{"id":1930,"date":"2016-07-28T11:44:44","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T16:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/labmind\/?p=1930"},"modified":"2016-07-28T11:46:11","modified_gmt":"2016-07-28T16:46:11","slug":"pilgrims-everywhere-francis-in-czestochowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/labmind\/2016\/07\/pilgrims-everywhere-francis-in-czestochowa.html","title":{"rendered":"Pilgrims everywhere, Francis in Czestochowa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
The original image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Poland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
As far back as I can remember, there was an image of Our Lady of Czestochowa on the hallway of my house in Peru. \u00a0She was framed with simple wood and placed on top of a beautiful, old, white chest. \u00a0As a kid, her appearance always caught\u00a0my attention and struck my curiosity. \u00a0She had dark skin and wore unusual clothes. \u00a0Her most striking characteristic was the set of scars on the right cheek. \u00a0My mother once explained that the scars occurred when soldiers raided the church where the original image was kept. \u00a0A soldier drew his word and made them so as to profane Our Lady.<\/p>\n
As I grew older and would see Our Lady of\u00a0Czestochowa in other places, her presence always reminded me of home. \u00a0I hoped to one day travel wherever the original image was kept.<\/p>\nPapal Mass at Czestochowa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
This morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at the Monastery of\u00a0Jasna G\u00f3ra where since 1384 the Paulite Order has watched over the image of Our Lady of\u00a0Czestochowa. \u00a0Some put the number of attendees for the Mass at half a million, others 200,000.<\/p>\n
Several traditions regarding the origins of the image exist, one even associates it with Saint Luke, but most likely the icon came from Constantinople in the fourteenth century to Jasna\u00a0G\u00f3ra. \u00a0The monastery in\u00a0Czestochowa is quite more than just a simple monastery, but rather a fortress. \u00a0There are several places to visit, including the Chapel of Our Lady where pilgrims approach the icon prayerfully on their knees. \u00a0In 1655, the monastery was under siege by Swedish forces. \u00a0The monks together with soldiers defended the monastery proudly, defeating the Swedes. \u00a0Ever since that historic moment, Our Lady of\u00a0Czestochowa has been known as the Protectress of Poland.<\/p>\nPope Francis prays inside the Monastery as the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa is revealed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In 1966, the communist government forbade celebrations in Czestochowa for the 1000th year anniversary of the Christianization of Poland. \u00a0They denied Pope Paul VI\u2019s request to visit Poland in order to mark the baptism Mieszko, the first ruler of Poland. \u00a0Today, Pope Francis marked the 1050th anniversary of the Polish people embracing the Christian faith, and their perseverance despite very difficult times (and even the annihilation of their country).<\/p>\n
In 1991, Pope John Paul II held the first World Youth Day at Czestochowa. \u00a0It was appropriate that Pope Francis would celebrate Mass there during his visit to Krakow for World Youth Day.<\/p>\n
The crowd this morning was young and excited. \u00a0Almost all those present were Polish, including many families with young children. \u00a0The pilgrims were respectful and reverent, everyone kneeling for the consecration throughout the streets and parks leading up to\u00a0the monastery.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In his homily, the pope emphasized that God saves us by making himself\u00a0little, near and real. \u00a0God is not some abstract, distant reality, but rather a concrete person with a concrete presence in history and in our lives. \u00a0 The Pope concluded by sharing a beautiful meditation about the Virgin Mary and her own littleness. \u00a0He stated, \u201cAt Cana, as here in Jasna G\u00f3ra, Mary offers us her nearness and helps us to discover what we need to live life to the full. Now as then, she does this with a mother\u2019s love, by her presence and counsel, teaching us to avoid hasty decisions and grumbling in our communities.\u201d \u00a0His\u00a0reference to mothers and grandmothers received an applause from the pilgrims: \u201cYour own history\u2026 has seen the contagious power of a genuine faith, passed down from family to family, from fathers to sons and above all from mothers and grandmothers, whom we need so much to thank. In particular, you have been able to touch with your hand the real and provident tenderness of the Mother of all, whom I have come here as a pilgrim to venerate.\u201d<\/p>\nPilgrims kneeling during Papal Mass about two blocks away from the monastery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Communion was distributed efficiently and before we knew it, the Mass was over. \u00a0There was an extended applause that died down but quickly reemerged many times. \u00a0After some minutes, the helicopter taking Francis to Krakow flew over us as thousands of pilgrims waved goodbye to him. \u00a0The excitement continues as Pope Francis will now spend several days sharing with and accompanying the youth that have gathered from all over the world.<\/p>\nPapal Altar and VIP sitting during Mass (after all were gone of course)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As far back as I can remember, there was an image of Our Lady of Czestochowa on the hallway of my house in Peru. \u00a0She was framed with simple wood and placed on top of a beautiful, old, white chest. \u00a0As a kid, her appearance always caught\u00a0my attention and struck my curiosity. \u00a0She had dark […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":1936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[205],"tags":[414,57,416,404,415,412,197,163],"class_list":["post-1930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","tag-czestochowa","tag-eucharist","tag-jasna-gora","tag-krakow","tag-papal-mass","tag-pilgrims","tag-pope-francis","tag-world-youth-day"],"yoast_head":"\n
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