Our Lady of Bruges

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-bruges.html

March 21: Our Lady of Bruges, Flanders (1150)
 
At a shrine in Flanders, dedicated to Mary, it is reported that a lock of Our Lady’s hair is preserved, given by a Syrian bishop, named Mocca.

This shrine is likewise said to have its famous relic of the Holy Blood, which is center of much pilgrimage. The precious relic was brought from Palestine by Thierry of Alsace on his return from 2nd crusade.

From 1150 this relic has been venerated with much devotion.
The annual pilgrimage attended by nobility in their quaint robes takes place on the Monday following first Sunday in May.
Not only  Flemish nobility take part, but also thousands of pilgrims from all over Christendom.

Every Friday relic is less solemnly exposed for veneration of Faithful.
As mentioned above, shrine is dedicated to Mary, for it was she who gave her own blood to her Divine Son, the God-Man.

As at all Marian shrines, miracles take place through intercession of the Mother of God.
The present Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame in Bruges was built in 1225, & is famous for its 400 foot tall brick tower.
Inside, however, is where real treasures are kept.

Among those relics already mentioned, there is also a Madonna of Bruges, a marble sculpture of Blessed Virgin & Divine Child sculpted by Michelangelo.

The features of Blessed Virgin depicted in Madonna of Bruges are very similar in appearance to famous Pieta, which Michelangelo was said to have completed just prior to this sculpture.

It is only one of his works that left Italy during Michelangelo’s lifetime, & was purchased & brought to Bruges by a wealthy merchant.

In 1794 inhabitants of Bruges were forced by French Revolutionaries to ship Madonna of Bruges to Paris. It was fortunate that statue wasn't destroyed, as so many Catholic works of art were during French Revolution.

The statue didn't remain long in Paris, as it was returned to Bruges after defeat of Emperor Napoleon.
It was taken again in 1944 when German’s retreated from Belgium, but it was discovered 2 years later in Germany & returned once again to Bruges.

As a precaution, after a bomb was placed before statue of Pieta in Saint Peter’s Basilica in 1972, Madonna of Bruges was placed behind bulletproof glass, so that public can now only admire sculpture from several feet away.