I would need more than one or two blog posts to describe our adventures today. Forgive me for being so brief. We are exhausted and need to get some sleep. (I will probably do some follow-up blog posts about these two locations with more details and descriptions.)
Today was our transfer day from Warsaw to Krakow (by bus.) About halfway between these big cities is the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa. This sacred shrine is the icon’s location, depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child, known as the Black Madonna of Częstochowa or Our Lady of Częstochowa. It is the most significant Catholic pilgrimage site in all of Poland. The priest, Fr. Roman, said, “Warsaw is the political capital, Krakow is the cultural capital, and Częstochowa is the spiritual capital.” The icon is veiled and unveiled on a regular, daily schedule to mimic the hours a reigning queen would be available for an audience.
For those who sent prayer requests, I hope you felt them today.
After arriving in Krakow, we immediately sought tickets to Oskar Schindler’s enamelware factory. These are difficult to get, but we snagged tickets and headed over. The building is original, but the interior was converted into three museum floors. There are images, artifacts and stories of not only the Schindler’s List Jews but also Polish life, Nazi occupation, the concentration camps and World War II in general. I recently re-watched the movie, and I’m so glad I did. I did learn one thing. Schindler not only employed the Jewish workers from the Krakow Ghetto, he also employed many Polish citizens and kept them housed and fed in difficult economic times. I love learning new things.
I completely forgot to tell you about one of the best parts of yesterday. While we were at the Jewish Museum, I bought my first Mezuzah. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Numbers 12: 37-41) For my Catholic friends, listen to Fr. Mike’s Bible In A Year, Day 57. This acquisition was one of my primary goals for this trip. It’s so cool!
