During the turbulent Thirty Years War (1618-1648) Hendrik Busman lived in the city of Geldern. He worked as a merchant. For his business he travelled from place to place in the vicinity of his hometown. This is how, on his way home from Weeze, he came past the road cross by Kevelaer. It was just before Christmas 1641. As usual he stops at the cross for a short prayer. Suddenly he hears a voice say: "In this place you will build me a little chapel!" Busman looks around to see where the voice is coming from. However, he does not see anybody and he soon continues his journey.
About a week later Busman passes the road cross again. Like the previous time he hears the mysterious voice say: "In this place you will build me a little chapel!" When a short while later this happens a third time he concludes it must be a message from heaven. At that moment he decides to save some money each day for the construction of a little road shrine.
Mechel's vision
During the spring of the next year Mechel Schrouse, Busman's wife, also gets involved in the history of the chapel. Some time before Pentecost there is a knock at Mechel's door. After opening the door she sees two soldiers of the imperial army. The men offer her two small copper engravings of Our Lady of Luxembourg. They were purchased in Luxembourg for the lieutenant of the company of Mackewitz, who was imprisoned in Kempen. However, the soldiers need some money and are trying to sell the images. They want 10 cents per picture. Mechel finds this too dear and does not buy one.
A short while later Mechel has a nightly vision, which features one of the pictures. She sees a small chapel in which an image of Our Lady of Luxembourg is placed. It is surrounded by rays of light. The next day Mechel tells her husband about the vision, who initially does not give much credit to his wife's story. Busman only takes it seriously when two soldiers tell him that, during the night of Mechel's vision, they saw a mysterious light in his house.
The instalment of the image
Next Busman asks his wife to go and find the soldiers with the images. She finds them, but without the pictures of Our Lady of Luxembourg. The men had already given them to the imperial lieutenant, who was still imprisoned in Kempen. After his release Mechel goes to see the lieutenant immediately and asks him for one of the pictures. When she tells him about her vision he lets her choose one for free.
In the meantime Busman had saved enough money and began building the chapel. At the end of May 1642 it is completed. The vicar of Kevelaer places the image of Our Lady of Luxembourg in the niche of the chapel on the 1st of June. On that same day a crowd of people visits the little road shrine. The first pilgrimages to Kevelaer were a fact.
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