The mysterious hermit whose vision transformed a remote Wisconsin hill into a shrine

Holy Hill, Wisconsin

Francois Soubrio came to Wisconsin seeking a holy hill described in an ancient French manuscript from 1676.

The hermit was reportedly fleeing a dark past, possibly murder, and arrived at the hill partially paralyzed from illness. After spending his first night in prayer at the summit, locals say he was miraculously cured of his paralysis.

By 1855, Fr. Paulhuber had purchased the land, declaring it would become a place of pilgrimage. Here’s how that prediction came true at what’s now Wisconsin’s Holy Hill Shrine.

The Discovery of an Ancient Map

While working for a retired professor in Quebec, Soubrio found something special in the library. He discovered an old French diary with a map from 1676.

The map showed a cone-shaped hill in southeastern Wisconsin. According to the diary, someone had climbed this hill, built a stone altar, and put up a wooden cross.

The writer dedicated the site to Mary, mother of Jesus. This matched stories of Jesuit missionaries who worked in Wisconsin during the late 1600s.

The Journey to Wisconsin

After finding the diary, Soubrio left Quebec. He began a long trip south and west toward Wisconsin.

His path took him through Chicago, the closest big city at that time. Travel in the 1850s meant hard conditions on rough roads and rivers.

During his journey, Soubrio got sick with a disease that attacked his body. His condition got worse until he was almost completely paralyzed.

A Miraculous Healing

Despite being paralyzed, Soubrio didn’t give up. When he finally found the hill from the old map, he couldn’t walk anymore.

He crawled up the steep slopes using just his hands, dragging his legs behind him. At the top, Soubrio prayed all night under the stars.

Morning brought an amazing change. Soubrio could move his legs again. His paralysis had disappeared overnight. He believed this recovery proved the hill was sacred.

The Hermit’s Settlement

A local farmer first saw Soubrio in 1862. In the moonlight, he spotted a strange figure moving on the hilltop, kneeling before a rough cross.

Soubrio lived in a simple hole dug into the hillside. This basic shelter protected him from harsh Wisconsin weather.

After his healing, Soubrio stayed on the hill permanently. He chose to live alone as a hermit, spending his time praying at the place of his miracle.

From Suspicion to Friendship

When locals first found Soubrio, they were careful around him. A lone foreigner living wild on a hill worried the practical German and Irish farming families nearby.

After many short meetings, fear turned to interest. Farmers began talking with the Frenchman when passing near the hill.

Soon, Soubrio shared his story with people he trusted. He told them about the diary, his journey, his paralysis, and the miracle he experienced on the hill.

Building the First Cabin

As farmers got to know Soubrio, they brought food to help what he could gather or grow. They gave him blankets and tools he needed.

Seeing how hard his life was, several neighbors worked together on a building project. They cut logs and carried them up the hill to build a proper cabin.

Soubrio lived on Holy Hill for seven years. His time there made the hill a place of worship before any official church claimed it.

The Land Purchase of 1855

Before Soubrio arrived, the U.S. government owned the hill. Surveyors used its height for mapping work, calling it “Government Hill.”

In 1855, Father Paulhuber, an Austrian priest serving parishes in nearby towns, bought the 40-acre hilltop. He paid just $50 for the land. Father Paulhuber bought the land for the Catholic Church. He planned to give ownership to the Milwaukee Archdiocese for religious use.

Father Paulhuber’s Vision

Father Paulhuber first saw the hill while visiting his friend Joseph Kohler. Looking at the tall hill, he felt reminded of his Austrian homeland. He said the hill would become famous in the region.

Paulhuber saw it becoming a holy place where thousands would come to worship. Though he bought the land with this dream, Father Paulhuber died suddenly before he could give the title to the Archdiocese.

The First Cross and Chapel

In June 1858, local Catholics cut an oak tree from the hill to make a 15-foot cross. They placed it at the top, marking it as a religious site.

They carved German words into the cross: “I am the life, who believes in Me shall be saved.” Five years later, on May 24, 1863, Father George Strickner dedicated a small log chapel on the hill. He named it the Shrine of Mary – Help of Christians.

A Growing Reputation for Miracles

News of Soubrio’s healing spread through Wisconsin farm communities. Travelers began stopping to visit the hill where a paralyzed man had been cured.

By the 1890s, sick people climbed the hill hoping for divine help. Many left behind crutches and braces after claiming miraculous recoveries.

These stories led people to call the site “Miracle Hill.” The name showed its growing fame as a place where sick people might find healing through faith.

Visiting Holy Hill, Wisconsin

Holy Hill is at 1525 Carmel Road in Hubertus, Wisconsin, about 40 minutes northwest of Milwaukee. The Basilica opens daily from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There’s no entrance fee to visit the grounds or Basilica.

You can attend daily Mass at 11:00 AM or weekend services at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. The Stations of the Cross path through the wooded grounds offers a peaceful walk.
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