Posted on 06/20/2004 6:11:23 AM PDT by Grzegorz 246
During the Holy Week I had the good fortune to be in Krakow and felt greatly alighted with the behaviour of the nationals and the pilgrims. Roman-Catholic sanctuaries are Poland's landmarks. The followers of other faiths have their sanctuaries in many places around the country.
Often called the spiritual capital of Poland, Czestochowa has drawn pilgrims and tourists from across the world. They flock to Poland's national shrine, the Marian shrine located in the Pauline Monastery on Jasna Gora in Czestochowa.
A visit to the Monastery of Jasna Gora includes the majestic Basilica, the miraculous Black Madonna Shrine, the 600th anniversary Museum, the Armoury and Treasury.
The Chapel of the miraculous picture contains the icon of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child known as the Black Madonna. It carries a spiritual history. The Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist; and it was while painting the picture, Mary told him about the life of Jesus, which he later incorporated into his gospel.
The next time the painting is mentioned is in 326AD when St. Helen found it in Jerusalem and gave it to her son and had a shrine built for it in Constantinople. During a battle, the picture was placed on the walls of the city, and the enemy army fled. Our Lady saved the city from destruction.
In 1382 the invading Tartars attacked a Prince Ladislaus' fortress, where the painting was located. A tartar's arrow lodged into through the throat of the Madonna. The Prince transferred the painting to a church in Czestochowa, Poland.
In 1430, the church was invaded and a looter struck the painting two times with his sword, but before he could strike it another time, he fell to the ground in agony and pain, and died. The sword cuts and the arrow wounds are still visible on the painting.
Our Lady of Czestochowa [The Black Madonna] was soon made Queen and Protector of Poland. In 1920, Russians were invading Poland, when they saw an image of Our Lady in the clouds, and they withdrew on seeing the image.
Miraculous events such as spontaneous healings have occurred for centuries on making pilgrimage to the portrait. Millions of pilgrims are drawn to the shrine every year. Christian traditions are still live. Also it is not possible to exclude the continuous influence of the Pope Paul John II who supports and strengthens the spirit. The monastic museums are full of art pieces and votive offerings.
The National Shrine of Our Lady is located on Beacon Hill overlooking Peace Valley. The Shrine is the perfect place to go and spend time in prayer and reflection!
FMCDH(BITS)
"The National Shrine of Our Lady is located on Beacon Hill overlooking Peace Valley. The Shrine is the perfect place to go and spend time in prayer and reflection!"
It doesn't say it in the article but the Shrine in Doylestown, PA is on Beacon Hill looking down on the Peace Valley reservoir (Lake Galena). It is run FOR PROFIT by the Jesuits.
When the Catholic diocese decided to split Our Lady of Mt Carmel church in Dtown, without any input from parishioners, they created St Jude in Chalfont. The church opened doors in a small converted refreshment stand at the closed Forest Hill amusement park. Pretty pitiful.
Every protestant church in town offered the use of their facility, the only one requested by the new pastor was to keep the services in a catholic church, the old Shrine.
NO WAY IN HELL! Request denied!
Enuff said.
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