Jasna Góra

The Polish sanctuary of Jasna Góra (Latin: Clarus Mons , French: Clermont ), located at Częstochowa, shelters a community of monks paulins.

The fame of this sanctuary is related to the presence in its walls of the icon of the Blessed Virgin (black Madonna), who according to the tradition would have been painted by the evangelist Luc on a portion of the Holy Table.

The sanctuary attracts each year of very many pilgrims, mainly Polish. Its museum contains many collections military and religious, one can also see there the Nobel Prize of Peace received by Lech Wałęsa in 1983

History

The icon, installed in this place by Władysław Opolczyk (Ladislas d' Opole) in 1382, is recognized easily with the “gashes” on the cheek of the Virgin, memories of the plundering of the sanctuary by gangsters Hussites on April 14th 1430, day of Easter. She was restored at the court of king Władysław Jagiełło (Ladislas Jagellon).

This attack, as well as others turbid posterior, encouraged the kings of Poland to strengthen the sanctuary. Work started in 1621, and the “fortress of Marie” thus created was not going to be long in receiving its “baptism of fire”.

The Sweden, in its desire of hegemony on the the Baltic, attacked Poland in 1655. This attack was facilitated by divisions of the Polish nobility. November 18th of this same year, the Swedes arrive in front of the fortress of Jasna Góra, and require its immediate rendering. Although the place is defended only by 170 soldiers, 20 officers and 70 monks, vis-a-vis an army of 3000 Swedes, the prior Augustyn Kordecki is not inclined to let enter of the armies Lutherans the sanctuary, that besides the chief of the Swedes will qualify “hen house”. After 40 days, the Swedes raise the seat: the victory, allotted to the protection of Notre Dame de Jasna Góra, had great religious, but such a political importance: the Poles, irritated by the attack of their sanctuary, gathered against the Swedish invaders and ended up driving out them of Poland. Since then, and after the dedication of Poland to Notre Dame de Jasna Góra, on April 1st 1656 with Lviv (current Ukraine) by the king Jean Casimir, Jasna Góra is not only the religious heart of the country, but also the symbol of its political freedom.

But soon Poland, victim of a harmful political system, weakens, and is coveted by its two powerful neighbors, the Prussia and the Russia. Vis-a-vis inclinations pro-Russian of Stanislas Poniatowski, is created in 1768 with Bar, in Podolie (current Ukraine), an alliance the noble ones, the Confédération of Bar. One of the chiefs of this Confederation, Casimir Pulaski, occupied the fortress and defended it during 3 years. It was overcome in 1772, little before the first division of Poland: it was the first defeat of this fortified town.

In 1795, Poland, divided for the third time between Austrian Russians, Prussians and , is striped chart. Jasna Góra then will become the symbol of the unit of the Polish people: the pilgrimage with Jasna Góra is the means, for the Poles, to know children of the same fatherland.

At the time of the Napoleonean bracket (1806-1813), the fortress will find for the last time its military role. After the fall of Napoleon, the sanctuary is occupied by the Russians, but in fact well the 3 occupying powers fear this place, symbol of Polish patriotism: the Mother of God is in their eyes a “revolutionist as a chief”, and the most important pilgrimages will be prohibited.

The Polish insurrection of 1863 will still worsen repressions. Many monks paulins will be off-set in Siberia because of the assistance which they brought to the insurrectionists, and printing works, the pharmacy of the monastery are closed.

The First World War will make it possible Poland to find its independence. But in 1920, the Red Army threat Warsaw. The Polish episcopate meets then in Jasna Góra on July 27th, and renews the dedication to Marie, Reine of Poland. Thousands of pilgrims flow towards the sanctuary to require of the their Sovereign release country. August 15th, day of the Assumption, they are exaucés: it is the “miracle on the the Vistula”.

In May 1936, 25000 students devote themselves to Marie and make the wish build a Poland news. Among them, some Karol Wojtyła.

Then returned the war. The Nazis occupy part of the sanctuary and prohibit the important pilgrimages again. What will not prevent the Poles from coming there the night. The paulins, them, in secrecy, help in favor, prisoner of war and Juifs. January 16th 1945, the Soviet tanks attack by surprise. The Nazis, panicked, flee without taking along the works of art nor to destroy the sanctuary.

After the war, Jasna Góra remains more than ever the spiritual capital of the country. In September 1948 the primacy of Poland, August Hlond, devotes Poland to the Immaculate Cœur of Marie.

Its successor, Stefan Wyszyński, was also his spiritual heir. Thrown in prison by the Communists, it wrote there in 1956 a prayer for the Nation pointing out that of Jean Casimir (1656). This prayer was read in Jasna Góra on August 26th of the same year, for the 300ème birthday, in front of a million pilgrims. The new primacy was released 2 months later, on October 26th.

The following year, the pope Pie XII blesses a copy of the icon. This copy made the turn of Poland: of parish in parish, 23 years during, it allowed many conversions. May 3rd 1966 Poland celebrated the millenium of its evangelization. To this occasion the Polish episcopate devoted Poland “to the particular protection of the mother of God, with the mother of the Church, for the Church of the Christ who must be free”. The pope Paul VI emitted the desire to take part in this festival to honor the icon with the papal gold Rose, but the Communist government did not allow it to him.

Random links: