Our Lady of the Sioux

by Zsolt Aradi

While we were looking through a long list of shrines dedicated to Our Lady in the United States, examining the pictures, we suddenly came across a photograph which carried the caption: our lady of the sioux. Intrigued by the picture and the identity of its artist, we wanted to know the story of this arresting photograph. We found another inscription, indicating it belonged to the Our Lady of Lourdes mission in Porcupine, South Dakota. Fascinated by the Sioux Indian origin of the picture, we wrote to the Our Lady of Lourdes Mission.

The following letter tells the charming and moving story of this shrine. It is worded in the language of humility and real Christian candor. Hidden among the hills of South Dakota, deep in Sioux territory, this shrine, with its hitherto unknown and unheralded details, is one of the genuine American sanctuaries. Instead of ourselves presenting the history of the little mission, and the sudden emergence and then disappearance of the old Indian woman, we will allow this letter to tell the story.

Today is March 31st, the deadline for your information about Our Lady of the Sioux. We are sorry for our belated response. Should you, however, still want some information, we submit the following regarding the cult of our Madonna. Devotion to Our Lady plays an important part among the Sioux Indians. Here at Our Lady of Lourdes mission, the Reverend Father, the sisters and all the children meet each evening at her feet to recite her loved prayer the rosary. Each year the students consecrate themselves whole and entire to Our Blessed Mother according to St. Louis de Montfort. The Feast of her Immaculate Conception has been traditional for this occasion… It was at the first Lourdes that she had spoken the words: "I am the Immaculate Conception"--so we try to make this feast tie in closely with our Lourdes mission. To most of the youngsters, the Blessed Mother becomes someone very near and very dear. They love to hear any stories about her life or her apparitions. Many try to imitate her virtues. We try to instill into their young hearts a tender love for her so that they would learn to fly to her for protection, help and guidance now, and in their later lives.

Another solemn event of the year is the crowning of Our Lady's statue. All the eighth grade girls vie with one another for this honor. It is a simple ceremony, but one can easily sense devotion and love in the air as the children present their "paper flowers" to their Mother while singing "O Mary, We Crown Thee With Blossoms Today--Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May."

Now, during the Marian year, the entire school makes a pilgrimage to Our Lady on the hill each Thursday for various intentions, especially those recommended by Our Holy Father. The children recite the rosary during the processions and sing well-known hymns, which praise Mary. They like to slip up to the grotto quite often to prove their love to her. Some ask if they may adorn the statue with flowers and help keep it clean. We feel that with Our Lady of Lourdes watching over us on a western hill, we are quite safe under her protecting mantle.

The above was written by one of the Notre Dame Sisters teaching our school, whom I asked to answer your letter because I was crippled in a hospital when it arrived. I also asked a former pastor of the mission to write down the story he once told me. He did, but it went astray… I don't believe this would suit the purpose of your book. I cannot find sufficient historical verification. However, for your own satisfaction, I will tell you what I know:

First of all, there is no famous painting--unless possibly you might have found mention of a rather original painting of Our Lady of Lourdes made by one of our old Sioux Indians, which hangs here in our hall. There is no chapel either (outside of our mission church) but an outdoor grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the western hillside of our little valley.

This little mission compound, built about 1926, is situated in a little valley formed by a rather steep ridge surrounding it on three sides. The only road to the region passes the mouth of the valley, allowing a view of the buildings and of the grotto, which stands out prominently on the opposite hillside.

So this story was told by the granddaughter of the old Indian woman concerned:

Not long after the mission was built, the old grandma was coming along the road past the mission; and seeing the grotto on the hillside, she remarked: "Oh, I see the Lady is still there." When asked what she meant by being "still there," she told how years ago (long before the mission and grotto were built), she was coming down that road and saw a lady in white standing up there on the hillside right where the grotto is now, looking exactly the same.

Unfortunately, the granddaughter has moved away, as so many of the Sioux are moving off these reservations, so I haven't even been able to learn her name, much less verify the story. Not much was ever made of it as far as I know…

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