St. Peter’s Church: Margaret of Louvain’s chapel

Proud & local

In early September, on Fair Monday, a time-honoured, annual ritual occurs in St. Peter’s Church: the opening of Margaret of Louvain’s reliquary. She is known as Fiere Margriet in Dutch, or ‘Proud Margaret’. This year’s ceremony was exceptional, as on 2 September we celebrated the (supposed) 800th anniversary of her death. For one day only, visitors could see Margaret’s skull (with its silver crown) and bones. Curious to know more about Leuven’s popular saint? Read on.

The Gothic chapel of Beate Maria can be found in the choir aisle of St. Peter’s Church. A small side chapel was added as the final resting place of Proud Margaret in around 1535. The faithful could once enter directly from outside through a small gate. This has since been bricked up, but the side chapel itself remains clearly visible from Rector De Somerplein.

Legendary

The legend of Proud Margaret exists in several versions. The best-known recounts how Margaret (her surname is unknown) worked as a servant in her uncle and aunt’s inn. One evening, two strangers arrived. Margaret was sent out to fetch wine, but when she returned, they had murdered the innkeepers. The strangers abducted Margaret and tried to rape her outside the city walls. She was killed for fighting back and thrown into the River Dyle. A miracle occurred: Margaret floated upstream and re-entered the city.

The murderers were caught and executed, and the young woman’s grave became a pilgrimage site. She was called ‘proud’ because she chose to die rather than lose her virginity – or, as one ancient chronicle puts it, was “cruelly tortured to preserve her maidenly purity.”

Fiere Margriet drijft op de Dijle — Proud Margaret floats on the Dyle, Pièrre Joseph Verhaghen, 1760-ca. 1765, Collection M Leuven/Saint Peter's Church, source: artinflanders.be, photo: Dominique Provost

What a procession!

Margaret was buried in the cemetery, which at the time still surrounded the church. Soon, the people of Leuven began visiting the grave to beg for healing. When the cemetery was cleared in around 1535, Margaret’s remains were moved to the side chapel, built specifically for this purpose. Since 1902, they have rested there in a neo-Gothic reliquary. Between 1930 and 1965, this was carried through the city in an annual procession (‘begankenis’ in Dutch). It was a job for a team of robust men: the object is extremely heavy.

The shrine, a masterpiece of neo-Gothic goldsmithing, was funded through generous donations from parishioners, especially young maidservants, who regarded Proud Margaret as a role model.

Next to the shrine stands the original jug that Margaret is said to have used to fetch wine – at least according to tradition. In reality, this is unlikely, if only because the jug shows no trace of a handle.

Yuk!

The chapel of Beate Maria houses five paintings depicting scenes from the legend of Proud Margaret. They are by Pieter Jozef Verhaghen, a local artist who became court painter to Empress Maria Theresa in 1773. Note the painting on the right: it shows Margaret just after she has been pulled from the water. It is a strikingly realistic depiction – don’t be alarmed!

It was long believed that Margaret was beatified in 1902. Research has shown, however, that the application was submitted but never sanctioned. Margaret is therefore neither a saint nor beatified –merely proud. This does not diminish the fact that she is still revered by the people of Leuven, even after 800 years.

Laatste Avondmaal (linker zijluik: joods Paasmaal) — Last Supper, Dieric Bouts, 1464-1468, Collection M Leuven, source: artinflanders.be, photo: Dominique Provost

Experience Bouts

Just around the corner from M, the restored Saint Peter’s Church is the setting for a new sensory experience. M will guide you through the fascinating story of this Gothic church and help you renew your acquaintance with its art treasures: masterpieces by Flemish Masters in their authentic context.

More about the exhibition