An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association August 26 – Our Lady of Czestochowa (Poland) The religious heart of Poland and symbol of its political freedom The most common depiction of Erzulie Dantor is derived from this variant of Our Lady of Czestochowa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Czestochowa is a city in southern Poland, known worldwide for the Pauline Fathers’ Monastery of Jasna Góra, home of a Marian shrine where the miraculous image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the icon of the Black Madonna, is venerated. Czestochowa is a pilgrimage center visited annually by 4 to 5 million pilgrims coming from 80 countries. The icon, placed there by Władysław Opolczyk (Ladislaus of Opole) in 1382, is easy to recognize from the "scars" on the cheek of the Virgin, left by the looting of the shrine by Hussite heretics on April 14, 1430, Easter Day. Jasna Góra is the religious heart of the country and the symbol of its political freedom. In 1920, the Red Army threatened Warsaw. The Polish Episcopate then met in Jasna Góra on July 27, and renewed the consecration to Mary. Thousands of pilgrims flocked to the shrine to ask their Queen for the liberation of the country. On August 15th, Assumption Day, their prayers were answered—this is known as the "miracle on the Vistula." In May 1936, 25,000 students consecrated themselves to Mary and vowed to build a new Poland. Among them was a certain Karol Wojtyla (better known as Saint John Paul II). Mary of Nazareth Team Karol Wojtyla – the pastoral visitation in Cracow,  1967 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) KRAKÓW 2016 Let’s pray together Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.