Page 19 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

FAITH AND CULTURE

first Jagiellonian dynasty kings. Stefan Czarniecki (1599-1665), Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki on May 3, 2020 at Jasna Góra.
general and military commander, used to pray the “Hail Mary” Finally, it is worth mentioning the “Appeal of Jasna Góra”
before each battle. Many more such examples can be found in which is a Polish evening prayer addressed to the Mother of
Polish history. God for the Homeland and the Church. It is celebrated in
The Virgin helped Poland again in 1920, when the Soviet Red some Marian shrines, on certain Marian solemnities and feasts,
Army massed for an attack on Warsaw at the banks of the Wisla especially at the end of evening services. Since December 8,
River. In this case, the entire nation prayed to Our Lady of 1953, the appeal has been held as a separate Marian service
Częstochowa and, on September 15, on the Feast of Our Lady - every day at 9pm at Jasna Góra. This tradition began a few
of Sorrows, the Virgin is said to have appeared in the clouds months after the communists imprisoned for 3 years the primate
above Warsaw. The Russians were soon defeated in a series of of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski (1901-1981). The text of
relentless battles that later became referred to as the “Miracle the appeal is as follows: “Mary, Queen of Poland, I am close to
at the Wisla River”. In 1925 Pope Pius XI designated May 3 you, I remember you, I keep watch”.
a feast day in honour of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa. During the partitions, and in the period of communist rule,
Through the efforts of the Polish Episcopate the Feast of Mary, the authorities fought against the cult of the Mother of God,
Queen of Poland was approved in 1920 by the Holy See. The Queen of Poland, the two largest centres of which were at the
Polish bishops proposed the day of May 3 to Benedict XV to “Gate of Dawn” in Vilnus and in the Jasna Góra monastery in
emphasize the inseparable connection of this holiday with the Częstochowa. Also, the communist government banned official
first Polish Constitution enacted on May 3, 1791. Also, in celebrations of the Queen of Poland, but in vain.
1922, the invocation “Queen of the Polish Crown” was officially Over 300 Marian hymns have been preserved in our Polish
approved in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary . cultural heritage, and numerous festivals of Marian songs are
Years later, Poland found itself ruled by a communist organised in Poland. Also, there are several dozen large and
government, established after the Red Army's takeover of Polish well-known Marian shrines in Poland and in August there are
territory, on September 8, 1946. In Częstochowa, Primate organised walking pilgrimages to Jasna Góra from many Polish
August Hlond (1881-1948) consecrated Poland, in the presence cities. Then, thousands of pilgrims arrive at Częstochowa.
of the entire Episcopate, and with the participation of several The Kashubian Walking Pilgrimage from Hel is the longest
million believers, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Then, in pilgrimage in Poland - pilgrims hike for 19 days and must walk
1956 and 1966, Poland was entrusted to Mary by the Primate 638 km. One might ask: “What is all this for?” The answer is
Stefan Wyszynski (1901-1981) and in 1962 Pope John XXIII simple: because Poles love Her. She has always been perceived
proclaimed Mary, Queen of Poland, the principal patron of by Poles as their special intercessor, as their divine Mother
the country and heavenly protector of the Polish nation. Pope and the Queen of Polish hearts. Nothing has ever been able to
John Paul II also entrusted Poland to Mary’s care in 1979 as did change that.

Maryi Królowej Polski

BY LIDIA KONAR

Kilka lat temu pewna Szkotka spytała mnie, czy
Polacy mają w Polsce królów. „No cóż, ostatni polski
król abdykował w 1795 roku, bo musiał. Polska wtedy
została podzielona - rozerwana przez sąsiadów” –
odpowiedziałam szybko, po czym dodałam: „Ale mamy
królową, Najświętszą Maryję Pannę”. Moja rozmówczyni
spojrzała na mnie z niedowierzaniem. „Tak, to prawda.
My Polacy nazywamy ją Królową Polski” – powtórzyłam.
Twarz tej pani wyrażała spore zdziwienie, ale nic mi nie
odpowiedziała. Z grzeczności wysłuchała dalszej części
mojej opowieści o historii Polski i o tym, jak Maryja została
Królową Polski, ale wyglądało na to, że uznała to raczej za
uroczą bajkę niż fakt historyczny.
Tymczasem co roku, 3 maja w Polsce i wszędzie na
świecie, gdzie mieszkają polscy katolicy, obchodzone jest wzniósł także kościół pod wezwaniem Matki Bożej w
święto Maryi Królowej Polski. Zanim jednak przejdziemy innym polskim mieście, Sandomierzu. Książę Władysław
do daty ustanowienia tego święta, warto zatrzymać się I Herman (1044-1102), który był prawnukiem Bolesława
na chwilę nad dawnymi dziejami Polski. Święta Maryja Chrobrego, twierdził, że został cudownie uzdrowiony
była czczona przez naród polski już w średniowieczu. przez Matkę Bożą, dlatego wybudował w Krakowie
Prawdopodobnie tuż po chrzcie Polski w 966 roku w kościół Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Marii Panny, jako
pierwszej polskiej stolicy, Gnieźnie, wybudowano kościół wotum wdzięczności. Inny król polski, Zygmunt I Stary
pod wezwaniem Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny. (1467-1548), wzniósł ku czci Najświętszej Marii Panny
Później pierwszy król Polski, Bolesław Chrobry (967-1025)
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