[featured-image single_newwindow=”false”]Robert Drózd CC via Wikipedia[/featured-image]
Check out my latest article for Aleteia on Poland’s devotion to Our Lady:
As we draw nearer to the celebration of World Youth Day next month, let us remember that this year’s patron saints were not only formed in a Christian culture devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they were also raised in a country that crowned the Blessed Mother as “Queen” and whose people have since had a deep devotion to Our Lady.
In the year 1655, Swedish invaders had overrun Poland, but the only place they could not defeat was the monastery of Jasna Góra (“Bright Mount”), the sanctuary of the famous icon known as Our Lady of Częstochowa. During a 40-day siege of the small city “[s]eventy monks and 180 supporters held off nearly 4,000 Swedish soldiers.” The opposing army was forced to withdraw and in a year’s time the Polish army drove them out of Poland.
This miraculous event prompted King John II Casimir to dedicate the entire country to the protection of Our Lady. He made a solemn act on April 1, 1656, when he proclaimed, “Great Mother of God, Most Blessed Virgin, I, John Casimir, by the grace of your Son, King of kings and my Lord, and by your mercy, King, falling at your most holy feet, choose you for my Patroness and Queen of my countries. I entrust to your admirable care and protection my own self with my Kingdom of Poland.” – See more at: http://aleteia.org/2016/06/11/the-miracle-that-prompted-polands-love-for-our-lady/#sthash.1ns41B27.dpuf