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"God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes."
Revelation 21:4

 

John Paul II and Our Lady of Czestochowa

John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) was born in Poland on May 18, 1920. He became Pope in 1978.

I remember the day when he was elected - a neighbor of ours came to our place to tell us the great news then, the lady also invited us to her place to watch the live TV transmission together. Well, we had a TV set of course, she just wanted to share the historical moment with us.

During his pontificate, John Paul II visited 129 countries, including Poland (8 times).  On June 11, 1987, he came to my city as well. That was a great day, when the Pope celebrated the service on the main city square. Mostly everybody, went there  - to see our Jan Paweł II (John Paul II) and participate in the mass. I can recall, the city center was so packed with people, I could not manage to get to the place where the mass was to be held. But I did find a spot on a street leading to Kosciuszko Square and saw the Pope's vehicle pass by. Furthermore, I remember the crowd, including myself, we all prayed ''Our Father" loudly. Frankly speaking, I found the moment quite unusual. I had never experienced anything like that - the solemn and joyful atmosphere and saying prayers standing among the crowd, on a pavement curb. I think I did not see the Pope himself, but it was once in a lifetime thing anyway.

On that day, in Gdynia, John Paul II spoke about the new meaning of Solidarity for the first time. If you do not know, his teachings and political influence helped to overcome communism in Poland. It led to system changes in other Easter European countries and the fall of the Berlin wall. 

Whenever 'the Polish Pope'  came to Poland, it was a kind of holiday in the country. He was our fellow countryman, known for his great intelligence, kindness and a bland and benignant smile. Whoever he talked to, he treated the persons in a most considerate way, no matter if they were politicians or simple and uneducated people. As many Poles, we watched his visits on TV. Thanks to live programs, we could also take part in the masses the Pope celebrated during his pilgrimages.

John Paul II died in 2005. National mourning was announced in Poland then. Many people felt as it was their close friend or relative who had died, not the Pope.

Besides being priest and Pope, John Paul II was also a poet, play-writer and philosopher. Have you ever tried to read on of his books?

The bookmark - at the top: picture of Our Lady of Częstochowa (original painting - supposedly painted by St. Luke/ in Jerusalem in 66-67). The painting was brought to Poland in 14th century and placed in the monastery in Częstochowa.

Our Lady of Częstochowa (called 'Black Madonna') is also known as Patroness, Protectoress and Queen of Poland.

John Paull's II motto, regarding Holy Mary, was 'Totus Tuus' (All Yours). He visited the monastery in Częstochowa a few times when he was young. In 1979 he paid his first official papal call there.

John Paul II was canonized in 2014.
Feast day of Saint John Paul II: 22 November

Our Lady of Gietrzwald

Gietrzwałd is a village (founded in 1352) in northeastern Poland known for its Marian Sanctuary and the miraculous Painting of Our Lady.

The village became famous after the appearances of the Holy Mary: from 27 June to 16 September 1877, the manifestations of Our Lady were seen by two girls - Justyna Szafryńska and Barbara Samułowska. Mother of God spoke to them in Polish and asked them to pray the Rosary every day.

You need to know that Poland did not exist as a country then (Gietrzwałd and other places of the area were under Prussian rule at that time), and speaking Polish was forbidden. Furthermore, Holy Mary had always been worshiped by the Catholics of Poland. That was why the appearances experienced by the two villagers were a very meaningful message to Poles.

I have also visited the Sanctuary a few times. Many people arrive there daily (about a million pilgrims a year) - to pray and ask Our Lady for what they need, to visit the local church and also to get some water from the miraculous creek blessed by Virgin Mary. The water itself is supposed to have healing properties. That is why, wherever you come to the Sanctuary, you can see a long line of people holding plastic bottles and other containers, queuing to fill them up with the creek water.

Things to see in Gietrzwałd:

• The church - Basilica was built soon after the village was founded. Through the years, the church was redecorated and rebuilt many times. Some parts of its Gothic construction have been preserved. 
• The painting of Our Lady - created in the 16th century, author unknown. The painting has been decorated with silver layers and precious stones.
• The St. Joseph's Chapel, built in 1877.
• In the village: wooden house #13, built in 19th century, house #33 (1877), houses #16 and #31 (beginning of 20th century)

 Credits: Photos - postcards and bookmark from Gietrzwałd, bought at the Sanctuary.

Our Lady Patiently Listening in Rokitno

Theme: Our Lady Patiently Listening
From: Marian Sanctuary in Rokitno, Poland
Year: 2005

The town of Rokitno (Lubusz Voivodeship in Poland) is known for its Marian Sanctuary visited by many pilgrims who are willing to see the miraculous picture Our Lady Patiently Listening (painted at the beginning of 16th century on a piece of linden tree). The right ear of Holy Mary is uncovered which symbolically shows she is ready to hear the people's requests.

The construction of the church, which is a basilica also, started in 1705. Mum and myself visited the place in 2005 - both the architecture and the interior decorations of the basilica are really interesting and quite pretty and worth seeing.

You can watch the inside of the church here - just click on the digits below the first picture.

Credit: photo - bookmark bought at the Sanctuary.