marian anniversaries     august

August 13

Matka Boska Leśniowska, Żarki, Myszków, Silesia, Poland

The story goes that in the summer of 1382, when Prince Ladislaus of Opole was taking the Black Madonna icon to its new home in Czestochowa, his men were unable to find water while crossing the parched plateau north of Krakow. They prayed to the Mother of God for relief, and a spring arose. In thanks, Ladislaus left a 28” lindenwood statue of the Virgin and Child at Leśniów Spring, around which a monastery and shrine complex evolved. The statue now resides on the main altar there in the Church of the Visitation. On August 13, 1967, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Primate of Poland, crowned the image. Associated with many miracles and healings during her 700-year stay in Poland, the Blessed Mother of Leśniów is honored with special pilgrimages on July  2 (former feast of the Visitation) and the nearest Sunday. (Information and picture from the shrine's site, "LESNIÓW," Parafia Rzymskokatolicka w Pustkowie Osiedlu, pustkow.freehost.pl.)

Also commemorated this date:

Our Lady Refuge of Sinners. Listed in the pre-1962 Roman Missal as a feast "in some places."
Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Ten-Hogen-Wijngaard, Diest, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium. Chapel dedicated, 1323.
Notre-Dame de Wihor, Visé, Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, Argenteau district. Chapel consecrated, 1851.
Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, Cachoeira, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Four-day festa begins with procession & mass.
Notre Dame du Rhin, Rhinau, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. Monument commemorates fatal accident Aug. 13, 1861.
Coeur Immaculé de Marie, Aurillac, Cantal, Auvergne, France. First stone of new Carmelite church placed, 1874.
Notre Dame de Pitié, Charvensod, Valle d'Aosta, Italy. Church consecrated, 1516.
Madonna delle Grazie, Pordenone, Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy. Shrine consecrated, 1921.
Santa Maria della Visitazione, Santa Marinella, Roma, Latium, Italy. Sanctuary consecrated, 1988.
Santa Maria Assunta, Marsicovetere, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. Statue carried to mountain shrine; returns Aug. 15. Prosciutto festival.
Matka Milosciwa, Lutynia, Dobrzyca, Pleszew, Greater Poland, Poland. Mother of Love. Icon crowned, 1972.
Nossa Senhora do Mar, Almada, Setúbal, Lisbon, Portugal (Our Lady of the Sea). New chapel on naval base blessed, 1955.
Virgen del Campo, Cabezón de la Sal, Valle del Saja, Cantabria, Spain (Virgin of the Field). Romería.
Nuestra Señora de la Antigua, La Haba, Badajoz, Extremadura, Sparin. Start of vigil ending August 16.
Nuestra Señora de Altagracia, Siruela, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. Translation to parish church. Fiesta Aug. 15.
Nuestra Señora del Olvido, Triunfo y Misericordias, Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. Apparitions, 1831. Fiesta Aug. 15. 
Virgen del Monte Sacro, Aroa, Yaracuy, Venezuela. Start of celebration ending August 20.
 

Where We Walked ~~~ Mary Ann Daly