Our Lady of Czestochowa

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Black Madonna. The missionary and miraculous icon of Our Lady resides at The Pauline monastery at Jasna Gora. In 1717, the image was ceremoniously crowned and Jasna Gora became the center of a Marian devotion in Poland. Having been to the Shrine, I can attest that it is a beautiful and moving place.

St. John Paul II: “Jasna Gora is the Shrine of the nation. One must put their ear to this holy place to feel the heart of the nation beating in the Mother’s Heart. And it beats, as we know, all the tones of history, all the sounds of life”.

As with Poland so here in the USA, may then”heart of the nation beating in the Mother’s Heart”, may Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us.

Our Lady of Częstochowa, not only the Queen of Poland

Today is not just another feast of Mary, the Mother of God. No, it is the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of the Slavs, Queen of the World.

Since I was a boy Our Lady of Czestochowa has been of keen importance to me. She even is the image on my iPhone.

Here is a beautiful article on this image of Our Lady by John Sikorski, a PhD student at my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.

May we stay close the Mother of God.

Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us.

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Mother of God and FrancisPrayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland, pray for us Holy Mother of Czestochowa, you are full of grace, goodness and mercy. I consecrate to you all my thoughts, words and actions – my soul and body. I beseech your blessings and especially prayers for my salvation.

Today I consecrate myself to you, good Mother, totally – with body and soul amid joy and sufferings, to obtain for myself and others your blessings on this earth and eternal life in heaven. Amen

Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland, pray for us.

The American Czestochowa

Our Lady of CzestochowaA look at the influence of our devotion to Mary, the Mother of God under the title of Our Lady of Czestochowa. She is not only the Queen of Poland, but the Queen in America.

Here is a terrific documentary produced in 2005, the “American Czestochowa.

If you can make it to Jasna Gora, going to the National Shrine in Doylestown, PA, is a wonderful way to honor the Mother of God.

Our Lady of Czestochowa’s feast day is August 26.