An Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy – Parish Pilgrimage!

On December 8th, 2015, Francis initiated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with a Mass and a ceremonial opening of the “Holy Door of Mercy” at St. Peter’s Basilica in . In the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (Misericordiae Vultus) the Holy Father wrote: “The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life. Life itself is a pilgrimage, and the human being is a pilgrim travelling along the road, making his way to the desired destination. Similarly, to reach the Holy Door in Rome or in any other place in the world, everyone, each according to his or her ability, will have to make a pilgrimage. This will be a sign that mercy is also a goal to reach and requires dedication and sacrifice. May pilgrimage be an impetus to conversion: by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we will find the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has been with us.” What is the greatest benefit of the Jubilee Year of Mercy? Each Jubilee Year features a very special plenary indulgence (the complete remission of all temporal punishment due to sin).

Almost 20 people from St Joseph’s Church in Brantford were blessed to make a journey to St. Peter’s in Rome and many others jubilee sites from September 19th to October 5th of this year. We were on the go from the moment we left the airport, usually covering some ten kilometers a day over stairs, hills and even rocky mountains. We sailed from Ancona to Split and later from Dubrovnik across the overnight to Bari - not wasting any daylight! We had tour guides almost everywhere, we celebrated daily Masses and formed beautiful and lasting friendships along the way. After the end of the first day of touring churches, piazzas, obelisks from Egypt and fountains, we settled near the Spanish Steps at the General House of the Resurrectionist Fathers in Rome. St. Peter’s Basilica Dome was clearly seen from our window. The night before we went to Mentorella, the Spanish Steps were reopened with a philharmonic orchestra and fireworks. The next day, Wednesday, the 21st, of September, the group attended the General Audience of in St. Peter’s Square. Everyone was lucky to be close to the barrier as the Holy Father passed by us twice. Later on, the tour guide led us to the three major basilicas - St. Paul outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. At the end of the tour there was a chance to climb the Holy Steps on our knees. Each one of us participated in this wonderful act without any complaints!

Finally, on September 22nd, we experienced the highlight of our pilgrimage to Italy – our visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. To begin our day, we celebrated Mass at 7:00 a.m. over the tomb of Saint Pope John Paul II – which is situated between the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on the left and the Pieta on the right! I had the privilege to concelebrate this Eucharist with about 100 priests and many pilgrims from different countries. Later on our group went through the Holy Door of Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica and stayed there for a few hours. After lunch we visited the Pantheon which is dedicated to Mary, Queen of the World, and which has an open roof – through which it does not rain! Next our group headed to the Colosseum and explored the Forum Romanum.

On September 23rd, the bus took us to Subiaco located southeast of Rome. To reach it, we drove a twisted road – often with almost 180 degree turns, back and forth, up a steep mountain. There is an amazing built into the sidewall of overhanging cliffs – it is somehow intact despite the many earthquakes and inclement weather. The monastery enshrines the cave in which St. Benedict lived as a hermit for twenty years. There he founded twelve daughter and wrote his famous Rule that would become the standard guideline for Western .

After visiting Subiaco, the driver took us to the of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. The pastor opened up the wrought iron enclosure so that we could pray the having a clear view of our Lady.

Finally, the bus brought pilgrims from Canada to Mentorella, the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace; one of the oldest Marian in Europe where we stayed for two nights. The sanctuary is located in the Prenestini Mountains, about 1050 meters above sea level, 40 km east of Rome, just below the large rocky mountain called Monte Guadagnole. At one time, this site was a pagan place of worship. It was here that a Roman Tribune, Placido, was converted to Christianity while hunting deer. He was martyred as Saint Eustace. Emperor Constantine built the Shrine to our Lady of Mentorella, incorporating the pagan shrine into the corner of the church.

Mentorella was one of the twelve abbeys (monasteries) founded by St. Benedict. He took residence in the adjacent cave for approximately two years. Somewhere in the middle of the 13th century the most precious treasure of Mentorella was created – the wooden statue of the Madonna. The statue remains in the church to this day. The abandoned the at the end of the 14th century and it fell into disrepair and ruins. Since 1857, The Shrine of Our Lady of Mentorella continues to be cared for by the Congregation of the Resurrection.

This was a favorite place of the pilgrimage, retreat and prayers for Saint Pope John Paul II. Shortly after his election to the Papacy, the Holy Father came to this shrine and prayed for good counsel to lead the under his guidance. In his homily, he emphasized that prayer uplifts the life in a man. He even had his own private room, which we were allowed to explore. Many have been credited to Our Lady of Mentorella – especially problems with infertility! In November of 2006, Pope Benedict XVI made a pilgrimage to this shrine as well.

During our stay at Mentorella, the local villagers came to pray to our Lady. Some even arrived by motorcycles. A civic band, banners, speeches and food started a parade which proceeded into town. This is a yearly event. On Sunday, the pilgrims said good-bye to Mentorella and turned their sights to a very important place for all Polish people. We made a stop at the Benedictine Shrine on Monte and the Polish Cemetery. was taken by the Polish soldiers during the battle in . Unfortunately, 923 young men lost their lives during the gruesome battle against the Nazis. It was a great honour and privilege for me to celebrate the Mass for those soldiers who unselfishly sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Italy and freedom of others.

In the evening our group finally reached Monte Sant’Angelo. St. the Archangel appeared here a few times and the basilica built on this site was consecrated not by clergy but by the Archangel himself – which is unique. Here we celebrated Mass on the original altar built from the natural stone grotto. Saint Padre Pio had a great love for this shrine and his life history is depicted in a series of beautiful along a long tunnel. The passageways even went under the street to the convent and dormitory where we stayed two nights. Saint Pope John Paul II also prayed at this location!

A day was hardly enough time to visit San Giovanni Rotondo. There was a large ultramodern hospital as well as an old church and a new large basilica to honour St. Padre Pio. A very beautiful Stations of the Cross was built next to the basilica. All of this was in the remote rocky town. It was a very precious place where we had the opportunity to view the life of St. Pio – a Franciscan, in the steps of St. Francis – in the most beautiful of mosaics.

The next day we visited Lanciano – the site of the Eucharistic . The Miracle of Lanciano dates back to the eighth century when a who had doubts about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, found when he said the words of consecration at Mass, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood. Then, slowly he turned towards the faithful and said to them: “O happy witnesses to whom the Blessed Lord, to refute my incredulity, has deigned to reveal Himself in this Blessed Sacrament and make Himself visible to our eyes. Come and take a look at our God so close to us. Here are the Flesh and the Blood of Jesus Christ, our Beloved.” Without the use of any form of preservative, it is still visible for all to venerate.

In Manoppello, we examined the translucent cloth which cannot accept stains yet it depicts the Holy Face of Jesus in agony. A scientific study of the ‘Volto Santo’ shows that we can see the image from both sides of the cloth – and it matches what is seen on the Shroud of Turin. A copy of the Shroud of Turin was also present at this site.

A couple of hours later we were honoured to visit a very important place for Canada in Ortona. It is here that there is Canadian Cemetery and War Museum. On the 28th of December, 1943, after eight fierce days of fighting, the Canadian soldiers defeated German troops. During the Moro River battles of which Ortona was a part of, 1,375 Canadian soldiers died. This represented almost a quarter of all Canadians killed during the entire Italian Campaign. It was here we prayed for the souls of these Canadian soldiers.

Loretto was our next stop – to which the family of Angels transported stone by stone, the Holy Family’s home from Palestine, when it was at risk of being destroyed by the Muslims. Through a window of this home, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary, God’s invitation to be Mother of the Most High! This church is exquisite.

During the Second World War, this church was bombed and the dome caught on fire. Polish soldiers scaled the roof of the church with buckets of water to put the fire out – at great risk to themselves. Often they were found lying down, praying for peace and safety. This position was unusual for the Italians and therefore was remembered. Many frescoes on the walls depict the bravery and love of God for these soldiers. Other Polish saints such as St. Jan Kanty, St. Stanislaw, St. Wojciech, St. Jakub Strzemie, costumed country folk King Jan Ill Sobieski offering his crown to the Blessed Mother, and many other Polish soldiers, are found in frescoes on the ceiling. In another part of the church there are scenes depicting Polish victories – such as in Wieden by King Sobieski after his conquering of the Turks in 1683 and the Miracle of the Vistula against the Russians. All of this is in Italy!! Heroism is memorialized. The Italians still regard the Poles as their saviours. There are 1112 Polish graves in the cemetery which is the second largest Polish cemetery in Italy. There we also prayed for our heroes.

An overnight ferry brought us from Ancona to Croatia on September 29th. In Split we were treated to a guided tour of the Dioclesan Palace (a UNESCO site). It is one of the best conserved Roman ruins – including a 15th century city hall and the cathedral. Five traditional a capella singers serenaded us and signed the CDs that were purchased.

In Vespric (Makarska) we found a “Croation Lourdes”. The resemblance to the grotto in Lourdes is very strong. A Mass was said in this outdoor setting.

We continued to Bosnia Hercegovina. In the town of , our group stayed a couple of days in a very home-like hotel called Aldona. We were treated to an unexpected and somewhat hidden waterfall park (Kravice Falls) – where a river flows down a drop of 120 meters over a variety of rock faces – and is somehow hidden by cedars and poplars. Locals and tourists were walking across the lake which collected below the falls.

At Medjugorje, my parishioners were able to celebrate the Eucharist and Sacrament of Reconciliation in any language, recite , adore the Blessed Sacrament, and be blessed simultaneously by multiple priests! The Stations of the Cross were positioned on rocky mountains, as were the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary where we prayed.

On Oct 2nd, 2016, at 3 a.m., most of us climbed a rocky mountain above the level of the blue cross in order to find a good place for the anticipated apparition. That day at about 8:30 a.m. the Blessed Virgin appeared to Mirjana for about 10 minutes. Because we were well positioned, we could see the alertness in her face and were able to see her lips move. Subsequently, we were told that in today’s message to “my dear children” Mary asked us to pray, fast and support the clergy. At the end, the Blessed Virgin thanked her children. At least twice, I heard howling in the distance – and immediately thought that it was the devil because it occurred only during the 10-minute apparition. One woman who was miraculously healed, threw down her crutches and jumped up and down in joy!

We heard two testimonies – one from a very wealthy car salesman – now building and housing a sort of a retreat centre for poor pilgrims. The other testimony was from a drug addict whose life was changed. (To view the conversion of Patrick and Nancy from Canada, please visit our website www.brantfordcr.com under multimedia heading).

The next day we were given a tour through Dubrovnik before returning to the Resurrectionists in Rome by the Spanish Steps. Finally we toured Pompeii and drove up partway toward the centre of the active Vesuvius – but by now we were exhausted. Returning through the beautiful city of , our group saw the Isle of Capri in the near distance. On the final morning (October 5th) we celebrated Mass at the Rome airport and safely returned to Canada.

What a blessed and memorable pilgrimage on this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Fr. Adam Wróblewicz, C.R.