Fr. Tomasz Nowaczek, MIC, the Superior of the Divine Providence Province of the Congregation of Marian Fathers, chaired the indulgence sum on August 15, the ceremony of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I look at the inside of a lichen temple filled with the living stones that you are and feel my heart begin to recognize this place as home. A safe place, where you feel good, where it is beautiful, where you always want to come back. If you were where I stand now, you would see how beautiful this temple is, how beautiful you are
"Today we are looking at the sky, where the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken," said Fr. Tomasz Nowaczek, MIC during the grand total in the Licheń basilica, on August 15, on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Mother of God is a special day for the Licheń sanctuary. It always gathers many pilgrims, especially the inhabitants of the Konin region, ”said Fr. Janusz Kumala, MIC, starting the liturgy of the main Sunday Mass. The custodian priest recalled that on August 15, 1967, Card. St. Wyszyński said that Our Lady of Licheń is the patron saint of the Konin region. “It is here that since 1852 pilgrims have come to ask the Mother of God for help and intercession. Today we raise our eyes to heaven to live even better on earth. We gather as a community of brothers and sisters on a pilgrimage towards heaven. "
Every year, the Eucharistic procession outside the basilica gathers crowds of the faithful
“Hearing your prayer, it is impossible not to think about God that He made everything good and beautiful. Feel welcomed in this Upper Room by God Himself, who wants to impart the Holy Spirit to each of us ", said Fr. Nowaczek. “This place enjoys the presence of the image of the Sorrowful Queen of Poland. Mary carries within herself Something that God calls and what the Church has assumed to be the Eternal Word. Jesus Christ, who destroys Satan and sin, destroys death, gives us life and a heavenly perspective. He is a companion in the power of the Holy Spirit in our daily life, from dawn to night and so every day ”.
The Marian Father Provincial noted that many of us do not want to take advantage of it: "We have become people of easy emotions, with difficulty seeking the truth instead of the Word that demands understanding and acceptance." He encouraged us to defend the Word within ourselves, to undertake the effort, like Mary who fled into the desert to be with Jesus: “This is why we are here, to be with Him and receive the Word of truth that affirms me. In the heart of Mary in the desert and of those who pray, an affirmation of life is born. From a heart shaped by God's presence comes the hymn: 'My soul magnifies the Lord'. "
“God is the Lord of history. If we forget him, our story will end. The proper reference to the other, to the neighbor, will end. Our culture, the era, will end and be plunged into the darkness of pride, greed, impurity, laziness, gluttony, jealousy, and anger. God doesn't want that. He prepared a bouquet of his creation for us, and among this bouquet - a crown - a man, you and me, ”said Fr. Nowaczek.
During the noon Eucharist, it was prayed that we would trustly entrust ourselves to Mary's protection and care for fidelity on Polish soil. While contemplating the glorious Assumption of the Mother of God, those gathered reminded themselves of the call to eternity.
“When we look at the geographical map of our homeland, we see Lichen in the heart of Poland. When we look at the image of Our Lady of Licheń with the eagle on her breast, we see Poland in Mary's heart, ”noted Fr. Janusz Kumala, MIC, the curator of the sanctuary, recalling that 54 years ago, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, during the coronation of the lichen image, said that this is the program for the future. “Mary hugs our homeland, all of us, to the heart in which Jesus is. We are safe because we are with Jesus ”- emphasized the curator.
At the end of the liturgy, there was a Eucharistic procession outside the basilica. Priests, liturgical assistance and numerous faithful gathered along the alleys of the sanctuary, thanking the Mother of God for her presence in the Lichen image, following the Blessed Sacrament.
The indulgence celebrations were graced by the Sanctuary Wind Quintet and the Choir of the Licheń Basilica "Stabat Mater" under the direction of Jacek Hyżny, the basilica organist, together with the accompanist, Michał Botor.
