June 29, 2018

From the Archives

Our Lady of Consolation in Leopold

In 1863, three Civil War soldiers named Lambert Rogier, Henry Devillez and Isadore Naviaux, who were members of St. Augustine Parish in Leopold, were sent to the notorious Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Ga. The soldiers prayed to Our Lady of Consolation, and vowed to have a statue created in her honor—if they survived the prison camp. Despite being imprisoned for 11 months, all three men survived, and Rogier traveled to Belgium to have the statue made. It was brought back to St. Augustine in 1867. For many years, the parish held a pilgrimage and novena to Our Lady of Consolation on the last Sunday in May.

In 1863, three Civil War soldiers named Lambert Rogier, Henry Devillez and Isadore Naviaux, who were members of St. Augustine Parish in Leopold, were sent to the notorious Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Ga. The soldiers prayed to Our Lady of Consolation, and vowed to have a statue created in her honor—if they survived the prison camp. Despite being imprisoned for 11 months, all three men survived, and Rogier traveled to Belgium to have the statue made. It was brought back to St. Augustine in 1867. For many years, the parish held a pilgrimage and novena to Our Lady of Consolation on the last Sunday in May.
 

(Would you like to comment on or share information about this photo? Contact archdiocesan archivist Julie Motyka at 800-382-9836, ext. 1538; 317-236-1538; or by e-mail at jmotyka@archindy.org.)

 

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