Pope Francis prays before the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, during his visit to the Shrine of Jasna Gora in 2016. Photo: Vatican News Nearly 40,000 Catholic pilgrims journeyed on foot, by bicycle, and on horseback to arrive at the Marian shrine of Jasna Góra in Czestochowa, Poland this summer.
The traditional walking pilgrimage to venerate an icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa housed in the shrine dates back to the 17th century.
Among the pilgrims to make the historic trek was Bishop Marek Solarczyk of Radom, Poland who helped to lead his diocese’s 43rd annual walking pilgrimage.
In addition to caring for the pilgrims’ spiritual needs, the bishop assisted with the morning wake-up call by playing his horn each morning of the roughly 100 mile journey.
Another pilgrimage group travelled to the Marian shrine on horseback. The 22nd annual cavalry pilgrimage travelled 250 miles over the course of 11 days from the village of Zareby Koscielne in eastern Poland.
“We rode through our towns and villages, with an unfurled banner bearing the image of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, the patroness of the regiment. It was one big prayer,” Fr Andrzej Dmochowski told the Jasna Góra Press Office.
In total, 185 cycling groups, 133 walking groups, and 13 running groups made a pilgrimage to Jasna Gora this summer.