FIFTY BLIND PILGRIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 10

FIFTY BLIND PILGRIMS

APPEAL TO A PICTURE. MIRACULOUS POWERS CLAIMED. .REMARKABLE POLISH INCIDENT. A Budapest newspaper, the Magyarsag, reported lately that in Poland a pilgrimage. of 50 blind persons bad arrived at Czenstochowa to appeal to Hie miraculous picture uf the Virgin. Tlie pilgrimage, which was accompanied by relatives and attendants of ■the blind pilgrim's, covered a distance of, nearly 100 miles, and was accomplished on foot in 10 days. Half a million pilgrims visit Czenstochowa each year to see Hie famous picture .which ■belongs to the Order of the Paulan Brothers, tbp only Hungarian Order, which was expelled .from Hungary by Emperor Joseph 11. of Austria. During the Czarist rule the Roman Catholic orders were suppressed, blit owing to the fame of the miraculous picture the Paulan Monastery at Czenstochowa was permitted, to continue its existence. The number of monks and pupils, however, was reduced to 24, and Czarist officials appeared regularly at the monastery to count the contents of the alms boxes, which were then sealed. "The Russian bishops and' governors habitually paid ‘homage to the picture, and it Is recorded that on one occasion tlie son of Peter file Great, asked ■the monks to lift the picture down from .the altar. As lids could not be done, the prince called ljor a ladder, and, climbing it, kissed. Hie painting. Among oilier treasures held by tlie order are a Hungarian Bible 000 years old and a chasuble of the same age; a silver picture one yard square presented by Prince Esterhazy; and tlie sword of the Hungarian 'Kiiiig of Poland, Balliory, in its sheath of beaten gold. The sword presented lo John Sobieski, King of Poland, by his people may also be seen in tlie church. It is" recorded that when the King ■received the sword he tore off Hie gold scabbard and set out with the naked blade to free Hie Hungarians from the Turkish yoke. Returning victorious, lie put tiie sword in its scabbard again and presented, it to flic church. A few months ago the Paulan Order was repatriated in Hungary. Fourteen monks wore brought from Czenstochowa to the newly-built monastery overlooking the Danube in Budapest.