Pregnant Holy Mother of Matemblewo (Col 3:15) by Michał Rogaczewski

10 Sep Pregnant Holy Mother of Matemblewo (Col 3:15) by Michał Rogaczewski

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. “ ~ Col 3:15 (full readings)
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Michał’s Reflections: Matemblewo is a settlement within the city limits of a 1000 year old city of Gdańsk, Poland, in a little valley surrounded by natural forests. The story of Holy Mary shrine on that place dates back to 1763 when a humble carpenter struggled at night through a snow storm to get help for his wife in labor, whose condition dramatically deteriorated. He lost his strength and while freezing to death started praying for his wife and the unborn child, when a “mysterious, beautiful, pregnant lady” appeared in warm light and told him that both his wife and child are fine. He managed to survive and everything was as the Lady had said. Cistercian monks from a nearby abbey in Oliwa found the carpenters report on the apparition trustworthy and honored the Pregnant Holy Mother by building a shrine on the spot of the apparition.  The sanctuary as we know it today is relatively young. In 1984 Father Kazimierz Krucz inspired by the history of Guy de Montpellier and encouraged by a Pro-Life group starts heavy negotiations with local communistic leaders to build a church and the Single Mother’s Home. Backed by regular prayers of his parish members, three years later he starts the construction, and in 1989, first mothers move in. Lets thank the Lord for Pregnant Holy Mother of Matemblewo, for the zealous carpenter, for people’s encouraging attitude, brave clergymen putting up a fight to the regime, and every single prayer to complete the enterprise. And as a result of these actions, for every broken hearted girl given shelter, every heroic mother given an alternative to abortion, every child miraculously conceived to infertile couples who entrusted Pregnant Holy Mother, medically difficult pregnancies ending in healthy childbirth, difficult marriages holding on thanks to Her help. Finally, thanks Holy Mary for inspiring for us 252 years ago this mind blowingly peaceful refuge, shining like a diamond between the ashes of our difficult times.
* Michał Rogaczewski, soon to be PhD in biotechnology, is a soldier of reserve in Polish Armed Forces and the only LIFE Runner in Poland.

Faith Challenge:  Find an event in the past history of your life, meaningless or not understood at that time, designed to give fruit later, and thank God for it.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Salvius of Albi.
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Faith Quote: “What will be left, only ashes, and chaos hurling you into the void? – or will there be a diamond underneath the ashes – starlike, first dawn of everlasting victory!” – Cyprian Kamil Norwid

Through Christ our Lord,
Michał