To Light, to Guard, to Rule & Guide

World Youth Day reflections

July 25, 2016 was the day that I hired a new tour guide for my life: my guardian angel. I know that my angel has “led and guided” me my whole life, but this whole trip to Poland taught me that every “wrong turn” has something to offer.

Czestochowa

“You’re going to Czestochowa, of course.” The train conductor said it as more of a statement of fact than a question. We were making our way across Poland to Krakow via train on Sunday, July 24th, and he couldn’t help but offer his opinion. “It is the spiritual capital of Poland. Of course you must go there.” And as an aside, “I was born there.”

So the next morning we made our way back to Krakow Glowny (pronounced “Gwavna”) and made reservations for the next train to Czestochowa. It was going to leave in 20 minutes and we hadn’t eaten. After a mad rush that involved using our vouchers at the nearest Burger King, we made it on the train. We had a classic ride, Harry Potter style, in a closed compartment for just the 8 of us.  It was 2:30 when we arrived in Czestochowa and discovered that thousands and thousands of other pilgrims were also there.

The sights were incredible, but the crowds were more so. Our first attempt and entering the Basilica there was shoulder-to-shoulder. We were in there just long enough to have our breath taken away by the immensity and beauty of the church, but then we had to struggle just to get out.

I found an information booth and discovered that an English Mass was starting at that moment. Perhaps if I hurry we could join? The guide tried to show me where the particular chapel I would need to find was located. It wasn’t actually on the map because it was on a different floor. Just look around, she said. Okaaaaayyy....

So we took off, all 9 of us, and we went up stairs, around corners, down corridors, through doorways. We found a lovely adoration chapel, many rooms with beautiful art, the main chapel where the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa was on display and venerated by a thousand or more pilgrims. But no English Mass. I didn’t know what made me turn into the side room that turned out to be a sacristy. (Now I know: it was my Guardian Angel!) But my winded family strained to keep up as I realized we’d found another dead end to our search.

Then Leah saw her. “MOM! It’s Sister Maria Karol!”

Earlier this summer we hosted two lovely Nashville Dominican Sisters for our Youth Summer Mission. We discovered that Sister Maria Karol, who is from Poland, was also planning to go to World Youth Day this summer. Sister Gianna told Sister Maria Karol and I not to worry too much about meeting up in Poland. She said our guardian angels would arrange it. She was absolutely correct.

After a tearful and joyful greeting of Sister and her 12 companions, Sister turned to me and said, “We are just about to have a private Mass said for us. I have asked the priest and you can join us! Just follow us!”

This time, I could see the angels all dressed in white as they led us through arched doorways and open courtyards into another beautiful chapel. After the Mass, my Lucy said to me, “I want to be a Sister when I grow up.” She ran to tell this to Sister Maria Karol who thought she looked pretty great in a veil.

It was the second time my mother would announce, “This is my favorite day.” I wondered how many more days could possibly be this amazing, but I was ready for anything because our tour guides really knew what they were doing!