At Jasna Gora today, the faithful celebrated the 300th anniversary of the coronation of the Mother of God. Among those who came to Czestochowa were the President, the Speaker of the Sejm, the Speaker of the Senate and the Prime Minister.
The message to the Poles was addressed by the Holy Father Francis, the homily was delivered by the Primate of Poland Archbishop Wojciech Polak. - The role of Our Lady of Jasna Gora and the role of Christ in the sensitive moments of the nation's history is extremely important," said Episcopal Chairman Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki.
The resolution adopted by the Sejm in December 2016 reminds us that September 8, 2017 will mark the 300th anniversary of the coronation of the Image of Our Lady of Czestochowa Queen of Poland with the crowns of Pope Clement XI. After the miraculous defense of Jasna Gora during the Swedish Deluge - April l, 1656 - King John Casimir, taking his vows in the cathedral of Lviv, entrusted the Republic to the care and defense of the Mother of God, whom he chose as Queen of Poland.
However, one had to wait until 1717 for the royal vow to be fulfilled. By a decision of the Holy See, the Madonna was allowed to be crowned - as the first outside Rome - with a papal diadem and to use the title Queen of the Polish Crown.
"The coronation ceremony united all states and was a nationwide manifestation of faith. The act recognizing Mary as Queen of Poland became a point of reference for national uprisings, the formation of the idea of freedom and the hope for spiritual revival," the resolution stressed.
As the document states, the image of the Mother of God at Jasna Gora, venerated for more than 600 years, is one of the most important religious and material national treasures. Jasna Gora, as the spiritual capital of Poland, is the main center of this veneration and pilgrimage on Polish soil.
Therefore, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland - "convinced of the special importance of the Marian cult for our homeland not only in the religious aspect, but also in the social, patriotic and cultural aspects" - establishes 2017 as the Year of the 300th anniversary of the Coronation of the Image of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
text for: Polish Bishops' Conference KAI
