"Sub tuum praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genetrix"
3:59am
4:00am
Beep, beep, beep.
Yes, getting up early this morning was a struggle for some of us, myself included, but needless to say it was worth it. After our early wake-up and a quick breakfast we were already on the road to Jasna Gora before the sun even came up.
Jasna Gora is the "spiritual capital" of Poland. In its monastery chapel sits the throne of Poland's only queen in history, The Black Madonna of Czestochowa. It is the most visited shrine in all of Poland and now I understand why: she is Poland's and Poland's Beloved Son's (JPII) protector.
3:59am
4:00am
Beep, beep, beep.
Yes, getting up early this morning was a struggle for some of us, myself included, but needless to say it was worth it. After our early wake-up and a quick breakfast we were already on the road to Jasna Gora before the sun even came up.
Jasna Gora is the "spiritual capital" of Poland. In its monastery chapel sits the throne of Poland's only queen in history, The Black Madonna of Czestochowa. It is the most visited shrine in all of Poland and now I understand why: she is Poland's and Poland's Beloved Son's (JPII) protector.
In 1655 she defended the country from the Swedish invasion through her most powerful intercession. It was due to this that King John Casimir crowned her the sole Queen of the Polish Crown. Since then no other queen has reigned in all of Poland. (Literally)
More than 300 years later she defended Poland's Beloved Son when an assassin tried to end his life. John Paul II, as many of you know, attributed his survival of the 1981 assassination attempt to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In gratitude to her saving act he gave to Czarna Madonna the faja that he was wearing on that day. It now rests, still stained with his blood to the left of her image. (You can see it in the photo above)
For these reasons, those whom she protects cannot help but love her. This love is evident from the very moment you step foot in the chapel housing her image. The room is lined with votive offerings. (A votice offering is a gift given in gratitude for a prayer answered. The Black Madonna has so many that entire rooms are filled with them, besides all the ones in the chapel.) We arrived around 7:45 just as the third Mass of the day was finishing. Yes, you read correctly. By 8:00am, three of the eight daily Masses, were already complete. We attended the 8:00am Mass because it was in Latin and thus our priests could concelebrate with one of the Pauline fathers. All the other Masses in the chapel are offered in Polish.
As soon as our Mass was over, we were quickly rushed out of the immediate vicinity of Our Lady, because another Mass was about to begin. Providentially for us, the Pauline Father who celebrated the Mass for us also spoke English. He took such a liking to our group that he gave us a personal tour of the entire Shrine. He showed us all of the museums, the treasury which houses the most important votive offerings, and the sacristy. Not only was he very informative, but he was also very funny. On one occasion he asked a sister, "Sister, do you know how we make holy water?" The sister did not know how to respond, because it is rather obvious for any Catholic. But then he answered, "We boil the hell out of it." This was only one of the many jokes he made while spending time with us.
After our tour of the Basilica and grounds of the Shrine we took a break for lunch and were then given a couple of hours of free time to see things on our own. Usually, at noon they close the chapel of Our Lady in order that she might get some rest. (A queen deserves her siesta! Especially one who is constantly praying for her children.) I am not joking about this. They actually close the chapel from noon to two o'clock allowing her to rest. Providentially for us, there was such a large pilgrimage of university students visiting today, that they left the chapel open. This gave some of our pilgrims the chance to make the traditional visit to her on their knees. It is a tradition that pilgrims before entering fill out their petitions or resolutions on a piece of paper and drop it in the offering box. Then they file their way into the chapel and at the sanctuary entrance drop to their knees and begin shuffling their way around the image while praying silently.
Around 3:00pm we said our goodbyes to the Black Madonna, loaded the bus and made our way back to "Totus Tuus" (our lodging). Today's bus ride was the most entertaining by far. There was singing and even a spontaneous bus competition as the front and back halves of the bus competed in the most creative rendition of an Irish song.
On a spiritual note, today's visit to Jasna Gora and the home of the Black Madonna really bore witness to the deeply rooted Polish faith, especially in the power of Our Lady's intercession before God. It was incredible to see the number of young people who were visiting the Shrine today. They were not there to take a tour, but to pray. I did not see any of them taking photos or buying souvenirs. Their sole purpose for visiting was prayer. They filled both the Chapel and Basilica to overflowing for Masses. Not only did the presence of so many youth attest to the strong Polish faith, but so did the countless votive offerings which spoke to us Our Lady's never failing intercession. These witnesses and our visit certainly renewed my devotion to Our Lady. And for a second day in a row I feel that I can appreciate JPII's Marian devotion even more. I hope all the other pilgrims can say the same.
To Mary's guidance we entrust the rest of our journey of faith, walking in the footsteps of John Paul II. May she continue to lead us, as she led Pope John Paul II, to a greater love for Christ her Son.
To your protection we fly O Holy Mother of God.
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian
More than 300 years later she defended Poland's Beloved Son when an assassin tried to end his life. John Paul II, as many of you know, attributed his survival of the 1981 assassination attempt to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In gratitude to her saving act he gave to Czarna Madonna the faja that he was wearing on that day. It now rests, still stained with his blood to the left of her image. (You can see it in the photo above)
For these reasons, those whom she protects cannot help but love her. This love is evident from the very moment you step foot in the chapel housing her image. The room is lined with votive offerings. (A votice offering is a gift given in gratitude for a prayer answered. The Black Madonna has so many that entire rooms are filled with them, besides all the ones in the chapel.) We arrived around 7:45 just as the third Mass of the day was finishing. Yes, you read correctly. By 8:00am, three of the eight daily Masses, were already complete. We attended the 8:00am Mass because it was in Latin and thus our priests could concelebrate with one of the Pauline fathers. All the other Masses in the chapel are offered in Polish.
As soon as our Mass was over, we were quickly rushed out of the immediate vicinity of Our Lady, because another Mass was about to begin. Providentially for us, the Pauline Father who celebrated the Mass for us also spoke English. He took such a liking to our group that he gave us a personal tour of the entire Shrine. He showed us all of the museums, the treasury which houses the most important votive offerings, and the sacristy. Not only was he very informative, but he was also very funny. On one occasion he asked a sister, "Sister, do you know how we make holy water?" The sister did not know how to respond, because it is rather obvious for any Catholic. But then he answered, "We boil the hell out of it." This was only one of the many jokes he made while spending time with us.
After our tour of the Basilica and grounds of the Shrine we took a break for lunch and were then given a couple of hours of free time to see things on our own. Usually, at noon they close the chapel of Our Lady in order that she might get some rest. (A queen deserves her siesta! Especially one who is constantly praying for her children.) I am not joking about this. They actually close the chapel from noon to two o'clock allowing her to rest. Providentially for us, there was such a large pilgrimage of university students visiting today, that they left the chapel open. This gave some of our pilgrims the chance to make the traditional visit to her on their knees. It is a tradition that pilgrims before entering fill out their petitions or resolutions on a piece of paper and drop it in the offering box. Then they file their way into the chapel and at the sanctuary entrance drop to their knees and begin shuffling their way around the image while praying silently.
Around 3:00pm we said our goodbyes to the Black Madonna, loaded the bus and made our way back to "Totus Tuus" (our lodging). Today's bus ride was the most entertaining by far. There was singing and even a spontaneous bus competition as the front and back halves of the bus competed in the most creative rendition of an Irish song.
On a spiritual note, today's visit to Jasna Gora and the home of the Black Madonna really bore witness to the deeply rooted Polish faith, especially in the power of Our Lady's intercession before God. It was incredible to see the number of young people who were visiting the Shrine today. They were not there to take a tour, but to pray. I did not see any of them taking photos or buying souvenirs. Their sole purpose for visiting was prayer. They filled both the Chapel and Basilica to overflowing for Masses. Not only did the presence of so many youth attest to the strong Polish faith, but so did the countless votive offerings which spoke to us Our Lady's never failing intercession. These witnesses and our visit certainly renewed my devotion to Our Lady. And for a second day in a row I feel that I can appreciate JPII's Marian devotion even more. I hope all the other pilgrims can say the same.
To Mary's guidance we entrust the rest of our journey of faith, walking in the footsteps of John Paul II. May she continue to lead us, as she led Pope John Paul II, to a greater love for Christ her Son.
To your protection we fly O Holy Mother of God.
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian
Here's a link to the Shrine's website if you would like to know more.
http://www.jasnagora.pl/en
http://www.jasnagora.pl/en
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