On March 21, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen inaugurated the celebration of the Year of the Family Amoris laetitia (Joy of love). - We want to proclaim the Good News about the beauty of family life - said Fr. Janusz Kumala, MIC, custodian of the Lichen sanctuary. The participants entrusted all their families to Our Lady of Licheń and prayed for people with Down's syndrome and their guardians on the World Down Syndrome Day.
The custodian of the sanctuary recalled the reaction of people during the cholera epidemic in 1852, they prayed in front of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Licheń, which appeared to the shepherd Mikołaj Sikatka in the Grąblin forest. - We perceive the sign associated with this place in the light of today's crisis events. It is important that we respond to the call of Our Lady to meet Jesus, which is also mentioned in today's Gospel, said the curator. He stressed that the key word today is "we want" uttered by the Greeks in the Gospel according to St. John. - What do I want in life? What are my dreams and what am I working on? What do I expect from Christ? Shouldn't there be the greatest desire in the depths of my heart - to meet Christ, to believe in Him? - prompted Fr. Kumala.
In Lent, the liturgy calls for transformation, in line with the message of Our Lady of Lichen. Let us embrace the thought that we are also invited to meet and experience Jesus. The answer is near, Christ can be seen in the mystery of the Eucharist, in which the hour of his death and resurrection is made present. Do I take it as Jesus' answer? It turns out that it is not easy to experience the power of the Eucharist, said the curator of the Lichen sanctuary.
In the context of the beginning of the Year of the Family, he encouraged us to see Jesus in the family. In it, discover His presence and experience His love through mutual love. At home, the altar is a table in the kitchen, it is a symbolic place of dialogue and love. And in the family confessional, every situation in which we say "I'm sorry, please forgive me". - We can meet Christ constantly in our everyday life. Praying for people with Down syndrome, their families and carers is also an opportunity to open your eyes. Sometimes we do not want to see them, and there are about 60,000 in Poland. people with Down's syndrome who learn, work, dream and share their joy. They are the smile of God in a world plunged into problems. Let us surround them with prayer, in the attitude of acceptance and defense of life. Each life should be accepted as a gift from God, even requiring sacrifice. This is real love. "Joy of love" is the title of the Year of the Family that we are experiencing, sharing these values is extremely important - said Fr. Janusz Kumala.
Before giving God's blessing, the custodian priest blessed the Easter lambs in preparation for Easter and as an encouragement to bless the food. The representatives of the families also refused to entrust the families to Our Lady of Licheń.
