<< XXVII Grandchildren
In faith Godfried finds peace of mind. Every week he goes to the Church of Our Lady in Aarschot. Godfried commissions the painter Jos Tysmans (1893-1974), originally from Houthalen, to make this painting.
Since the move to the Averbode area, churchgoer Godfried goes with his children to the hamlet of Ter Hoeve Testelt. The priest is a former teacher of the Sint-Michielscollege in Brasschaat. The pastor gives Frie a step up from the temporal to the divine by letting him hand out the hosts. Godfried helps with dignity, solemnly, with deeply serious eyes. The people of Ter Hoeve have always felt a little misunderstood, so that a great sense of solidarity arose. (1971) More than 150 men and women worked together to build their church by their own efforts.
The servant of God continues to Mass in the Saint Anthony’s Church of Wolfsdonk
and the Norbertine abbey of Averbode, which is twinned with the Sint-Michielscollege in Brasschaat where Godfried boarded. Godfried maintains good contacts with Abbot Koenraad Stappers (1922-1999) or less good ones with a former teacher, a prelate, by whom he was wrongly punished as a pupil; the white-robed canon gets to hear: “My dear fellow, you have always been a bad little rascal, you will certainly not end up in heaven.” A Latinist, Frie sings along with the Gregorian chants. After Mass Pieter may each time choose a cassette of classical music in the abbey shop.
« Adversae res admonent religionem »
“Adversity spurs us on to religion.”
Rik Torfs does not understand the Church’s attitude towards homosexual relationships: “A large majority of cardinals is homosexual” Rik Torfs is a Belgian professor at KU Leuven, canon lawyer, media figure, honorary rector of KU Leuven. Canon lawyer Rik Torfs sees a striking field of tension in the Vatican when it comes to homosexuality. “It remains a double situation: on the one hand, homosexual relationships are labelled sinful, but on the other hand a significant percentage – perhaps the majority – of the cardinals are themselves homosexual,” says Torfs. (Vrt canvas, 2025)
By means of images on ‘Wedgwood’ bowls and plates the children become acquainted with the French language.
Before the meal, God is spoken to: “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, full of grace, pray for us poor sinners. Now and at the hour of our death, amen.”
God the Father – Fra Angelico (1417-1455) – Louvre
Ubi Spiritus Domini Ibi Libertas – Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom
Godfried himself gave clear instructions for his funeral. He wanted a quiet burial in the little church of Wolfsdonk, in a small circle. But what happens? How differently Mia makes it a grand farewell in a packed Church of Our Lady in Aarschot. With, of course, a formation of honour guards of veterans with their banners, bell ringing, ‘a busty diva’ performing J.S. Bach’s moving Passions, but the Royal Brass Band De Verenigde Vrienden is also called out. As a finale they have to play the Belgian national anthem, the Brabançonne:
‘O dear Belgium
O holy land of our fathers
Our soul and our heart are dedicated to you.
Accept our strength and the blood of our veins,
Be our goal in labour and in struggle.
Flourish, o land, in unbreakable concord;
Be always yourself and unenslaved,
True to the word that you may speak fearlessly:
For King, for Freedom and for Justice. (x3)’
The pastor steps in and then lets the Flemish Lion resound in his church. The Bible parable and the sermon deal with children who squander their inheritance.
The Word of God at Godfried’s funeral:
At that time someone from the crowd said to Jesus: ‘Master, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.’ But Jesus answered him: ‘Man, who appointed Me judge or divider over you?’ And He said to him: ‘Beware and guard yourselves against all greed! For no possession – however abundant – can secure your life.’
He told them the following parable: “ The land of a rich man had yielded a great harvest. So he deliberated with himself: ‘What shall I do? I have no room to store my harvest.’ And he said: ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones: in them I will then store all my wealth of grain. Then I will say to myself: Man, you have great wealth laid up for many years; rest now, eat and drink and enjoy it!’ But God said to him: ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you; and all those provisions you have made, whose will they be?’ So it goes with anyone who stores up treasures for himself but is not rich towards God. “ – Luke 12:13-21
The reading of this parable causes indignation and will cost the pastor dearly afterwards: Mia will not support the carillon committee of which Frie was a board member. “I’m not investing in your sect, but a glass of Champagne you can get now, you know.” The pastor of Wolfsdonk is ordered to hold a separate Mass for the notary, not together with other deceased parishioners that week. The Reverend refuses, gets Mia’s dressing-down, and she has him transferred to another parish.
TEXT BY REV. HUUB GERRITS.
Godfried Van Kerckhoven built up a successful notary’s practice in Aarschot from 1959 to 1998. A notary who was greatly appreciated for the time he took to listen to people, always knowing how to give them good and wise advice, also someone who made no distinction between rich and poor, was scrupulously honest towards everyone. He did not like fiddling. He was appreciated above all for his simplicity and his openness. He was a very well-read man, who kept studying and, until recently, also took part every month in the monthly study circle in Leuven. As a notary he also had an intensely warm bond with his successor, notary Michiels. Notary Van Kerckhoven also devoted himself with tireless zeal to club life, to the brass band, to the Veterans’ League, to care for the sick. He did not think it beneath his dignity to transport the sick to their destination. For his children he was demanding and strict. He was proud and glad that they have found their way through life. He could make time for his grandchildren. They were the apple of his eye. When they came over, he beamed with pleasure and his eyes shone with happiness. Godfried was for many a good steward, a capable judge and an honest mediator. He did not gather treasures for himself on this earth. We are left with wonderful memories of a noble person, who shone through his simplicity and kindly smile, through his radiant warmth and through his unforced cordiality and deeply human wisdom.
Rev. Gerrits – Aarschot – 2013
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Frie’s death bell
In his youth Frie accompanies the dean-pastor of Aarschot to bless the dead. For the last sacraments it is too late. God has meanwhile taken over. Frie symbolises God by ringing his death bell through the streets of Aarschot.
Towards the end Frie brings out this death bell again, to summon Mia when he needs something!
“Quand il s’agit d’argent, tout le monde est de la même religion.” – Voltaire (1694-1778)
Paris, Place des Victoires (photo: 2024)
Godfried is a freethinker who goes to church out of tradition. He does not believe in the afterlife, is in favour of abortion, euthanasia and the abolition of celibacy.
Peter was the first pope of the Catholic Church. He was married. At that time it was not yet compulsory to be celibate. It was a thorn in the Church’s side that so much of that wealth was lost, because priests left their inheritances to their descendants after their death. In 1018 the Catholic Church forbade priests to leave their inheritance to their descendants. As a result they had to leave their inheritance to the Church. In 1139 the church law was adopted that a clergyman could no longer be married.
1838, a notary’s clerk travels to Transylvania to Count Orlock de Nosferatu to recommend a house in Bremen to him.
The rich notary is scared to death of being buried alive and does not want to end up in a Catholic cemetery after his funeral but to be scattered in the garden. Not even a gravestone with calling holes and a viewing window is an option, because Frie saw macabre images of a man who ended up alive in a coffin. The scene took place in Nosferatu from 1922.
The book ‘Octopus Dei’ changes Frie’s idea of the Church.
In 1992 Pieter explains the content of Aster Berkhof’s ‘Octopus Dei’ to Frie, who reacts scornfully until he reads it himself. The student job as train attendant-couchette steward at Wagons-Lits takes Pieter to Rome, where a clergyman from the Vatican offers him a collaboration with accommodation. Frie panics and begs him not to go to the Vatican any more.
The retired notary dressed up as a bishop and Ann Eyskens, wife of the minister. (photo: Heverlee, 2005)
The abbot of Averbode Abbey lends Frie his chasuble, mitre and crosier. Dressed up as a bishop he assumes the merciless cruelty of the absent God to have guests at parties confess their guilt.
Penitent Magdalene – around 1625 – oil on canvas – Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) The relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus intrigues Godfried. Even though Mary Magdalene stands for humankind, with all its flaws, Godfried hopes for Jesus’s sake that there was something to it. (photo: Pieter, Jacquemart-André, Paris, 2025)
Josée Lehon and Pieter (photo: Paris, 2019)
About Godfried Van Kerckhoven.
It is so beautiful. Almost a godsend. As you get a bit older, to be amazed at the encounters you have. The people you come across. And were allowed to come across. Fascinating young people from whom you can learn so much. But also older people whom you get to know a little more closely. So it was very pleasant to run into notary Van Kerckhoven now and then. Often on the little path between the Demer valley and the Grote Markt. Both of us a bit hurried, and yet we stopped. He always had his little smile around his mouth. Gentle and glad to see me. I too was glad to see him. Also a little surprised that he took time to talk to me. I a simple soul, he a citizen of standing. And yet, we found each other. I no longer remember when we first spoke or what it was about? It must undoubtedly have had to do with some artistic project. Or something with the church. Or something with both. The casting of bells for Saint Peter’s, for instance. Whatever I discussed with him, however odd the idea, however peculiar the question, he always listened with full attention. The smile chiselled in place, the gaze serious as befits a notary. Not that he immediately dived into his purse. He first wanted to know the ins and outs of everything. What and how and why. He juggled sums expertly. Of course he knew the value of money. He understood like no other what one had to do for it. And when all sides of the matter had been discussed, and it suited him, then he was generous and open-handed. But it did not stop there. At the next meeting he asked at length how things were, how matters stood. With genuine interest in the project but above all in the people.
I consider it a privilege to have known him. I cherish our small, fleeting, precious moments. He was a great man!
Thank you, notary Van Kerckhoven. Thank you, Godfried.
Josée Lehon – art historian
Godforsaken Pieter (photo: 2020)
“The Van Kerckhoven family has a long tradition of working, saving and praying. You have not done any of that yet!” – Godfried “Working only makes sense if it contributes to the welfare and well-being of the working person.” – Pieter
Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are also children of God – Pieter and Christophe (photo: Paris, La Poule au Pot, 2010)
« Vereri perdidit »
“He has unlearned how to feel shame” – Platus
On 9 August 2013 Pieter enters the realm of the fatherless. (photo: 2005)
Father knows that death is coming. In the last years Mia keeps him upright, literally and figuratively.
(the morning of 8 August) “It’s worn out, boy. Watch out when you pick up your phone, otherwise they’ll already be putting him in the ground before he knows it. It’ll be over quickly. Go and quickly buy yourself a Porsche with it.” – Frie to Pieter
The evening of 8 August, with his last strength to Mia, before he returns to the Father’s house: “Don’t let anyone push you around and take no notice of criticism. Let them copy you. If only I had listened to you better.”
Pieter listens to “Message Personnel”, after Godfried’s death.
A Life Full of Meaning – oil on canvas – Gaia Orion Pieter collects artworks by women artists –
Gaia Orion (Paris, 2023)
What is past only really exists now. Only now can you walk around someone and then you see it. Then life is complete and only then can you fully see who the other is.
And Mia decides:
The Virgin Mary, Thierry Mugler, Couturissme, Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris,2021)
“Now that we no longer believe in the heavenly paradise, we want to experience everything here and now. Well, that is not possible.” – Baron Dirk De Wachter
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