Way of the Cross in Kalwaria Zebrzydowaska

 Basilica of St. Mary and monastery of the Franciscans (Ordo Fratrum Minorum)

 Ecce homo chapel - Herod's palace

Chapel of the third fall 

 Chapel of the Crucifixion

Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre

During the Holy Week hundreds of thousands of Catholics come each year to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska near Krakow to the Sanctuary of Our Lady led by the Franciscans.  They take part in the processions over the chapels of the Way of the Cross built in the surrounding area.

Catholic tradition: Holy Week confesion

Processional banners

Memento homo mori

 

During the Lent in the St. Francis of Assisi's church in Krakow there is a traditional devotion organized by the Franciscans and the Fraternity of God's Passion. This unusual fraternity was established over 400 years ago.

During this celebration the special Lenten Devotion is sang by the priests. The Fraternity responds in Latin - ‘Memento homo mori’ – Remember man about the death. Following is the Eucharistic procession with the Franciscans singing ‘Stabat Mater Dolorosa’ (in Latin). The service is finished with the traditional polish Lenten office - Gorzkie Zale – Lamentations.

The Paschal candle production a.D. 1947

“In Krakow candles’ factory before Eastern the Paschal candles are still made in the traditional way. The modern, automated production is despised. As for centuries the simple candle-wheel is used to produce the Paschal candles.”

Guys, the Paschal candle must be made of white wax, not of plastic!

Source Jacques Blutoir Bolg 

Palm Sunday in Jerusalem a.D. 1947

Click here

Holy Week tradition - lines to confessionals

 

A wanted good during the Holy Week in Poland – a confessional without waiting line.

Confessions in Krakow with at least 2-5 priest at a time:

Dominicans –  confessions daily from 8am to 8pm – 1.5-3 hours waiting

Franciscans –  confessions daily from 6am to 7.30pm – 1-2 hours waiting

Jesuits –  confessions daily from 6am to 7.30pm – 1-3 hours waiting

Carmelites –  confessions daily from 6am to 8pm – 1-2 hours waiting

Our Lady Parish –  confessions daily from 6am to 7pm – 1-1.5 hours waiting

Etc.

The Church in pray

 

Sons of saint Dominic during Vespers in the Holy Trinity convent in Krakow. Of course done in Latin. 

Palms for Palm Sunday

The bigger the better ;-)

Palm Sunday Procession in Krakow

Back to Krakow on Palm Sunday

Welcome to catholic Krakow, Poland

The Largest: Melk Abbey

When you driver along Austria by the West Highway (West Autobahn) you will see one of the most splendid catholic views -the World’s Largest benediction monastery in Melk. Only the south wing is 240 meters long!!

The main entrance

The main courtyard with the church’s dome

 The main altar

and...

Pater Sancte AD MULTOS ANNOS

The last view of Bavaria

Bavaria - the land of the Church, beer and BMW

BMW = Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works)

The Benedictine Abbey in the center of Munich

  

St. Boniface's Abbey was founded by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in the XIX century

Unfortunately the interior was 'updated' by the current inhabitants

Interior of St. Boniface ca. 1894. Source Wikipedia

Interior of St. Boniface 2011...

The Black Madonna of Pelagiberg

The parish led by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Visit them when in the Switzerland.

Real unusual place full of prayer and grace.

Sankt Pelagiberg in the Switzerland

Mount of Saint Pelagius (yes, that is right SAINT Pelagius, not the Pelagius)

Weihwasser

Whenever I visit a friend family in the Switzerland, I am surprised by the way they keep different traditions. I particularly like when they bless me for goodbye. One of them take holy water and make a sign of the Cross on my forehead.  The Grossmutter – grandma - how all call her,  always says that “Holy water, but this real one, blessed with the exorcism and salt, has the special power, because God Himself act through it and everyone can use it to bless.”

She told me once that in the good old days people sprinkled with holy water also fields, animals, stables and houses, it was given to sick people to drink and even cows get it to drink. 

In many churches in southern Germany and the Switzerland you can find containers, really big containers, with holy water to take away. And people really use it. 

 Holy water to take away in a parish church

The holy water container in Wigratzbad, Bavaria

Rituale Romanum

ORDO AD FACIENDAM AQUAM BENEDICTAM

V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.
Exorcizo te, creatura aquae, in nomine Dei + Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Jesu + Christi Filii ejus Domini nostri, et in virtute Spiritus + Sancti: ut fias aqua exorcizata ad effugandam omnem potestatem inimici, et ipsum inimicum eradicare et explantare valeas cum angelis suis apostaticis, per virtutem ajusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christi: qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos, et saeculum per ignem. R. Amen.	I exorcize you, creature of water, in the name of God + the Father almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ his Son our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit: that you may be water exorcized for putting all strength of the enemy to flight, and that you may be empowered to uproot and cast out the enemy himself with his apostate angels, by the power of the same Jesus Christ our Lord: Who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. R. Amen.
Oremus Deus, qui ad salutem humani generis, maxima quaeque sacramenta in aquarum substantia condidisti: adesto propitius invocationibus nostris, et elemento huic multimodis purificationibus praeparato, virtutem tuae bene + dictionis infunde: ut creatura tua, mysteriis tuis serviens, ad abigendos daemones, morbosque pellendos, divinae gratiae sumat effectum; ut quidquid in domibus, vel in locis fidelium, haec unda resperserit, careat omni immunditia, liberetur a noxa: non illic resideat spiritus pestilens, non aura corrumpens: discedant omnes insidiae latentis inimici; et si quid est, quod aut incolumitati habitantium invidet, aut quieti, aspersione hujus aquae effugiat: ut salubritas, per invocationem sancti tui nominis expetita, ab omnibus sit impugnationibus defensa. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.	Let us pray O God, who for the salvation of the human race have founded all the greatest mysteries (sacramenta) in the substance of water: be favorable to our prayers, and pour forth the power of your blessing + upon this element prepared with manifold purifications: so that your creature, serving your mysteries, may take up the effect of divine grace for expelling demons and driving away diseases; so that whatsoever this water sprinkles in the homes or places of the faithful, may be freed from all uncleanness, and delivered from harm: may the pestilential spirit not remain there, nor destroying air: may all snares of the hidden enemy depart; and if there be anything that is hostile towards either the safety or the repose of the inhabitants, let it flee with the sprinkling of this water: so that the well-being asked through the invocation of your holy name may be defended from all that attacks it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son: who with you lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. R. Amen.
Commixtio salis et aquae pariter fiat, in nomine Pa+tris, et Fi+lii, et Spiritus + Sancti. R. Amen	May this salt and water be mixed together, in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit. R. Amen.
V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Deus, invictae virtutis auctor, et insuperabilis imperii Rex, ac semper magnificus triumphator: qui adversae dominationis vires reprimis: qui inimici rugientis saevitiam superas: qui hostiles nequitias potenter expugnas: te, Domine, trementes et supplices deprecamur, ac petimus: ut hanc creaturam salis et aquae dignanter aspicias, benignus illustres, pietatis tuae rore sanctifices; ut, ubicumque fuerit aspersa, per invocationem sancti nominis tui, omnis infestatio immundi spiritus abigatur: terrorque venenosi serpentis procul pellatur: et praesentia Santi Spiritus nobis, misericordiam tuam poscentibus, ubique adesse dignetur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate ejusdem Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.	O God, source of invincible strength and king of insuperable dominion, and ever magnificent triumphant one: you who restrain the force of the adversary’s dominion: you who overcome the savagery of the raging enemy: you who powerfully defeat hostile influences: trembling and prostrate we humbly beseech and implore you, Lord: that you may look kindly upon this creature of salt and water, graciously illumine and sanctify it with the dew of your mercy: that wherever it shall be sprinkled, through the invocation of your holy name, every infestation of the unclean spirit may be banished: and the terror of the venomous serpent may be driven afar: and may the presence of the Holy Spirit deign to be everywhere with us, who ask your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son: who lives and reigns in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. R. Amen.

Government’s clips Pro-life

The Chilean government has sponsored these fantastic Pro-life ads. WATCH AND SHOW IT TO OTHERS

Abortion in Chile is illegal without exception.  

Pray and fight that the abortion will be illegal also in your country. Murder is a crime!!!

Marien-Apotheke

Catholic tradition in Germany.
In most catholic cities in Germany there are 'Pharmacies of Our Lady' that still operates successfully, despite the fact that most of them were established several centuries ago.

Do you want your business to last for centuries? Give it under Our Lady protection.

Gothic beauty

Frauenkirche - Cathedral of Our Dear Lady in Munich 

Missa ad Orientem

Also possible in Novus Ordo

St. Peter church in Munich

Ecclesia Militans - Church Militant

An Eucharistic procession during the battle of  Jasna Gora (Luminous Mount), which ended with the miraculously saving of the Jasna Gora monastery during a siege that took place at the time of The Deluge, a 17th century Swedish, heretic invasion on Poland.

Excerpt for the movie 'Potop'.