Pilgrimage of families of lost children

Saturday, June 3, 2023 (4:16 PM)

Today, the 6th National Pilgrimage of the Families of the Lost Children of the Shrine of the Divine Mercy took place in agiewniki.

The Divine Liturgy was held at noon in the Basilica of Divine Mercy, headed by Fr. the professor. Jacek Urban, Dean of the Kraków Branch of the Wawel.

Those gathered in the basilica were greeted by Fr. Zbigniew Bilas. The Presiding Officer of the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy said: – Dear Participants of the Sixth Pilgrimage for Families of Lost Children: Parents and grandparents, you who are affected in any way by the loss of a child, I warmly welcome you to the Sanctuary. Divine Mercy. It is a tradition, he said, that on the first Saturday in June, on Children’s Day, we come to the Church of Divine Mercy to pray for the families of lost children.

In the sermon about. the professor. Jacek Urban reminded us that we make pilgrimages to Łagiewniki, to the merciful Lord Jesus, to pray for lost children. – At this time, in Wawel Cathedral, Novena before St. Peter’s Day. Queen Jedwiga. street. Queen Jedwiga and the parents of the missing children. There is a deep connection between the Mothers of the Lost Children and Queen Jadwiga. This is the bond of mothers of lost children. He remembers that she was also the mother of the child who could not survive.

The preacher recalled events belonging to the history of Poland. He stated that in the fall of 1398, after years of waiting for the child, Queen Jadwiga became pregnant. – Since then, she has not left Krakow, but here, on the spot, she fulfilled her royal duties. Queen Jadwiga’s pregnancy gave the royal couple hope and protégés for the heir to the Polish crown. The child who will be born will become king regardless of gender. Overjoyed, King Władysław Jagiełło sent a message to the European courts about the expected offspring, as well as to the Holy See with an invitation to the baptism of the child to be born.

On 5 May 1399, Pope Boniface IX, sharing the joy with Jagiełło and Jadwiga, agreed to become godfather and delegated this job to the Bishop of Pozna, Wojciech Jastrzebiec, who was to replace him at baptism. Many participated in the joy and anticipation of the birth of the royal baby. In the months leading up to the birth of Jadwiga and Jagiełło’s baby, the city of Kraków donated 200 fines. Separately, money was allocated to women who would become nurses for the child to be born. The Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas donated a silver cradle, numbered by Fr. the professor. Jack Urban.

On June 22, 1399, Jadwiga gave birth to a daughter, but the joy of childbirth was mixed with the fact that the child was born very weak, and the mother suffered from postpartum illness. – The battle for the daughter and mother’s life has begun. On the same day, the daughter is christened because she is in danger of dying. (…) Prayers for the life of the child and the mother began in Krakow and outside of Krakow. The doctors’ efforts were accompanied by the prayers of many. Unfortunately, neither the daughter nor the mother were saved. First, Elżbieta Boniface dies. Due to the dire condition of Queen Jedwiga, attempts were made to hide her daughter’s death from this world. This news had an impact on the queen, who was fighting for her life. A few days later, on July 17, 1399, Queen Jadwiga died at the age of 25.

Mother and daughter were buried in one coffin – said Al-Khatib, adding that the life of Queen Jadwiga and her expectation of a child is the pinnacle of hundreds of thousands of similar stories. – the stories of those parents who were expecting a baby but didn’t see it. He emphasized the stories of those who had a child but were unable to keep it in this world.

– We are in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in agiewniki. Next to the merciful Jesus are images of the saint. Faustina and St. John Paul II, but above all there is the image of Our Lady of Mercy. (…) On pilgrimages to agiewniki, we come to the merciful Jesus, present in this image in which, after his resurrection, he says, “Peace be with you.” Looking at the Merciful and Merciful Mother of Jesus, I think of the eastern icon, where on the left hand is the dead body of Jesus with closed eyes and traces of the Passion, and on the right is the figure of the Mother. And under the inscription: “Do not despair for me, mother, when you see your son in the grave.” Behold, the Divine Son, leaving this world, asks his mother. Behind this icon, I believe, are thousands of lost children’s dramas. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, let us ask the merciful Jesus for forgiveness of the sinners, healing of the sick, and consolation of the afflicted. Let the words of Jesus: “Do not despair, Mother, when you see your son in the grave,” will be heard by everyone in this holy place. Let these words dry your tears, – concluded the priest. the professor. Jack Urban.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Eucharist was worshiped and the act of surrendering the lost children to the mercy of God was recited.