On Monday, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa. The image of Our Lady of Jasna Góra has been venerated by Poles since the 14th century. Every year, more than 2 million faithful make pilgrimages to the shrine of Jasna Góra to pay homage to her.
Legend has it that the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist on a table in Mary’s house.
The actual date of the icon’s creation and its author are unknown. Art historians point to a strong similarity with the Byzantine icons called Hodegetria, which means “She who leads.” According to experts, the painting may date back to the 10th century.
It is known that the icon was brought to Częstochowa at the turn of 1382–1384 by Prince Władysław Opolczyk. The image was considered miraculous and venerated, and pilgrims began to arrive at Jasna Góra bringing numerous votive offerings. They attracted robbers who attacked the monastery in 1430.
The attack was described by the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz, according to whose account the attackers stole liturgical vessels and equipment, chalices, crosses and decorations, as well as gold and jewels with which the painting was decorated. Then, during their escape, they damaged Mary’s face with a saber blow. Although the icon was restored by order of King Władysław Jagiełło, traces of the 1430 attack remained visible – two parallel sword cuts on Mary’s cheek, a third cut along the line of her nose, and several similar, though much smaller, cuts on her neck.
Polish kings and princes often prayed before the icon, including: Casimir Jagiellończyk, Stefan Batory, Sigismund III Vasa, John Casimir and John III Sobieski.
The miraculous image of Our Lady of Częstochowa was decorated with papal crowns twice. The first papal coronation of the image of Jasna Góra – by decision of Clement XI – took place in 1717. He himself financed the crowns of Our Lady. These crowns were stolen on the night of October 22-23, 1909, along with a pearl dress and other valuables. After the theft, new crowns were given to Mary by Pope St. Peter Pius X. The second coronation took place on May 22, 1910.
After many years of efforts, the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa was first instituted in 1904 for Jasna Góra and the diocese of Włocławek by Pope Pius X. He obtained the proclamation of the feast from the Pope, Blessed. Honorato Koźmiński. In 1931, Pius XI extended the celebrations to the whole of Poland.
Importance for Saint John Paul II and Blessed Cardinal Wyszyński
From their youth, both male and female saints were closely associated with Our Lady in Jasna Góra. John Paul II, as well as Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, wrote the text of the Jasna Góra Vows of the Polish Nation, which referred to the vows of John Casimir in Lviv in 1656, placing the nation under the protection of Mary. This text was read by Bishop Michał Klepacz during the celebration of indulgences in 1956.
As part of the work prepared by Cardinal Wyszyński in Poland’s program of moral and spiritual renewal, preparing for the celebration of the millennium of the Baptism of Poland, a copy of the Jasna Góra painting was created, which has haunted the country’s subsequent dioceses since August 26, 1957.
On September 4, 1966, the painting was forcibly seized by the communist authorities on its way to Katowice and taken first to Warsaw, where it was kept in the sacristy. However, when the faithful began to gather in front of the sacristy window where the image was located, a copy of the icon was taken to the chapel of St. Anthony in Jasna Góra. After the image was kept, from 1966 to 1972, only the empty frames and the Gospel traveled on pilgrimages throughout the Polish dioceses. “The Arrest of Our Lady” was interpreted by the faithful as a symbol of the lack of religious freedom in Poland and aroused many emotions in society.
Finally, the painting returned to the route on June 18, 1972, after it was secretly stolen from Jasna Góra by Father Józef Wójcik with the help of two serving sisters from Markówka: Sister Helena Trentowska and Sister Maria Kordas. The image still circulates in Poland to this day.
Pope John Paul II during the Holy Mass in Jasna Góra on June 4, 1979, he said that “if we want to know how this story flows in the hearts of Poles, we must come here. You have to put your ear to this place. We must hear the echo of the life of the entire nation in the Heart of its Mother and Queen.
The main celebrations of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Częstochowa, with the participation of the Polish Episcopal Conference and pilgrims, will take place on August 26 in Jasna Góra.
The central point of the celebration will be the Holy Mass at 11 a.m. The Jasna Góra summit will be presided over by the Primate of Poland, Archbishop Wojciech Polak. It will be celebrated by the bishops who will participate in the meeting of the Diocesan Bishops’ Council on August 27.
gah/PAP
