By Fr. Justin Echevarria
We began our final full day in Poland bright and early. We drove an hour and a half from Krakow to Częstochowa to see the famous image of Our Lady. This image is distinct due to having two scars on Our Lady’s right cheek. The tradition is that around 1430 a group known as the Hussites plundered the sanctuary where this image resided. The Hussites tried to steal the image by placing it in a cart, but the horses would not move. Then one of the men threw the image on the ground and struck it twice with his sword. On the third attempt to strike the image he himself was struck down and died.
We had the opportunity to celebrate Mass underneath the holy image. The gospel reading was of Our Lord on the cross, giving St. John the Apostle the responsibility to care for Mary the day after the Last Supper, when all the apostles were ordained to be the first priests by Christ Himself. In his homily, Archbishop Sample gave an important message to the four priests and three seminarians. “Do not have a superficial relationship with Mary, but have a deep devotional love for her, especially as priests.”
Following Mass, Archbishop took the seven of us near the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, to consecrate us to her. He began by asking each of us if we each willingly and freely wanted this consecration. Each man responded immediately with an “I do.”
It was another day of fraternity and spending time with our spiritual father. This pilgrimage has been full of rich experiences. Poland is a beautiful country where one is truly admist the saints.
Mass at the altar of Our Lady of Czestochowa.