Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Czestochowa (also known as ‘The Black Madonna’) is a painting of the Madonna and the Child Jesus. Its origins are unknown, although there is a legend that it was painted by St. Luke. That same legend continues on to say that St. Helen, while looking for the True Cross, came upon the image in 326 AD and gave it to her son, Constantine. He placed it in Constantinople, and during an attack of the Saracens, the image was displayed, and the enemies fled. The image was credited to the victory, and saving the city.

The image remained there about 500 years, and then was taken to Russia, in a region that eventually became Poland. In the 15th Century, the ownership was transferred to St. Ladislaus, who was the Polish Prince. The image was placed in his castle, but after several invasions, the prince decided that it would be best for the image to be moved. So setting out towards his own birthplace, he stopped for rest in Czestochowa, and the legend says that the horses would not move on from there. He took this as a sign that this was to be the final place for Our Lady to be.

A Pauline Monastery was built to house the image, but in 1430, the Hussites invaded the monastery. They slashed the image with their swords, leaving marks on the Madonna’s neck and cheek. They also smashed the image into three pieces. Although the image has been restored, the marks on her face from the face kept coming back. The dark coloring of the painting is caused by the votive candles that burn continuously under it.

Our Lady of Czestochowa was named as Queen of Poland 1656 by King Casimir of Poland, and eventually Pope Pius XI gave her the feast day of August 26th. The icon is still in Poland today, and is a very popular pilgrimage site for not only the Polish people, but also for pilgrims all across the world.

St. John Paul II would pilgrimage to Our Lady in secret under the Communist regime in Poland, and we will visit Czestochowa July 17-20.

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