The Black Madonna - Matka Boska Czestochowska

Poland's national symbol and its most sacred relic is the Black Madonna of Czestochowa or in the Polish language, Matka Boska Czestochowska. Scholars have difficulty dating the Matka Boska because it was painted over after it was damaged in 1430. The paint the restorers used, however, "simply sloughed off the image" said the writer, Risinius, from the middle ages. The restorers erased the original Madonna and repainted it.

The image of Matka Boska Czestochowska

The painting is in the typical Eastern Orthodoxy tradition derived from the Byzantine and Roman empires.

† The One Who Shows the Way or Hodegetria - The Blessed Mother, Mary is depicted as pointing toward her Son, Jesus with her right hand. She is dressed in a dark robe with a fleur de lis pattern.

† Jesus as the Salvation for Mankind - Jesus is pointing outward toward the people looking at the painting. In His left hand, is a book of gospels.

Our Lady of Czestochowa

The Black Madonna is said to have saved the Jasna Gora Monastery from a Swedish invasion in the 17th century. King Jan Kazimierz crowned the Matka Boska, translated as the Mother of God, as Poland's Queen and Protector in 1656.

The Czestochowa Shrine

The Black Madonna or Matka Boska Czestochowska has made the Czestochowa Shrine the most visited in Poland. Many Catholics travel to there to see the Black Madonna and make devotions to her. Polish Catholics often wear Matka Boska jewelry depicting the image of the Black Madonna as they make their pilgrimage to the Shrine.

The Matka Boska Czestochowska Prayer

This prayer is to be recited each morning when awakening. It is a prayer of devotion to the Black Madonna. Wearing a Matka Boska medal while praying to the Madonna, makes the prayer even more meaningful to Catholics.

Holy Mother of Czestochowa, you are full of grace, goodness and mercy. I consecrate to you all my thoughts, words and actions, my soul and body. I humbly beseech your blessings and especially your prayers for my salvation. Today I turn myself to you, good mother, totally, with body and soul amid joy and suffering to obtain for myself and others your blessings on this earth and eternal life in heaven. Amen.