Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
Today we celebrate our parish’s patronal feast. Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
I ask all of you to focus on this beautiful image, this icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to contemplate for a few minutes. I ask you to behold your mother.
The meaning of this icon, its role in history, and the way in which it communicates to us, right here in Latham, New York, is simply the miracle of Mary’s abiding presence and intercession.
Because of this icon we are gifted with a special doorway to Mary herself.
Icons are not just pretty pictures. They convey much more. They are more than an aid in stimulating devotion. Contemplation of the icon is more than a teaching tool or an inspiration. In the spiritual sense this icon is a living thing.
St. John of Damascus called icons a “channel of divine grace.” They are a mirror of divine revelation, the very incarnation of God, and give testimony to the reality of God’s saving truth. The Ecumenical Councils of the first 1,000 years of Christianity attest to this. Those who attack or disparage icons attack the Incarnation of Jesus himself.
The praise and veneration we show this icon passes over to the one it represents, its archetype —“ Mary herself. St. Basil of Caesarea stated “The honor paid to the image passes to the prototype”.
Thus the love and dedication we show Mary, here in this parish, is communicated to her in a special way.
Jesus told us: Behold your mother, and we behold and love her.
Look at Mary’s right hand. It points to Jesus. Mary is looking at us intently and is pointing to her Son. As she directed the servants at the wedding feast in Cana she directs us:
“Do whatever He tells you.”
Mary bears her Son to us. She, the Theotokos, bears God to us, ever pointing to Him. In this Hodigitria icon, believed to have been painted by St. Luke, we see our Lord with His hand raised in blessing.
What a beautiful image! What love! This icon brings to us a connection to the totality of love God bears for us. The mother is offering her Son to us. The Son who came to save us blesses us.
For 624 years the original icon of Our Lady has been enshrined at the monastery on the bright mountain in Poland, enshrined yes, but still one with us, her people.
Throughout history she has been the image we go to, on the bright mountain, in this parish, and in our homes. She has been the image we go to in supplication, asking her to point us to her Son so that we might receive His grace and blessing.
Our Lady is our mantle of protection, our intercessor in healing and defense, and has suffered along with us.
Her face and neck have been scarred by the swords and arrows of invaders just as the people have been scarred by their sufferings. Her jeweled mantle has been torn away by godless communists and fascists, just as the communists and fascists tried to tear away the lives and freedoms of the Polish people.
This year marks the 350th anniversary of the dedication of Poland to Our Lady of Czestochowa made by King Jan II Kazimierz.
350 years ago Grand Prior Augustyn Kordecki, his monks, a few knights, and some townspeople withstood the power of the entire Swedish army. They were the last bastion of a free and democratic Poland, a people defending themselves from the fortress at Jasna Gora —“ the bright mountain. These freedom fighters drove back the Swedish Army and united the Polish people in a common effort to repel their invaders.
King Jan II Kazimierz took the following oath:
“Great Mother of God and Most Holy Virgin! I, John Casmir II, by the grace of Thy Son, the King of Kings, and by Thy Grace, I, the King, casting myself on my knees at Thy Most Holy feet, take Thee today as my Patroness and Queen of my dominions, and I recommend to Thy special protection and defense, myself and my Polish Kingdom…”
Let us join with all those who throughout history have relied on Our Lady’s protection, intercession, healing, and defense.
Our Lady of Czestochowa, your icon is a symbol of faith and a symbol of unity. Pray for us. Pray for those who place their hope in God’s providence. Pray for those who are deceived, who are betrayed, who are arrested in the night, who are imprisoned, who suffer from the cold, who live in fear, who were or are subjected to interrogation, who have been condemned though innocent, who speak the truth, who cannot be corrupted, who resist evil and tyranny, who are orphans, or who have been attacked or taunted because they wore your image. Our Lady, pray for mothers who weep and for fathers who have been so deeply saddened.
Mary, our mother, we are dedicated to you and to imitating your example in pointing all to your Son, Jesus Christ. Please pray for us.