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 On
Sunday, October 12, we left Warsaw, travelling south to Krakow,
with
a very important stop at Jasna Gora, the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. This
is one of the world’s greatest pilgrimage centers. Pilgrims
have come here for over 600 years to pray to the famous Icon
of the Black Madonna. We arrived at this massive church to see thousands of Poles celebrating the
Pope’s 25th
Anniversary, with all the grandeur and ceremony. Actually, I would say
we were privileged to witness their celebrations - village
after village walking into the church with their banners, playing music. It
was a touching sight to behold and their joy of their Pope.
The
Church at Jasna Gora is one of the most ornate and beautiful churches I’ve
ever seen. The entire walls are covered with plaques and gifts of jewellery
given to Our Lady in thanksgiving for answered prayers.
That
evening, we also spent a short time at John Paul II’s birthplace – Wadowice,
where celebrations were also in progress for his 25th
Anniversary.
Krakow marketplace
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