The Gems of Eastern Europe

(through the eyes of Pilgrims)

“You may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good
work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” Col.1:10

We are mere pilgrims on this earth and in our quest to grow in the knowledge of God we are
accustomed to visit religious sites and sanctuaries. The Lord Jesus and Mother Mary beckoned
us to participate in a pilgrimage to Eastern Europe organised by Zion Tours and Travels. What
we encountered here was such precious spiritual gems which not only brought a true deepening
and strengthening of our faith but became a life transforming experience.

The Carmelite Church of Our Lady Victorious in Mala Strana Prague-Czech Republic is a haven
of peace and sanctity. The architecture in the interior is simply majestic, the altars decked in
gold. The real jewel inside is the Shrine of Infant Jesus, a wax coated wooden statue clothed in
luxurious fabrics with imperial regalia and golden crown. The left hand holds a globus cruciger
and the right hand is in a benedicting posture. The innocent and mystic face depicts a strange
power of evoking sentiments of gratitude, an outward expression of human littleness rather than
the impression of hidden greatness. An added blessing for us was Fr. Victor Fernandes, a
Carmelite priest from Bicholim Goa who has been serving this parish for the past 27 years. He
eagerly awaited our arrival, welcomed us with open arms, made us feel at home, showed us
around the place and celebrated Mass with the Fathers who accompanied us. The effective
spiritual meditation is the reason why the Infant Jesus of Prague is so appealing to human
hearts all over the word. As we left the Shrine, we felt truly blessed and these words of the
Infant Jesus kept ringing in our ears, “The more you honour me, the more I will bless you.”

A lesser known Shrine is at Czestochowa (Poland) known as the Shrine of the Black Madonna (
Jasna Gora) in a beautiful church thronged with thousands of pilgrims who flock to worship
here. The image of the Black Madonna to which miraculous powers are attributed is one of
Jasna Gora’s (luminous mount) most precious treasures founded by Pauline Monks. An
important icon of the Virgin Mary with Christ Child is credited with miraculously saving the place
during the siege of Jasna Gora. The picture portrays a miraculous scar across the face of the
Madonna which it has retained despite all the restoration. No miracle is associated with the
black colour the explanation being - caused by elements of weather.

We proceed to Wadowice - Poland to St. John Paul’s Home which is preserved as a museum. It
is a real treasure trove with breathtaking exhibits of the life of the late Pontiff. Every exhibit from
the tiniest to the largest throws an insight into the personality of this great Saint. His presence is
felt in every nook and corner and you emerge more enlightened and enriched. Adjoining it is the
Basilica of the Parish of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,the church where it all
began for St. John Paul the Great, where he was baptised and received his divine call.
Stunningly beautiful it is renovated to include images of wonderful architecture, side altars and
frescos of the late Pontiffs encyclicals. Relics of Maximillian Kolbe, Padre Pio and St. John Paul
are preserved and venerated here.
For those of us with great devotion to Divine Mercy, the Sanctuary is Wieliczka-Kraków in
Poland. St. John Paul designated the church “ As the capital of the Divine Mercy devotion”,
thanks to the remains of St. Faustina Kowalska which rest on the altar below the image of
Divine Mercy, with its red and white rays which seem to penetrate into your very soul inviting
and embracing you in His mercy. To participate in the 3 o'clock prayer, to celebrate Mass, to
avail of the sacrament of Reconciliation, to listen to the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and visit
St.Faustina’s room was a dream come true.

My greatest inspiration was “ Our Lady of Medjugorje” called Queen of Peace and Mother of the
Redeemer situated in Bosnia, where we believe Our Lady has been appearing since 24th June
1981 to simple unassuming teenagers. The visionary Maria Lunetti claims to receive messages
on the 25th of every month and Mirjana Soldo on the 2nd of the month. People go there,
convert, find God and their lives change. It is a spiritual and Pastoral fact that cannot be denied.
The Catholic Church follows a standard criterion for evaluating apparitions, and in this
connection Pope Francis says, “ These need to be continued being studied.”

Whatever the outcome, for us the devotees it appears that the whole place is charged by
Mother Mary’s powerful presence beckoning and accompanying us as we trudge up the rugged
terrain of limestone boulders embedded in the ground, to visit Mt. Podbrdo or Apparition hill,
reciting the decades of the rosary, some barefoot, some on crutches etc. The experience is truly
ethereal. If this is not miraculous, what is? A visit to the “Blue Cross”, Mt Križevac ( Cross
Mountain) , St. James Church attending the Holy Hour and Mass was truly enriching.

As we left the portals of this sanctified place we aspired to march like messengers of Jesus
Christ proclaiming His Word and heeding Mother Mary, radiant with holiness say “ Go in peace
my children” amid brilliant flashes of light. And invoking the blessings from Mother Mary let us
remember that

“Faith is not the clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart.”