People pray as they walk through the forest during a mass rosary prayer event on the Polish-Czech border near Szklarska Poreba, Poland. Photo: CNS Polish Catholics from hundreds of parishes joined a rosary prayer along the border of the country to pray for Poland and the world.
The event, called ‘Rosary to the Borders’ was held on the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, and almost 320 Churches along the border were identified as gathering places for the event, which was organised by lay-people.
Polish bishops asked all Catholics to join the event, even if they were unable to travel to the border.
The Polish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website stated after the event: “Millions of people took part in the Holy Mass. This exceeded the boldest expectations of the organisers. People gathered in prayer together not only at the borders of Poland, but also in town squares, at village borders, in churches and chapels, in hospitals, at the airports and in many other places.”
Significance
The event was given special significance for Polish Catholics as it is the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, the 300th anniversary of the coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, and the 140th anniversary of apparitions in Gietrzwald.
There has been criticism that the event is endorsing anti-Islam sentiment in the country, but bishops have described it as a purely religious event.