Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Black Madonna

On August 26, we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Black Madonna. Our parish is under the special patronage of Mary under this title along with St. Josaphat.

As many of you know, the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa hangs above the main altar. This special icon was painted in Poland and touched to the original miraculous icon at Jasna Gora.

Many blessings both spiritual and temporal have been showered upon those who have come to pray to Our Lady for her intercession. Our pastor, Fr. Mark Borkowski credits Our Lady of Czestochowa for keeping the parish open during the times when it was almost closed.

In honor of the feast of Our Lady, St. Josaphat will be having some special Liturgies and devotions throughout the day.

Feast Day observances will be as follows:

12 Noon Mass in English according to the Ordinary Form with Novena Prayers and Benediction

Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will take place all day after the 12 Noon Mass. All are invited to spend an hour with our Lord.

7:00 PM Tridentine High Mass followed by Novena Devotions, Eucharistic Procession and Benediction.

Enrollment in the Black Madonna Guild may be made on this feast day. Members will share in all the 12 noon Thursday Masses (Ordinary form) and novenas. Information may be found on the parish website: http://gbjann.com/stjosaphat/misc.htm

Below are the novena prayers used at St. Josaphat every Thursday during the Mass (Ordinary Form) and Perpetual Novena in Honor of the Black Madonna. These prayers are also used during the feast day devotions. The text used is an English adaptation of the original novena devotions used at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland. You are invited to pray these prayers and seek the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.

Novena in Honor of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen
Let us praise our God in veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and Protector.

O Almighty and merciful God! You have given the Church a wondrous help and defense in the most holy Virgin Mary and You have honored Her sacred image as the Black Madonna with remarkable veneration of the faithful. Grant in Your mercy that, under Her protection, we may struggle confidently throughout our lives and at the moment of death be victorious over our enemy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Black Madonna, our Mother and Queen of our nation! Trusting in Your maternal goodness and powerful intercession with Your Son, we place before You our humble prayers and petitions. To You we commend all our needs, in particular (Mention requests silently in your hearts), our families, and all children of our nation.

V: For Your presence and intercession at the Shrine of the Black Madonna and for the countless graces You have obtained for us in the past,

R: We thank you, O Black Madonna, our Mother.
 
V: For Your gracious reign over our parish, for Your powerful help throughout our history, especially in times of difficulty and suffering,

R: We thank you, O Black Madonna, our Mother.

V: For the maternal care with which You ever surround us, leading us to Your Beloved son, strengthening the faith in our hearts, drawing sinners to conversion, and comforting the sick, the sad, and the faint-hearted,
 
R: We thank you, O Black Madonna, our Mother.

V: For our negligence in the faith and for the religious indifference through which we have strayed so often from God, unmindful of his presence and love,
 
R: We ask You, Mother intercede for us.
 
V: For our conduct which has not always been in accord with our holy faith nor with the dignity of a child of God; for sins against life, for drunkenness, selfishness, carelessness, envy, social discord, and lax morals,
 
R: We ask You, Mother, intercede for us.
 
V: For being so preoccupied with ourselves that we did not see the needs of our brothers and sisters; the hungry, the homeless, the sick, and the lonely,
 
R: We ask You, Mother, intercede for us.
 
V: O Mother with the Divine Infant in Your arms, through this sacred image You remind us of the constant presence of Your Son and of Your own motherly solicitude as a source of strength and courage in our daily trials, difficulties, and labors,

R: We praise You and we love You
 
V: O Queen, whose image bears the scars of enemy attacks, You are to us a sign of hope, unity, and victory,

R: We praise You and we love You
 
V: O Virgin Helper, You aid us in overcoming all evil and weakness,

R: We praise You and we love You
 
V: When we are oppressed by doubts and temptations against faith,
 
R: Be our help and protection.
 
V: When we feel lonely, abandoned, and threatened,
 
R: Be our help and protection.
 
V: When we are in danger of yielding to our evil habits and sins,
 
R: Be our help and protection.
 
V: That You may strengthen us in faith and obtain for us the power to renew our lives in the spirit of God’s commandments and the Gospel of Christ,
 
R: We beseech You, O Black Madonna, our Mother.

V: That You may continue to reign in our lives on the personal, family, social, and national levels,
 
R: We beseech You, O Black Madonna, our Mother.
 
V: That You may obtain for us from Your Son the special grace that we implore in this novena,

R: We beseech You, O Black Madonna, our Mother.

Hail Mary (3 times)

Sub Tuum Praesidium
It is to You, O holy Mother of God, that we go for refuge and protection. Look kindly on us as we cry to You in our need. Glorious and blessed Virgin, be with us always and rescue us from every kind of danger. Amen.

Act of Consecration
Mother of God, Immaculate Mary, to You I consecrate my body and soul all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that I am and possess. With eager heart I dedicate myself to You in slavery of love. I give You complete freedom in making use of me for the salvation of men and the assistance of the Holy Church of which You are the Mother. From now on I wish to do everything with You, through You, and for You. I know that by my own strength I shall accomplish nothing. You, however, can do everything that is the will of Your Son, and You are always victorious. Grant then, Help of Christians, that my family, parish, and my country may truly be the Kingdom of Your Son and Yours. Amen.

August 20, 2009 | Categories: Devotional, Special Event Masses | 1 Comment »