City: under the governance of Emperor
Napoleon Jezus-eik was merged with Overijsse in 1800 . There
is a legend about the origin of this hamlet - there are in
fact several versions. In the Sonian Forest in the 17th century
there was a giant tree, called the “Devil's Oak”.
The tree had been hit several times by lightning and that
gave the people a bad feeling about the tree. In the hope
of frightening away thunderstorms and also the devil a cross
with the image of Jesus was nailed onto the tree. Farmers,
foresters and traders would make the Sign of the Cross as
they passed the image of Jesus. its name of Jezus-Eik (Jesus-Oak)
was born.
In 1635, a certain Peeter Vanden Kerkhoven felt his end
was nearing. He had already purchased a little statue of Mary
to hang on the tree. For whatever reason, he never did this.
On his death-bed, he asked his daughter Elizabeth to hang
it on the tree. For some unknown reason this was not done.
Father Peeter died on 10th November 1635. Two years later
the statue was eventually hung on the tree. People passing
by now stopped to pray. Also those who were sick came in the
hope of a cure. The “miracles” started. A site
for pilgrimage was born.
