The Shepherd’s Valley lies between Guebwiller and the spa of Soultzmatt. On fresh meadow ground stands a simple chapel, and beside it a bright spring pours its murmuring water into a moss-covered wooden trough.
This is the tradition told there: Mary, the blessed Mother of the Redeemer, once watched over a flock of sheep on this lonely pasture. It was a sultry day; the grazing land was dry and withered, and nowhere around was there water for the thirsting animals. The divine shepherdess took pity on them; she struck the earth with her staff, and at once a rich silver spring burst forth to refresh the thirsty sheep.
The spring still murmurs, and its water is said to be healing for many illnesses. One who hopes for recovery drinks from it in faith and then steps in prayer before the miraculous image hanging in the chapel, beneath which the following verses are written:
Come, Christians, to the Shepherd’s Valley,
Come, dear little sheep, all of you,
For Mary is a shepherdess here.
The good shepherd is Jesus Christ;
Here he seeks the lost little sheep,
And without ceasing calls to it kindly:
Where are you, my little sheep? Ah, come to me,
Here in the Shepherd’s Valley I will wait for you.
If you fear me, then come to my Mother;
She is your dear shepherdess.
She drives away the evil beasts and wolves,
And keeps the little sheep by her grace.
She will lead you to the good Shepherd,
With him no harm shall come to you.
He will carry you into his sheepfold,
Out of the Shepherd’s Valley into heaven’s hall.
Mary, the good shepherdess,
Will also be your helper,
For Jesus, her Son, the good Shepherd,
Will refuse his Mother nothing.
