies a special place. The furnishings, especially the clearly visible division of the church, reveals the survival of the 17th century in baroque style elements.
In addition to the hermit tradition of the south, a number of other influences can be felt in the liturgy . The fact that some of the believers are Russian Orthodox has resulted in the Jesus prayer being sung in Greek in the evening after Compline . Furthermore, the influence of the Carthusians is particularly noticeable in the use of Gregorian chant .
Place of pilgrimage
Most of the visitors come to worship the Mother of God , which can be traced back to the immigration of displaced Spaniards. The Portrait of Our Lady of the Closed Garden is a life-size Mater Dolorosa by the sculptor Miguel Bejarano Moreno from Seville , who specializes in the production of portraits for the processions during the Semana Santa in Andalusia . This image of Mary in mourning for her son attracts many pilgrims to Warfhuizen , especially those who care for their children, as the Book of Intercession testifies. The pilgrimage season in Warfhuizen lasts from Easter to the patronage festival on September 15th.
A brotherhood dedicated to the veneration of Our Lady of the Closed Garden is also dedicated to prayer for the welfare of the Church and the diocese. Three times a year people carry a cross from the parish church in Wehe den Hoorn to the Warfhuizen Hermit Church to sing Compline there.
Another specialty in Warfhuizen is the "exchange of the handkerchief". The figure of the Mother of God in Warfhuizen holds a handkerchief in her hand to dry her tears. The faithful ask for this handkerchief in order to exchange it for one they have brought with them or bought locally. You give Mary's handkerchief to a sick person or someone who is faced with a difficult task.
