Sint-Jans Chapel

History of the Sint-Jans Chapel

Since 1962, an annual outdoor Eucharist celebration has been held at the foot of the chapel hill on June 24th. On this day, the church celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, also known as John the Baptizer. (His death, by beheading, is commemorated on August 29th.) Saint John the Baptist is a biblical figure, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and a particularly great prophet.

Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of the Saint John the Baptist Guild of Leenderstrijp. The guild members celebrate their patron saint on this feast day with great ceremony. It is an impressive sight to both see and hear. They make the most significant contribution to this celebration in front of the Sint-Jans Chapel, which attracts hundreds of visitors in good weather.

However, historically and religiously, there is much more to the story of the Sint-Jans Chapel. Each Saint John's celebration reminds participants of events that occurred here centuries ago. In 1610, Gramaye wrote about the chapel in Leende, noting its fame for the miracles that occurred there thanks to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. In other words, devout people went on pilgrimages seeking healing in the sacred.

The first mentions of a Saint John's Chapel in Leende date back to shortly after 1400. Located on a hill, it was a large chapel, comparable to most churches. The Sint-Jans Chapel was likely founded by the lord of Heeze and Leende. In 1440, it was first mentioned by Philips van Horne, though it probably existed for some time before that. Originally dedicated to both John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the chapel had its own chaplain and was a pilgrimage site.

The veneration of Saint John the Baptist came to an end in 1648, after the Peace of Münster, when the chapel and its benefice came into Protestant hands. The chapel fell into disrepair. The Catholic faith was banned, and all Catholic churches and chapels were closed. The faithful sought refuge in so-called "border chapels" or "hidden churches" across the national border. However, the people of Strijp repaired their chapel several times, but over the years it eventually fell into decay, partly because the chapel's income was diverted to the baron of Heeze.

Around 1840, when freedom of religion became a reality for everyone, the ruins were cleared, and a new chapel was built in 1843. From then on, pilgrimages to the Sint-Jans Chapel flourished once more. Many people visited the chapel on the feast day of Saint John's Beheading, August 29th. (Hence the "Saint John's dish" seen in the chapel and in the church of Leende.) The Saint John the Baptist Guild of Leenderstrijp would go to the chapel on June 24th to honor their patron saint. Various pilgrims would visit the chapel individually, especially invoking Saint John against headaches and other ailments due to his beheading.

In the 20th century, organized group pilgrimages began to form. Likely in the 1930s, a chaplain from Leende organized youth pilgrimages to the Strijp chapel on the evening of June 24th. Under the singing of the Leende folk song, the participants would ascend the chapel hill, where, after a short prayer, the Saint John's bouquets would be blessed. On Saint John's days, June 24th (birth) and August 29th (beheading), the chapel was visited by many pilgrims. Masses were not held in Leenderstrijp, and attempts to establish a separate parish in 1880 and 1930 failed.

Only since 1962 has an annual open-air Eucharist celebration been held on June 24th. The guild, which has maintained the chapel since 1935, also ensures a festive and colorful atmosphere on this feast day. The history of the chapel and the guild are closely intertwined. According to tradition, the people of Strijp have their Saint John's bouquet blessed on June 24th. They gather herbs and flowers like St. John's wort, cornflower, daisy, cuckoo flower, forget-me-not, grass, rose, and violets. Such a bouquet placed next to the house door offers protection against evil spirits and lightning strikes.

Even today, hundreds of people visit the little chapel in Strijp each year. The many candles that are lit there are a sign that faith remains alive. (Source: Jac Biemans, Pilgrimage Sites in the Netherlands)