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The pilgrimage is a path to a place of pilgrimage of religious importance dictated by an inner spiritual desire. In a symbolic sense, the pilgrimage is an expression of initiation, of will. Its essence dates back to the ancient belief that
supernatural forces exert their power in certain places.
According to Lajos Dolhai, rector of the Eger College of Theology, the pilgrimage is one of the ancient symbols of the Christian life, based on biblical anthropology. The papal prelate notes:
The Christian, the man on the way, who does not forget that man, having been expelled from paradise, must traverse the long and tormenting path of sin and liberation, and only at the end of his life will he be able to reach the heavenly Jerusalem to meet God and Christ there. The pilgrimage, then, is not just an ancient custom in almost all religions, but a reflection of human life.
Catholic shrines in Hungary are almost without exception based on the veneration of Mary. There are two national sanctuaries in Hungary: in Máriapócs and in Mátraverebély-Szentkút.
Our Lady of Tears in Máriapócs
Máriapócs is a town in Nyírség, about 280 kilometers from Budapest, in the southern part of the Szabolcs – Szatmár – Bereg county. Originally called Pócs, the prefix of the Mária settlement’s name was added in the 18th century as a reference to the shrine of Maria in the town.
His reputation was based on the Greek-Catholic Church of religion.
The image of Mary preserved in the church already cried several times.
The first cult image was ordered in 1676 by Judge László Csigri in memory of his liberation from vows and gratitude, from Turkish slavery. The photo was taken by István Papp, brother of the local Greek-Catholic pastor Dániel Papp, for six florins, which the judge could not pay, so the icon was bought and donated to the church by a wealthier citizen, Lőrinc Hurta. In a later restoration, it turned out that the painting had repainted an old Byzantine icon in disrepair. The painting is also called the icon of the Guiding Mother of God because Jesus does not raise his hand to bless, but rather points his mother and Mary with his right hand towards their son.
The miracles began on November 4, 1696. As Pastor Dániel Papp celebrated Mass in the little wooden church, farmer Mihály Eöry noticed tears welling up from both eyes of the iconostasis painting. This tear lasted until December 8. Also, according to records, it was so cold on the last day of the tears that the wine and water in the cup froze, but Maria’s tears were still falling profusely. The minutes of the witness hearings contain clear testimonies from thirty-six Catholic and Protestant witnesses about the authenticity of the tears. The image of grace was brought by Leopold I to Vienna. Years later, Bishop István Telekessy de Eger had a similar painting made, which in August 1715 shed tears for several days. The third tear lasted from December 3, 1905, to December 19, and then the last two days of December.
It was an outstanding moment in the history of the church, when II. During his visit to Hungary on August 18, 1991, Pope John Paul II performed a Byzantine Holy Liturgy in Hungarian before the image of mercy. Five to six hundred thousand pilgrims visit the sanctuary, which has deservedly become famous in Europe for its image of Our Lady of Lamentations.
The healings of the sacred well
Szentkút is located five kilometers from Mátraverebély in the county of Nógrád. The legend links the origin of the pilgrimage site to San Ladislao. The king, fleeing from the enemy in 1091, reached an abyss, seemed desperate to advance, but he scoffed with his horse, and where the first horse’s hoof hit the ground, water gushed out of the ground. He widened the opening with his ax, springing.
The first cure was carried out in such a way that, according to the record, a shepherd from Mátraverebély kept the animals of the manor in the valley with his silent child.
The child was thirsty, the Virgin appeared in front of him, with the little Jesus in her arms, and pointed to a depression in the shape of a horseshoe from which water gushed out. The boy drank from the water and felt healed, his tongue settled.
The happy father began to deepen the spring, and thus the sacred well was created. Before the news of the miracle, multitudes of pilgrims visited the place. In 1210 a church was built in Mátraverebély, from where the faithful marched towards the spring in the valley.
In 1700 XI. Pope Clement investigated some of the miraculous healings at the Holy Well and accepted their authenticity. In 1970, VI. Pope Paul in the Church of Intercession “Minor Basilica” awarded the title of. In 2006, at the farewell to the Assumption, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, declared the pilgrimage site a National Shrine. In 2016, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome was affiliated with the sanctuary, giving Szentkút unique farewell privileges in Hungary. The pilgrimage site is becoming more and more popular, today around two hundred thousand people come to Szentkút every year.
Lóránt Orosz, the head of the Franciscan monastery of Mátraverebély-Szentkút (according to Franciscan terminology, Gvárdián, that is, guard) is proud of the sanctuary:
The beauty of the holy place and the surrounding hills of Cherkhata facilitate reconciliation with God, people and ourselves. The confession comes to life as water springs from life, according to the psalmist. A pilgrim who returns in this way can thank God, be more patient with his surroundings, in a word, be a better person.
Collie’s spring waters
Besides the two national shrines, Máriagyűd is also one of the oldest shrines. The Baranya settlement was called Gyűd until 1934, and from 1977 it became part of the Siklós settlement. Legend has it that Benedictine monks built a chapel over a statue of Mary of Slavic origin, but the statue disappeared and was later found by a hermit in a miraculous spring. Countless cures are linked to the place.
Due to the healings, the church has been officially a sanctuary since 1805.
In 2008, the XVI. Pope benedict “Minor Basilica” donated a title to the church.
From the spring waters, the Vydő spring flows into the so-called Well Valley and only fills with water in spring. Its role was assumed by the artificial well of San Pablo. The Szentkút is located on the border of the Győr and Siklós vineyards, from whose waters the pilgrims brought it home in the famous “Győr Jars”. Almost half a million people visit the Máriagyűd sanctuary every year.
(Cover image: Participants in the farewell procession of the Assumption Day in Mátraverebély on September 10, 2017. Photo: Péter Komka / MTI)
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