Our Lady Of Czestochowa








A beautiful icon of Our Lady of Cezestowchowa is on view inside our new church. 
It was presented to our parish by our Polish community on its opening at Easter 2007.

The celebrated picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa, according to tradition, is the work of St. Luke the Evangelist painted on a table top of cypress wood - the very table used by the Holy Family at Nazareth. This tradition seems to be borne out by the fact that the very thing missing from the holy House of Loretto is the table. Because of the veneration that the early Christians accorded it, the picture was secreted out of Jerusalem at the time of its destruction in the year 70 and preserved throughout the early Roman persecutions. In the IV century St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, in searching for the True Cross, came across this picture and had it brought to Constantinople along with the other relics. There it remained for five centuries, held in esteem and noted for miracles. In the IX century Emperor Nicephorus I of Constantinople in gratitude for assistance presented to Charlemagne, who in turn gave it to Prince Leo of Ruthenia. The Prince placed it in his castle at Belz near the city of Lwow where it remained enshrined for over 500 years.

In the mid XIII century, the nations of Europe followed with fear the encroachment of the Tartars from the East. Ladislaus from Opole was named the Prince of Belz in the year 1349. He had barely established himself in the town of Belz when a Tartar invasion threatened the town. In fact, during a Tartar foray, an arrow shattered the Chapel window and imbedded itself in the features of Our Lady. To prevent further damage to the miraculous picture Prince Ladislaus decided to transfer it to the town of Opole in Upper Salesia. Our Lady, however, had other plans. Prince Ladislaus got no further than the city of Czestochowa for it was there that Our Lady gave him a sign that it was Her wish to have the picture erected in Jasna Gora. He brought in from Hungary the Pauline Fathers as guardians of the shrine. Then, on August 9, 1382, he had the picture enshrined in Czestochowa in the Church of the Assumption of the B.V.M.

In the year 1430 a group of Hussites invaded the monastery, and after slaying five Pauline Fathers, plundered the monastery of its treasures and even attempted to steal the picture. Tradition tells us their attempt failed with the horses would not budge the wagon containing the picture. With a curse the raiders hurled the picture to the ground with such force that it broke into three pieces leaving intact only the face of the Madonna and Child. One of them struck the face of the Madonna twice with his sabre, but when he attempted a third time, he fell dead. The other lawless raiders then fled in terror. These two cuts can be seen on the right cheek.

When the court artists failed to recognize the painting technique, Grecian artists had to be summoned by Jagiello and Queen Jadwiga to restore the picture. With great solemnity it was returned to Czestochowa for public veneration, which continues to be accorded it even to our days.Noteworthy is the fact that of all the Marian Shrines in the world, Czestochowa alone has captured and holds captive the hearts and dedication of an entire nation. It was through the intervention of Our Lady of Czestochowa that on December 26th, 1655 a miraculous victory was won by a handful of Poles over the formidable Swedish army at the very walls of the besieged Monastery. After the enemy was completely routed, the King returned to pay homage to Mary. On April 1, 1656 King John Casimir proclaimed her Queen of Poland and uttered his celebrated vows of Jasna Gora. The senators, the Army, the entire nation with one accord repeated the vows. In the intervening years the nation came frequently to the Shrine to rededicate itself. On September 3rd, 1717 the Apostolic Delegate led the nation in the coronation of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa is celebrated
on August 26th.