Mary, Mother of Jesus · Updated August 15, 2026
Our Lady of Champion refers to the reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary experienced by Adele Brise, a 28-year-old Belgian immigrant, in October 1859 in Champion, Brown County, Wisconsin. These appearances are recognized as the only Vatican-approved Marian apparitions in the United States. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay formally approved them on December 8, 2010.
During her walk to Mass, Adele Brise reported seeing a woman clothed in dazzling white, standing between two trees. This figure identified herself as 'the Queen of Heaven' and appeared to Adele on three separate occasions. Each time, Adele reported receiving a mission to dedicate her life to teaching children their faith. After the encounters, Adele reported experiencing a sense of peace and a clear understanding of her assigned task.
The message delivered to Adele Brise directed her to provide spiritual education to children in what was described as a 'wild country.' Mary instructed Adele to gather the children and teach them what was necessary for salvation, focusing on catechism, the sign of the cross, and the sacraments. The message called for conversion and prayer, and it directed Adele to serve as a catechist.
The Catholic Church conducted an investigation into the apparitions at Champion, led by Bishop David Ricken in 2009. This process involved an examination of historical documents, testimonies, and the consistency of the apparitions' messages with Catholic doctrine. After his review, Bishop Ricken declared the apparitions worthy of belief on December 8, 2010.
The most notable miracle associated with Our Lady of Champion is the survival of the chapel and surrounding land during the Peshtigo Fire of 1871. Witnesses reported that the fire halted at the edge of the property, sparing those who gathered there to pray. Multiple witnesses documented this event. Today, approximately 25,000 pilgrims visit the site annually, where a chapel remains dedicated to Our Lady of Champion.
Our Lady of Champion, referring to the apparitions reported by Adele Brise in 1859, presents a theological tension within the Catholic Church regarding the recognition and approval of private revelations. The primary challenge lies in determining the criteria for authenticating such events and the implications for Church teaching and authority. The 151-year interval between the apparitions and their official approval in 2010 shows the Church's cautious approach. This delay raises questions about the evidence required for recognition and why some apparitions receive prompt attention while others languish in uncertainty. The case of Our Lady of Champion invites scrutiny of the processes governing Church approval, reflecting broader concerns about how the Church discerns the validity of reported supernatural occurrences.
In Catholic theology, private revelation refers to spiritual insights or messages that are not part of the public revelation contained in Scripture and Tradition. The Church's approval of a private revelation, such as the apparitions at Champion, indicates that the message is consistent with Catholic teaching and poses no threat to faith or morals. However, approval does not oblige Catholics to believe the apparition, as private revelations do not carry the same weight as the central tenets of the faith. The case of Our Lady of Champion illustrates this doctrine, showing how the Church balances the promotion of devotion with the need to preserve doctrinal integrity. Approval is a pastoral judgment rather than an endorsement of the supernatural event itself.
The apparition of Our Lady of Champion has generated debate within Catholic circles, focusing on the role of private revelations in the life of the Church. Scholars and theologians question the criteria for approval and the implications for Marian devotion, considering the historical context of the apparition and its impact on the Church's decision-making process. Some argue for clearer guidelines to evaluate such phenomena, while others emphasize maintaining a cautious stance. While the Church has recognized the Champion apparitions as worthy of belief, the broader discourse continues to explore how private revelations fit within the framework of Catholic theology. As of now, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion stands as the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States.
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