On Saturday, Oct. 27, Our Lady of Czestochowa visited Würzburg, Germany. It is a city situated on the Main River, in the north-west part of Bavaria, known as Franconia. The pastor of the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Kiljana, Rev. Dr. Jurgen Vorndran, together with Father Jerzy (George) Sobota, the pastor of St. Gertrude Polish Catholic Mission, welcomed Our Blessed Mother with the celebration of the Holy Mass.
In his sermon, Father Vorndran explained why the Church has so much confidence in the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession. When experiencing various trials and difficulties in life, people usually draw closer to the Blessed Mother. It was Mary, at the wedding in Cana, who drew Jesus' attention to the plight of the people, and at the same time commanded them to "do whatever He tells you." Then Jesus said that He came into the world that we "might have life and have it abundantly." Today, in the face of the attack of the culture of death that threatens human life, many of us have to answer ourselves whether we will say "yes" to life, as the Blessed Virgin Mary did in Her "fiat." Blessed John Paul II reminded us that "Mary semper vincit," – meaning that Mary is always victorious. Therefore, we can trust Her that many people will join in and support the civilization of life. This will be possible all the more because Mary is a support for women who are "in the blessed state" (i.e. those women who are with child) and She says to them: trust life, entrust it to God, and He will walk with you.
While the Icon was being led out of the church, Fr. Sobota began to chant the song "Black Madonna" in German and Polish. Our Lady, surrounded by a large crowd of the faithful, was moved to the beat of the brass music in a procession to the church of the Franciscan Friars. There, during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Rosary was recited, followed by a prayer vigil with veneration of the Icon. Father Matias Münzberg, who on the eighth of every month conducts a special day of recollection with Adoration for pro-life intentions, had prepared this prayer vigil.
That evening, Our Blessed Mother in the Holy Icon set out on Her journey to Fulda.
