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Pilgrims everywhere, Francis in Czestochowa

Pilgrims everywhere, Francis in Czestochowa

Last updated on: July 28, 2016 at 11:46 am by Father Pablo Migone

Pilgrims everywhere, Francis in Czestochowa 2016-07-28T11:46:11-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

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The original image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Poland

As far back as I can remember, there was an image of Our Lady of Czestochowa on the hallway of my house in Peru. She was framed with simple wood and placed on top of a beautiful, old, white chest. As a kid, her appearance always caught my attention and struck my curiosity. She had dark skin and wore unusual clothes. Her most striking characteristic was the set of scars on the right cheek. My mother once explained that the scars occurred when soldiers raided the church where the original image was kept. A soldier drew his word and made them so as to profane Our Lady.

As I grew older and would see Our Lady of Czestochowa in other places, her presence always reminded me of home. I hoped to one day travel wherever the original image was kept.

Papal Mass at Czestochowa

This morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at the Monastery of Jasna Góra where since 1384 the Paulite Order has watched over the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Some put the number of attendees for the Mass at half a million, others 200,000.

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 Góra. The monastery in Czestochowa is quite more than just a simple monastery, but rather a fortress. There are several places to visit, including the Chapel of Our Lady where pilgrims approach the icon prayerfully on their knees. In 1655, the monastery was under siege by Swedish forces. The monks together with soldiers defended the monastery proudly, defeating the Swedes. Ever since that historic moment, Our Lady of Czestochowa has been known as the Protectress of Poland.

Pope Francis prays inside the Monastery as the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa is revealed

In 1966, the communist government forbade celebrations in Czestochowa for the 1000th year anniversary of the Christianization of Poland. They denied Pope Paul VI’s request to visit Poland in order to mark the baptism Mieszko, the first ruler of Poland. Today, 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).

In 1991, Pope John Paul II held the first World Youth Day at Czestochowa. It was appropriate that Pope Francis would celebrate Mass there during his visit to Krakow for World Youth Day.

The crowd this morning was young and excited. Almost all those present were Polish, including many families with young children. The pilgrims were respectful and reverent, everyone kneeling for the consecration throughout the streets and parks leading up to the monastery.

In his homily, the pope emphasized that God saves us by making himself little, near and real. God is not some abstract, distant reality, but rather a concrete person with a concrete presence in history and in our lives. The Pope concluded by sharing a beautiful meditation about the Virgin Mary and her own littleness. He stated, “At Cana, as here in Jasna Góra, 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’s love, by her presence and counsel, teaching us to avoid hasty decisions and grumbling in our communities.” His reference to mothers and grandmothers received an applause from the pilgrims: “Your own history… 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.”

Pilgrims kneeling during Papal Mass about two blocks away from the monastery

Communion was distributed efficiently and before we knew it, the Mass was over. There was an extended applause that died down but quickly reemerged many times. After some minutes, the helicopter taking Francis to Krakow flew over us as thousands of pilgrims waved goodbye to him. The excitement continues as Pope Francis will now spend several days sharing with and accompanying the youth that have gathered from all over the world.

Papal Altar and VIP sitting during Mass (after all were gone of course)

All pictures are mine, rights reserved.

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July 26, 2016

Flags everywhere! Krakow taken over by youth

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