Bridges to Heaven / Garden of Mary

In faith, there are many 'Bridges to Heaven'. The most literal example is Jacob in the Old Testament; he dreams of a ladder that reaches to heaven. Jesus himself, through his cross, points the way to heaven, through death. But a candle, light, incense and certainly music can also enrapture us. We pray to very personal Saints in heaven for help or healing. In Maastricht, the statue of Mary Star of the Sea is still very important for a Hail Mary or to burn a 'spark plug'. She attracts daily visitors, believers, tourists and residents of the city.

In the cloister, special religious objects from Basilica of Our Lady tell the story. The treasury shows the 1,000-year-old rich history of veneration of the relics of a wide range of saints.

In the enclosed pawn garden, flowers symbolic of Mary are blooming as in a 'hortus conclusus'. And finally, we can see in death a bridge to heaven when a loved one or someone in the family dies. In requiem chants, prayers are made for eternal (heavenly) peace.

The event takes place on the occasion of the Sanctuary Day.