Last weekend the school took us to Poland. It was the longest and most in depth trip that we have had so far. Next to Innsbruck it was my favorite. Simply due to the nature of how huge this trip was, I have decided to split it up into at least two (if not several) posts. But first, here is a quick update on my life. I am about halfway through the semester, and midterms are next week. From what I know of my midterms, they are all going to be very difficult. Fortunately I only have four of them. I guess that up until this point in my life, I have been used to simple multiple choice and true or false questions for midterms. This time around it looks like I will be dealing with essays and maybe some true and false if I am lucky. In case any of you are concerned with my grades, rest assured I have already started studying, which is unbelievable for me considering how much time I still have before the tests come around. Anyway, on to Poland…
The trip to Poland began at around 8PM last Thursday. We departed by bus, and drove all through the night. It was a pretty typical long bus ride; hot, generally uncomfortable, sleep-deprived and a bit frustrating considering some of the other people on board. Despite all this, it was entirely bearable considering the reality that we had to come to terms with before arriving in Poland. We were on our way to visit a place where some of the most unspeakable horrors and some of the greatest triumphs of all humanity occurred. I am speaking about the mass-murder committed at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz, and the first step in the overthrow of Communism (spearheaded by Karol Wojtyla the future Pope John Paul II).
Our first destination was Czestochowa. We arrived there early in the morning, around 5:30AM I think. Most of us got off of the bus and immediately rushed to a monastery known as Jasna Gora. By “rushed,” I literally mean that we ran in order to make it to a ceremony that happens there every morning at 6AM. This ceremony is the unveiling of the Black Madonna, or Our Lady of Czestochowa. The Black Madonna is an icon that was written by St. Luke, of the Virgin Mary holding her Son. The table that belonged to the Holy Family served as the canvas for the icon. The Black Madonna has been housed in Jasna Gora since 1382. We were told that Jasna Gora and the Black Madonna have been and will always be at the heart of Poland.
Anyway, the actual ceremony was pretty cool. At 6AM sharp, there was a loud blast of trumpets accompanied by drums, and the silver veil covering the image began to be lifted. It is hard to describe exactly how intense the whole situation was using only words, but I will say that what we had been told about Jasna Gora and the Black Madonna was completely true. Merely being present and watching the ceremony showed me how deeply routed the Polish people are in their devotion to Mary and their faith.
Here are some pictures from the ceremony and the time spent in Czestochowa.
This is a picture from the unveiling ceremony of the Black Madonna.
This is the icon itself. The Black Madonna, or Our Lady of Czestochowa. The dark tint actually comes from numerous attempts to preserve the image over the years. You may also notice the cuts on the right side of her face (left side of the picture). According to legend a Hussite raider tried to destroy the image with his sword, but he only managed about two and a half strikes before he fell over in agony and died.
The stole of John Paul II when he was shot. It hangs next to the image of Our Lady. John Paul II said that it is because of Mary’s intercession that he survived the attempted assassination.
Jasna Gora from the outside.
A balcony where John Paul II addressed his people (either after the fall of Communism, or in the tail end of its time in Poland).
Our group finishing up Mass in the shrine where the Black Madonna is kept.
Mary and I in Jasna Gora.
That is all for right now, my next post will be about our visit to Auschwitz.
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