Usually we can identify any invocation of the Virgin Mary with beautiful white tunics or long white dresses, with roses, some with thorns and almost always her white test, in this article we will be talking about the famous Black Virgin or Częstochowa, to whom countless miracles are attributed and although her apparitions are not like those of the Virgin of Fatima, she had her own particular history millions of years ago.
Its history begins after the Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, or also called the Virgin Rosa Mystica in one of her invocations, left that place and went to the house of John, carrying in her hands some things, including a table that Our Lord had made in life, remembering that when He was among us on earth He worked with wood, this table served as the main part for John to draw the Mother of God, part of this table was the image used for this work, which would later have an incalculable spiritual value.
This image remained hidden for many years before being rediscovered, passing through many places until one day it indicated where it should stay, as it did not want to move from where it had been placed. According to many parishioners and visitors to the place, they claim to have seen the image of the Virgin Mary crying on two occasions, as well as the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Enjoy this video about the Black Virgin below.
History of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa
The story of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa begins when, after the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, took some things from her house and went to the house of John, carrying in her hands a number of things that belonged to her, including a table that Jesus Christ himself had made in his lifetime. John was asked by the faithful and pious women of the city of Jerusalem to paint the Mother of their Saviour, and he used part of this table to do so.
Meanwhile the painting remained for a long time in some places in the city of Jerusalem, in the 4th century this painting made by St John was finally discovered by St Helena, in view of this discovery it was sent together with other things that they got that were considered relics to the city of Constantinople, the current king at that time ordered to build a church for its adoration and veneration and so it was for more than 500 years where miracles and many wonderful works happened that made it famous and that is how it ended up in the city of Russia that later became what is now known as Poland.
When the painting came into the possession of Poland, the prince of that time, Saint Ladislaus, took it with him and placed it in a place he considered special for his palace. Not much time had passed when this palace was attacked by Mulsumans and in this attack the Virgin’s neck was grazed with an arrow and no matter how many restorations have been made over the years, the mark remains on her neck, a strange event that has no explanation, just as it happened with the Virgin of Solitude. After this incident the prince decided to protect the image and took it to another place, Opala, but before arriving there it spent the night in Częstochowa and in that place it was placed in a small church while it was there, after the night passed, in the morning when they decided to leave to reach its final destination the horses did not want to move from the place.
It was at that moment that they saw it as a revelation or a sign from heaven telling them that this was the place where this image had to stay, this happened on 26 August 1382, a day dedicated to the celebration of this Virgin, and it is there that a church was built for her veneration and worship, which remains to this day. Watch this video about the Black Madonna of Poland.
Miracles of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa
According to the history and legends about the Black Madonna, the picture saved a temple from being destroyed by fire, as well as the Jasna Góra Monastery in 1655. The monastery was saved from a strong invasion by the king, who did not want to surrender it, and a troop of hundreds of soldiers destroyed the monastery.
The victory of John III Sobieski over the Turks is also attributed to the Black Virgin, who was always against Lvov, known as the Flood.
It was an atropa with thousands of men, and the people witnessed how the sky suddenly became cloudy, thunder, lightning and hail fell, causing everyone to flee in fear. It was a miraculous victory after the people prayed fervently and it is attributed to the Black Madonna or the Madonna of Częstochowa.
Another miracle attributed to this Virgin is the well-known miracle of the Vistula: the army was preparing to invade the city of Warsaw, the people prayed to the Virgin Mary, the next day of prayers was celebrated as the Day of this Virgin and on that day the unexpected happened, the Virgin Mary appeared in a cloud over the city, this event caused a total shock and the troops decided to withdraw without causing any damage. It is also known that the Black Madonna of Częstochowa wept twice, once in the Lublin Cathedral in 1948 and again in the famous Polish shrine in 1967. This proves that the Virgin worked powerful miracles, protecting a whole nation with her mantle from the evil of the wicked; prayer was the main source of the Virgin’s protection.
Prayer to Our Lady of Częstochowa
Blessed Mother of Czestochowa, together with the saints and angels of heaven, we humbly prostrate ourselves before you to ask for a special grace for our souls.
You shine with grace and grant great miracles through your infinite mercy.
We ask you to rekindle in us the desire for holiness, to make us true apostles of the faith and to strengthen our love for the Church.
Grant us the grace we ask of you, and trusting in your intercession before your divine Son, Mother, we place all that we are and all that we have in your hands.
Say three Hail Marys
Under your protection we take refuge, Holy Mother of God, pray for us!
Mother of those who entrust themselves to Divine Providence, pray for us.
Amen.
Prayer of Our Lady of Częstochowa for impossible and desperate cases
O Mary, Queen of angels and saints, crowned with glory and honour in the infinite joy of Paradise, you shine before us like the morning star, teach us, Mother, to walk through the world with our eyes fixed on where true and definitive joy is.
O Mary, mighty helper of Christians who, trusting in your mercy, come to your throne full of confidence. Black Madonna of Jasna Gora, miraculous Virgin of Czestochowa, who in the most difficult and desperate cases intercedes with your Son to find happy solutions, grant me your mediation, your help, your protection, your consolation and your help. (Make the petition).
Virgin Mary of Jasna Góra, intercessor of innumerable miracles, hear the prayers of your son, who implores your powerful patronage, do not leave me alone.
Do not leave me without your help, and at the end of my life take me under your mantle to your Son.
Song of the Black Virgin
Black virgin, my grief is as black as your brown skin, my bitterness is cast in bronze, that’s why I’ve come to beg you, my black virgin, to heal the old wounds that torture me.
if you are never busy if no one asks you for anything for being your brown face help me black virgin looking for love I find myself without sun without light in the port of oblivion I went to take my great pain my light save me you that the virgins went to heaven they hid themselves
they do not answer my voice.
Devotion of John Paul II to the Black Madonna of Częstochowa
Pope John Paul II was especially devoted to this Virgin, her sanctuary was adorned with her pleasant presence,
he first time he visited her sanctuary was in 1979, shortly after he took the reins of the Vatican.
The first time he visited her shrine was in 1979, shortly after he took over the Vatican. On 4 June 1979, Pope John Paul II began his pilgrimage
with these words: “I am very happy to be here with you”.
He did this by expressing the following:
Mary’s will is being fulfilled: here I am… here I am and I remember an old song of the Confederates of Bar: “We are Mary’s servants, Mary’s servants”. This saint walked the streets of Jasna Gora, the land from which he was called. He spent about three days on this journey, where thousands of faithful came to meet him.
This distinguished Pope, known for his charisma, devotion and dedication to the spiritual life, uttered certain words which are shown below: “Mother, I am all yours and what is mine is yours”. He also gave the Blessed Mother a rose of pure gold, which she placed on her head.
Shrine of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa
This is a beautiful sanctuary to worship and venerate the Black Virgin, it is located in Częstochowa exactly in the south of Poland, it is considered one of the most visited and famous pilgrimage centres in the country and there you can find the very famous and adored Black Virgin or Częstochowa, it is a painting made by John millions of years ago on a board taken from a table made by our Lord Jesus Christ before being crucified.
This painting was kept for a long time until it was discovered and placed where it should and wanted to be, in this sanctuary that is part of the Pauline Monastery, it is a beautiful place and its construction is made in the Baroque style, every year it is visited by thousands of parishioners who come to pay honour and tribute to this miraculous black virgin for all her people and for those who are faithful to her and adore her.
This sanctuary is located in the hills of this beautiful city, so that it is much easier to see it from a few kilometres away, it has a slender and very elaborate bell tower, it covers approximately 5 hectares, it has a beautiful park and on the other side it is close to a square where pilgrims meet to celebrate their festivities. The construction of this sanctuary took about 5 centuries and it is considered to be an excellent and complex architectural construction.
This black virgin is visited by thousands of devotees who bring offerings to her altar in gratitude for the favours they have received for their cures, or others show their gratitude by praying, and others go specifically to ask for favours that the black virgin believes will be granted through their devotion to her. This sanctuary, which is also a monastery, has four entrances, places that are special for the faithful to concentrate in prayer to this black virgin, also this sanctuary is surrounded by walls where you can see the historical Stations of the Cross. Below is a video showing the beautiful sanctuary built in honour of this patron saint of Poland.
Black Madonna of Brazil
The Black Madonna appears in Brazil as the patron saint of this beautiful city, where thousands of people visit her sanctuary to worship her and to ask for her favours in terms of health, difficulties, problems, and other matters.
The story goes that three fishermen were in the water trying to catch the precious food, but although they threw the nets hundreds of times they caught nothing, only the image of a virgin without a head.
The fishermen took the pieces found under the water and wrapped them very well, and that day something wonderful happened, although they had cast the net several times without catching a single fish, after this image had been rescued in the nets of these men, when they cast it again they had the blessing of a supernatural catch. The three men returned to their homes in awe of what had happened, little realising that this was only the beginning of countless miracles and blessings for this land, as well as the wonders of Our Lady of the Rosary.
It is still not known how this image appeared in the water, only who made it, but it is certain that it came to bring blessings and a faithful devotion was created, even the Pope visits her and is her faithful devotee.
Black Virgin of Poland
This black Virgin, which has become an important figure for the Polish people, as well as the Virgin of Chiquinquira, in the state of Zulia in Venezuela, is a painting that, according to the story, was painted on a piece of wood from a table that Our Lord Jesus Christ had made when he was on earth and after being crucified, the Virgin Mary decided to go to the house of John, the author of this magnificent work, which to this day has an incalculable spiritual value.
Many miracles have been attributed to this black queen and to the Virgin of Pilar, who saved her people from perishing in the fierce attacks of their enemies; the prayers, supported by the immense faith that this people professes to her, are clear proof of the devotion and trust placed in her. It was this image that saved the temple from being completely consumed by fire, in one of the battles in which this image was present, one of the arrows that were thrown grazed the neck of the image, over the years it has undergone numerous restorations and yet the scratch that it received reappears, it is a mystery that nobody can decipher, it is something beyond the natural. This painting is very popular in Poland and is considered very important. Below is a video of the patron saint of Poland, the Black Madonna.
Prayer dedicated by John Paul II to the Black Madonna of Częstochowa
Pope John Paul II had a great devotion to the Black Madonna and to Our Lady of Lourdes of the Poles, who received him with great testimonies, and he gave them this beautiful prayer in honour of the Blessed Virgin, painted on a wooden board.
“O Mother of God, O Virgin, God has glorified you.
Mother of Jasna Góra and Queen, I come to you today on a pilgrimage of faith to thank you for your constant protection of the whole Church and of me, especially during the fifty years of my priesthood and my service in the See of Peter. It is with great confidence that I come to this holy place, on the hill of Jasna Góra, so dear to my heart, to exclaim once more: Mother of God and our Mother, I thank you because you are the Pole Star of the construction of a better future for the world; because you are the Patroness of the construction of the civilisation of love in the whole of humanity. Mother, I humbly ask you to surround the days and years ahead of the year 2000 with your maternal protection. I entrust to your intercession the preparation for the Great Jubilee of Christianity. Help all the peoples of the world to begin the new millennium in union with Christ, the King of the ages.
Mother of the Church, Virgin Helper, in the humility of Peter’s faith, I bring to your feet the whole Church, all the continents, countries and nations that have believed in Jesus Christ and have found in him the standard that guides them on their journey through history. I bring to you, O Mother, all humanity, even those who are still searching for the way to Christ.
Be their guide; help them to be open to the God who is coming. I bring to you in my prayer the peoples of East and West, of North and South, and I commend to your maternal care all the families of the nations. Mother of the faith of the Church, as in the Upper Room in Jerusalem you stood in prayer with the disciples of Christ, so today, in the Upper Room of the Church, you stand with us on the way to the second millennium of faith, and grant us the grace to open ourselves to the gift of the Spirit of God.
Temple of the Holy Spirit, today, at the Shrine of Jasna Góra, I thank you for all the good that has become part of my nation during the years of profound transformation. During my first pilgrimage to the homeland, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on it, invoking: “May your Spirit descend and renew the face of the earth, this earth” (Homily at Mass in Victory Square, Warsaw, 2 June 1979). Later I visited Poland with the tablets of the Decalogue. Here, too, I appealed to the youth of the whole world. I have always returned to my homeland out of the need of my heart, bringing with me a message of faith, hope and charity.
The history of our homeland on the Vistula is marked by the testimony of faith of St Adalbert, but also by the testimony of so many Polish saints and candidates for the altar, as well as by the efforts of many generations who have consolidated Poland’s faithfulness to Christ. For ten centuries we have been a baptised nation, faithful to you, to your Son, to his Cross and to the Gospel, to the Holy Church and her pastors.
I come to you today, O Mother, to exhort my brothers and sisters to persevere in union with Christ and his Church, to encourage them to use the freedom they have regained wisely, in the spirit of the most beautiful of our Christian traditions.
Queen of Poland, remembering with gratitude your maternal protection, I entrust to you my homeland and the social, economic and political changes which are taking place in it. May the desire for the common good overcome selfishness and division. May all those who carry out public service see in you the humble handmaid of the Lord, learn to serve and recognise the needs of their fellow citizens, as you did in Cana of Galilee, so that Poland may become a nation where love, truth,
justice and peace reign. May the name of your Son be glorified in it.
Faithful daughter of the eternal Father, temple of love that embraces heaven and earth, I entrust to you the service of the Church in the world, which is in such great need of love. Mother of God, Mother of the only-begotten Son, who gave us the new commandment of love as the principle of life, grant that we may become builders of a world of solidarity, where peace will prevail over war and the love of life will replace the civilisation of death.
May the International Eucharistic Congress on Polish soil be for all nations the beginning of a miracle of transformation in the spirit of freedom brought by the Gospel of Christ. May humanity stand resolutely on the side of God, to whom the whole world belongs.
Mother of unity and peace, strengthen the bond of communion in the Church of your Son, revive ecumenical commitments so that all Christians may become, through the power of the Holy Spirit, one family of brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world, yesterday, today and forever (cf. Heb 13:8).
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, help us to enter the third millennium of Christianity through the holy door of faith, hope and charity.
O gracious, O merciful, O sweet Virgin Mary, accept our trust, strengthen it in our hearts and place it before the face of the one God in the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.
The prayers addressed to the Virgin are music to her ears and she intercedes before the Father for all of us so that our sins may be forgiven, we must approach the throne and know that the spiritual life brings great personal benefits, first of all we must remember that it was our Lord who allowed us to come to this world and he provides us with everything we possess on this earth, let us give honour to the one who deserves it. As we know, this virgin is an invocation of the Virgin Mary as well as the Virgin of Carmen. Then watch this beautiful video of Pope Francis praying before the image of the Black Virgin in Poland.
