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Post by troubledgoodangel on Sept 10, 2007 11:58:37 GMT -7
It's early September, and Poland is at the peak of the pilgrimage season to Czêstochowa. The Polish people regard the Black Madonna as their Dearest Queen, and this Shrine has been sacred to them for centuries. It is their Cana, a place where each pilgrim brings his or her often unspoken needs, like the biblical bridegroom "who lacked wine," and She never fails to satisfy them in some way. Some seven million people come here every year in buses and on foot, often from very long distances. Those driving across Poland in the Summer or in the Fall, often come upon these pilgrims flanked with ropes (for safety) on both sides of their military style formations, thirsty, exhausted, but singing and smiling joyfully at the anticipated encounter. For some reason, when I pass them by, my eyes fill up with tears and I feel prouder of having been born here rather than anywhere else. They are certainly a special people, these pilgrims. Attracted to the Shrine as if by a magnetic force, they brave the rain and hail, and they develop blisters on their feet as they walk hundreds of miles. Undaunted, they cross the valleys and meadows, the wheat fields and the forests, carrying a single thought in their heart: to see their Mother one more time, to look into Her eyes, and to say: jestem przy Tobie, pamiêtam, czuwam! (this in Polish means, "I am here, see, I remembered, I was mindful!). This is my translation, which I think is better than the literal one normally given, "I am by Your side, I remember, I watch." When they arrive, they fall on their knees, and they call Her, Najlepsza Matka - the Best Mother. I have been watching for months the facial expressions of people streaming to this Shrine. There is joy, there is faith, and there is a mystical certainty "of being in the right place." When they return, they return comforted, vowing to be back next year, gladly carrying in their hearts the Graces which they know their Mother put inside. And they sing beautiful songs in Her memory as they go back home. Even when abroad, thousands of miles away, sooner or later most Poles will attempt to return to this one of a kind Mecca of Christianity!
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Post by Jaga on Sept 10, 2007 16:31:43 GMT -7
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Pawian
European
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Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Sept 11, 2007 6:47:49 GMT -7
It's early September, and Poland is at the peak of the pilgrimage season to Czêstochowa. Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? I was once..... |
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Post by troubledgoodangel on Sept 11, 2007 10:36:57 GMT -7
I have always been attracted to Jasna Góra, but have never participated in a group pilgrimage. It just wasn't in the cards, and in life we deal with the cards we are dealt. I did apply one time to become a Pauline monk, which shows my attachment to Our Lady. But even this was not going to be, for after a one-year noviciate in Leœniów I had to return to the U.S. to complete my studies at Orchard Lake. But I did wear the white Pauline habit for a while, of which I am very proud, and since then, I have returned to Jasna Góra many times (including a daily visit for two consecutive years !), which is why I am so familiar with the pilgrimages and with the Shrine.
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 11, 2007 15:57:39 GMT -7
Here in the states we are having pilgrimages to OLC in Pennslyvania.
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Sept 12, 2007 2:26:04 GMT -7
Here in the states we are having pilgrimages to OLC in Pennslyvania. But pilgrims don`t go on foot like in Poland...... |
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zooba
Full Pole
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Post by zooba on Sept 12, 2007 2:31:48 GMT -7
I guess that all this effort of walking hundreds of kilometers is one of the crucial parts of the pilgrimages. When I say about pilgrimages I don't think of bus trips but walking for days.
I went twice from Poznan to Jasna Gora. I tell you later what it looks like in practice.
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 12, 2007 5:37:04 GMT -7
No they don't. Our pilgrims are not like your pilgrims. Your catholics are more devout and sacrificing than ours. The first time I heard of this was my cousin telling me of the pilgrimage at Easter time (the stations of the cross) at Kalwaria when we stopped there. I was amazed at this.
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Post by wujjohn on Sept 12, 2007 5:39:50 GMT -7
Powian, I live near the Shrine in Doylestown Pennsylvania and a couple of weeks ago there were three groups that walked to the shrine here. They were from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. It took several days but they walked the distance.
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Post by wujjohn on Sept 12, 2007 5:48:39 GMT -7
Here is an article from our local newspaper on August 10.
Thousands headed to shrine
This weekend's pilgrimage to
Our Lady of Czestochowa will celebrate a Polish Catholic tradition.
Thousands of people are expected to gather at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in New Britain Township this weekend after a pilgrimage from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York in celebration of a Polish Catholic tradition.
Among those walking to the shrine are about 350 people from Philadelphia's St. Adalbert Church. That group will begin the two-day, 36-mile walk around 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the church on Allegheny Avenue in the Port Richmond section of the
Author: Annie Tasker
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Post by rdywenur on Sept 12, 2007 7:00:54 GMT -7
Really..thanks for the input Wujohn. I retract my statement. We are not such wimps after all. I feel better now.
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Post by kaima on Sept 12, 2007 9:13:04 GMT -7
Really..thanks for the input Wujohn. I retract my statement. We are not such wimps after all. I feel better now. I may be a Sourdough, but I have remained a life-long Tenderfoot. I would find a 38 mile hike / pilgrimage to be a blistering experience! I do much better on skis or bicycle over such distances! Kai |
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Post by wujjohn on Sept 12, 2007 10:21:15 GMT -7
Really..thanks for the input Wujohn. I retract my statement. We are not such wimps after all. I feel better now. Chris, From what I have seen at the shrine most of the people that were walking were originally from Poland. |
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zooba
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Post by zooba on Sept 12, 2007 13:37:48 GMT -7
Before I'll go to sleep.... The first time I went to Jasna Gora was when I was almost 17, in high school. The pilgrimage set off from Poznan Cathedral always on July 6th. The people were divided into groups by parish churches, mostly. The distance of 300 km is covered in 10 days - the first three were the hardest of all. The pilgrims walked with only light luggage, some handy things like water, hankies, spare socks etc. The main luggage was transported by lorries to each finishing point. Every day started with the mass, then we walked on, saying rosary, singing, listening to sermons. We slept wherever we were invited to come - the parishes on the way welcomed the pilgrims with dinner and offered stay for the night - the conditions were very different, some of them made me humble - you could see the poverty, yet the hearts were open for us. The most difficult thing was the weather - never right, either too hot with sticky asphalt or raining cats and dogs. And blisters (we had all kinds of treating them  . I wanted to quit several times but survived. Entering Czestochowa and Jasna Gora itself is an unforgettable experience, you have to feel it for yourself  |
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Pawian
European
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Post by Pawian on Sept 12, 2007 14:31:04 GMT -7
Powian, I live near the Shrine in Doylestown Pennsylvania and a couple of weeks ago there were three groups that walked to the shrine here. They were from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. It took several days but they walked the distance. Great. I wonder if American law allows for such groups of people walking on a road. www.milosh3.republika.pl/230.jpg www.milosh3.republika.pl/231.jpg |
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