Firmer Catholic faith urged as crowds flock to Polish shrine

Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the Primate of Poland, said in a homily at the shrine of Święta Lipka that for one’s Christian faith to be real, it must be combined with love for other people—“otherwise it is dead.”

When faith is limited to “declarations and lofty slogans, when it is only manifested on banners, it arouses astonishment and sometimes even outrage, because it is not in evidence in real life,” Polak said.

Religious festivities at Święta Lipka centred on a local Madonna icon—known as the miraculous image of Our Lady of Święta Lipka—and harked back to ceremonies at the site 50 years ago that were attended by Catholic leaders including Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who would later become pope.

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, once private secretary to Pope John Paul II, was among senior churchmen taking part. He celebrated Mass for worshippers on Saturday.

The Marian shrine in the village of Święta Lipka, in Poland's northeastern Warmińsko-Mazurskie province, has a history dating back to the 14th century. In April, it was added to the list of monuments to Polish history, along with nine other heritage sites of significant architectural, historic, cultural and scientific value, under a decision by President Andrzej Duda.

Duda has written a letter to the pilgrims gathered at Święta Lipka that was read out during the ceremonies. He said in the letter that Święta Lipka “is a site that carries an important message of openness … and respect for other people without giving up one’s own identity."

Święta Lipka is near where Poland once bordered on Prussia in a region of ethnic and cultural diversity with a mixture of Catholic and Protestant influences, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.

About 400,000 people visit the shrine every year, according to public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR/PAP