Kazimierz Szafraniec
600th Anniversary of Jasna Góra
Collectanea Theologica 48/Fasciculus specialis, 175-191C o lle c ta n e a T h eo lo g ica 48 (1978) fasc. sp ecialis
600th ANNIVERSARY O F JA S N A GÓRA
T he J a s n a G óra m o n a s te ry in C zęsto ch ow a is fam ous p rim a rily for th e p ic tu re of O u i L ady of C zęstochow a, a tre a s u re of P olish relig io u s c u ltu re for a t le a st fo ur c en tu ries. J a s n a G óra h a s beco m e a p a rt of th e relig io u s life of th e co u n try , and i t is th e h e a rt of th e C ath o lic C hu rch in P o lan d w h e re in O u r L ady ru le s w ith love.
A s th e a p p ro a c h in g 600th a n n iv e rs a ry of J a s n a G óra ev o k e s m a n y q u e stio n s c o n cern in g th e h is to ry of th e M o n astery , let u s tr y to a n sw er som e of th em in lig h t of re c e n t rese a rc h , ta k in g in to a c co u n t th e h isto ric a l c o n d itio n s of p a st p eriods.
1. F o n d atio n of J a s n a G óra: C onditions an d M o tives In 1382, L adislas O p o l c z y k („R uski” or ,/th e R u th e n ia n "), D u k e of O pole, fou n d ed a M o n a ste ry of th e O rd er o f St. Paul th e H e r m it on th e h ill of S tara C zęstochow a. A t th e p re se n t site, o f J a sn a G óra (the n am e a lre a d y a p p e a re d in d o cu m en ts for th e first tim e in 13881) th e re w as a v illag e called S tara C zęsto chow a w ith a w o o den p a rish c h u rc h d e d ic a te d to th e B lessed V irgin M ary. To th e N o rth la y th e v illa g e of C zęstochów ka, th e p re se n t W ie lu ń m a rk e t sq u are an d its en viro n s. O n th e W a rta R iver — n e a r th e v ic in ity of th e p re s e n t ch u rch of St. Sigism und — w a s a ch ap el affiliated w ith th e p a rish ch u rch in S tara C zęstochow a; an d a ro u n d th is C h apel s tre t ched th e to w n of C zęsto ch o w a.2
O n J u n e 22, 1382, in S ta ra C zęstoch o w a, in th e p re s e n c e of D uke Ladislas, C z ę sto c h o w a 's p a rish -p riest, F a th e r H e n ry k B i e l of Bleszno re sig n e d from th e p a rish church, tra n sfe rrin g a ll his rig h ts to th e p rio r g e n e ra l of th e O rd er of St. Paul, a n d th e B roth ers of th e M o n astery . A nd as a sign of his v o lu n ta ry re sig n a tio n h e g av e th e
KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPE, 2 ARKI
1 Zbiór d o k u m e n tó w za konu oo. p a ulinów w Polsce, z. 1: 1328— 1464 (C ollec
tio n o f d o cu m en ts of th e O rd e r of St. P au l th e H erm it in P oland, no. 1: 1328— 1464), p u b lish e r J. F i j a ł e k , K ra k ó w 1938, no. 29, p. 58— 59 (in fu rth e r r e f e re n ces: ZD).
2 S. K r a k o w s k i , Stara C zę sto c h o w a . Studia nad genezą, ustro jem i stru
ktu rą lu dnościo w ą i gospo d a r czą C z ę s t o c h o w y (1220— 1655) (Old C zęsto ch o w a.
S tu d ies of th e d e v elo p m en t, sy ste m s a n d p o p u la tio n an d econom ic s tru c tu r e of C z ęsto ch o w a b e tw e e n 1220 a n d 1655), C z ę sto c h o w a 1948, p. 24— 33.
176 KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPĘ
ch u rc h k e y s to B rother G eorge, th e p rio r of th e P a u lin e m o n aste ry of St. L aw rence (near Buda, H ungary). M oreover, th e p arish -p riest p u b lic ly an d e x p lic itly s ta te d th a t in c o n n ectio n w ith his resig n a tio n n a d tra n sfe r h e h a d re c e iv e d a p p ro p ria te co m p e n sa tio n and sa tis fa ction. It is also k n o w n th a t in re tu rn for h is resig n a tio n h e becam e a ca n o n in G niezno an d K raków . T h e re sig n a tio n an d tra n sfe r d o c u m en ts w e re w ritte n b y P e ter th e D u k e's Scribe, and a d o rn e d w ith e ig h t seals h a n g in g on p a rch m en t strip s.3
O n A u g u st 9, 1382, in th e to w n of C zęstochow a, D uke L ad islas’ ch a n ce llo r N ich o las T i c z k o n i s , a W ro cław curator, issu ed tw o d o cu m en ts in w h ic h th e D uke sta te s th e full ag re e m e n t of K rako w 's Bishop Jo h n of R adliczyce, ("R adlica") for th e co n stru c tio n of a m o n a ste ry , and th e en d o w m en t of th e O rd er w ith tw o v illag e s (i.e. S tara C zęsto ch o w a an d K row odrza); an iron sm eltin g w o rk s w ith a po nd and farm a d jo in in g th e m o n aste ry ; tith e s in m oney, grain, crops, and o th er rig h ts, fre e in g th e O rd er from c e rta in d uties. In a d o cu m en t issu ed on J a n u a r y 19, 1385 in th e to w n of C zęstocho w a b y C h an cellor N icholas, th e D uke in tro d u c ed slig h t c h a n g e s an d a d d ed th e v illa g e of G rabo w a to th e M o n a ste ry 's fou n d atio n .4
S ix teen m em bers of th e O rd er of St. Paul th e H erm it from N o sztre (M ârianosztra) in H u n g a ry 5 a rriv e d in C zęsto ch ow a to e sta b lish b e fo re th e e la p se of th e 14th c e n tu ry a n e w P o lish Province® With th e m o th e rh o u se and se at of th e p ro v in c ial in Ja sn a Góra.
W ho in itia te d th e e sta b lish m e n t of th e M o nastery? In lig h t of th e 14th c e n tu ry it a p p e a rs th a t th o se re sp o n sib le for in itia tin g th is p ro je c t w e re D uke L adislas an d th e Prio r G en eral of St. P au l's O rder, N ich o las III.
T he d o cu m en ts q u o ted ab o v e m en tio n o n ly th e D uke as its founder. To h is P a u lin e co n te m p o ra rie s h e w a s k n o w n as ,,our fa th e r from P oland", an d th e J a s n a G óra M o n a ste ry w a s ,,his P olish C lo iste r".7 A n a u th o r m en tio n s th a t D uke L adislaus w as c o n sid e red "illu strio u s in life ” ;8 for th e 16th c e n tu ry R i s i n u s h e w as a m an of p ru d e n c e and g e n e ro sity .9 F a th e r M ikołaj W i l k o w i e c k o
no-3 ZD no. 12, p. 21— 2no-3.
4 ZD no. 13 a n d 14, p. 23— 30, a n d no. 18, p. 35— 38.
5 E. K d s b â n , A m a g y a r P âlo sien d tô r té nete, v ol. 1, B u d ap est 1937, p. 94. * ZD no. 40 an d 41, p. 80— 84.
7 ,,Lit e re la d is la i d u c is p a tris n o s tri d e p o lo n ia su p e r d o n a c io n e cu iu sd am te r re m o n a s te rio su o d e p o lo n ia '': w ritte n in th e 14th c e n tu ry on th e re v e r s e sid e of th e fo u n d a tio n d o c u m e n t of J a s n a G ó ra of A u g u st 9, 1382 (ZD n o . 13, s. 2 4
V. 39— 40).
8 O p is pr zenie sienia obrazu M atki B oskie j C z ę s t o c h o w s k ie j z J erozolim y na
Ja sn ą G órę (D escrip tio n of h o w th e p ic tu re of O u r L ad y of C z ęsto ch o w a w as m o v ed from J e r u s a le m to J a s n a G óra), p u b lish e d b y S. S z a f r a n i e c, A rch iw a, B ib lio tek i i M u zea K o ścieln e 1(1960) no. 2, p. 201 (in fu r th e r re fe re n c e s: OP).
9 P. R i s i n i u s , H isto ria p u lc h ra et stu p e n d is M iracu lis relerta Im ag in is
Mariae, quom et unde in Clarum M o n tem C zan stoch ow iae et O ls z ty n a dvenerit,
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA S N A G ORA
177 tes th a t h e w a s "a w ise, noble, a n d g e n e ro u s D u k e ''.10 O n e h u n d red y ears, later, F a th e r A m roży N i e s z p o r k o w i c title d him w ith o u t h e sita n c y as ,,a h o ly m a n '',11 and one of th e m em bers Of th e O rd er in th e 18th c e n tu ry saw in him a ''v e ry p a te rn a l fo u n d er".12
L adislas О p о 1 с z у к w a s lin k e d to th e A n g e v in d y n a s ty (then ru lin g H un g ary ) b y p a rtic u la rly stro n g bonds: first of all h e w as a blood re la tio n of th e ro y a l fam ily of Louis th e G reat; h e w a s a m em ber of th e K ing 's cou rt sin ce 1359 an d b ecam e his fav o rite p len ip o te n tia ry , for w h ich h e re c e iv e d la rg e e sta tes. H e w as h eld in hig h esteem in b o th P olan d a n d H u n gary .
In 1367, th e K ing n a m e d him " p a la tin e " of th e K ingdom of H u n g a ry an d "ca se lla n " of T em esvar; h e also re c e iv e d th e e sta te s o f N a g y Ugrócz, Päszt, K alacsna, an d e sp e c ia lly K is-T apo lcsany .
In 1370, th e K ing in g ra titu d e for th e h e lp O p o l c z y k re n d e r ed in w in n in g th e P olish th ro n e g a v e him, a w id e b e lt of b o rd e r land n e ig h b o rin g on th e O p o le p rin c ip ality . T his W ie lu ń region, to g e th e r w ith th e castles b u ilt a lo n g th e S ilesian b o rd er b y K ing C asim ir th e G re a t of Poland, in clu d ed O lszty n , Bobolice, K rzepice, and B rzeźni ca. From th e n on, th is lan d w a s to b eco m e th e feu dal d e m e sn e of th e D uke of O p o le w ith th e rig h t of co in ag e in W ieluń. In th is a re a w as found th e v illag e of S tara C zęstoch o w a an d th e to w n e f C zęsto ch o w a.
In e x c h an g e for th e e s ta te s in H u n g ary , K ing Louis in a d o c u m en t issu ed on O c to b e r 10, 1372 n am e d th e D uke of _O p ole th e g o v e rn o r of Red R ussia. T hus th e D uke did n o t b ecom e a so v erign ruler, b u t o n ly a m ore dign ified ro y a l official. O p o lczy k ru le d Red R ussia for six y ears. H e w a s a g o v e rn o r in Poland from D ecem ber 1377 to S eptem ber 1378, a lth o u g h Q u een E lizabeth w as form ally th e R egent. T ow ard th e end of 1378, in lie u of Red Russia, O p o lczy k r e ceived from Louis th e lan d s of D obrzyń an d B ydgoszcz.1® H e w as p a rtic u la rly g en ero u s to th e K ing's m other, E lizabeth Ł o k ietek .14
R e p re se n tin g th e c h u rc h in th e a g re e m e n t to ere c t th e M o n a ste ry in S tara C zęstoch ow a w a s th e B ishop of K raków , J o h n of R
adliczy-10 H isto ry a o obra zie w C z ę s t o c h o w i e Panny M a r y e y i o cudach rozm aitych
te ] w i e l e b n e j Tablice (H isto ry o f th e p ic tu re of th e V irg in M a ry in C zęsto ch o w a
a n d its v a rio u s m iracles), K ra k ó w a ro u n d 1568, p. 12.
11 O d ro b in y stołu k r ó l e w s k ie g o abo h is to r y a o c u d o w n y m obrazie N a św . Pan
n y M a r y e y C z ę s t o c h o w s k ie j (Rem ains of th e -royal ta b le of th e h is to ry of th e
m ira c u lo u s p ic tu re of th e H o ly V irg in in C zęsto ch o w a, K rak ó w 1683, p. 36. 12 , .P riv ileg iu m a pdis-simo fu n d a to re V la d is la o D uce O p o lien si": w ritte n on th e re v e r s e sid e o f -the fo u n d a tio n d o c u m e n t -of A u g u st 9, 1382 (ZD no. 14, p. 29,
V. 22).
18 J. D ą b r o w s k i , O sta tn ie lata L udwika W i e lk i e g o 1370— 1382 (The la s t y e a rs of Louis -the G re a t 1370— 1382), K ra k ó w 1918, s. 42—44, 290—292, 309—312, 381— 382.
14 J. D ą b r o w s k i , Elżbieta Ł o k ie tk ó w n a (E lizabeth Ł ok ietek ), p rin te d in.:
R o z p r a w y A k a d e m i i U m ie jętn ości. W y d z i a ł his to rycz n o -lilo z o iiczn y, v ol. 57, K ra
k ó w 1914, p. 324, 328. 12 2 -C ollectanea T heologica
178 KAZIMIERZ SZAFkANIEC OSPE
ce. For se v e ra l y e a rs h e fu n ctio n ed as a p h y sic ia n in K ing Louis' court. A s a fa v o rite of th e K ing h e w a s p re se n te d in 1380 w ith th e p o st of ch an cello r of th e K ingdom of Poland; m o re o v e r h e w a s m ade b o th can o n a n d a rc h d e a co n of th e C racow -C athed ral. In a d ocum ent d a te d F e b ru a ry 5, 1382, h e w as a lre a d y m en tio n ed as Bishop elect of K rakó w and in th a t y e a r h e w a s co n sec ra te d b y th e arch b ish o p of G niezno w ith p ap al co n firm atio n .15
T he O rd er of St. Paul th e H erm it grew ra p id ly in th e 14th c e n tu ry in H u n g ary . A re p o rt b y archb isho p of K alocsa in 1327 on th e sta tu s of th e O rd er w a s v e ry fav o rable. T h ere w e re 60 P a u lin e m o n aste ries rep o rted , w ith 900 m onks. In each m o n a ste ry th e re w e re n o less th a n 15 persons·, th e nu m b er flu c tu ate d b e tw e e n 20 and 60. In th e m ain clo ister of th e St. L aw rence (the resid e n ce of th e p rio r g eneral) n e a r th e to w n of Buda, th e re w e re som e 300 m em bers in th e com m unity. T he e n tire O rd er w as h e ad ed b y th e p rio r general, w ho in th e y e a rs
1381— 1393 w as N ich o las III.16
It w a s h is d ecisio n a s to w h e th e r or n o t to a c ce p t a new fo u n d atio n for th e O rd er.17 It w as his d u ty to se ek th e a c ce p tan c e of th e H o ly See, an d to gain th e b e n e v o le n c e of D ukes an d Kings. H e also ch o se th e p e o p le for n e w p laces. In th e re sig n a tio n docum ent h eld b y F a th e r H e n ry k Biel, th e p a rish -p riest of C zęstochow a, it is c le a rly s ta te d th a t in th e p rio r g e n e ra l's nam e th e k e y s to th e ch u rch w e re giv en to b ro th e r G eorge (or G regory), th e p rio r of St. L aw rence m o n a ste ry .
K ing Louis of H u n g a ry e sta b lish e d m o n aste ries of th e O rd er of St. Paul: St. M a ry 's in N o sztre (M arianosztra, 1352); St. M a ry 's in R em ete (near M ar am aros, 1363); Sts. M a ry 's a n d C a th e rin e 's in G one (1371); St. M a ry 's in M ariav ö lg y (1377) and th e M o n a ste ry of St. Paul th e H erm it in th e to w n of Buda (1382). H e also w a s th e fou n d er of m a n y other m o n asteries. H e esp ec ially lik e d an d v isited th e m o n a ste rie s in: M arian o sztra, M ariav ölg y , D iosgyör and th e St. L aw rence m o n aste ry . T h ro u gh his reco m m en d atio n P ope U r b a n V g av e a p p ro b a tio n to th e O rd er of St Paul an d on M arch 14, 1368 a p p ro v ed th e a d o p tio n of th e R ule of St. A u g u stin e g ran te d b y Pope J o h n XXII on N o v em b er 16, 1328; th e y w e re a lso in d eb te d to him for th e relics of St. P aul th e H erm it w h ic h w e re b ro u g h t from V e n ic e to Buda in 1381. G ratefu l fo r his pro tectio n , fou nd ation s, an d gran ts
** A. S t r z e l e c k a , Ja n z R a d iiez у с (Ja n o f R a d lic z y c e ), p rin te d in: P ol s k i s ło w n ik b io g ra fic zn y , v ol. 10, W ro c ła w —W arszaw a,—K ra k ó w 1962— 1964, p. 469— 472.
16 E. К i s b â n, op. cit., S. 83— 85, 104.
17 G. G e n g i j e s i n u.s (G yöngyösi), In c ip iu n t d ecla ra tio n e s c o n stitu tio n u m o rd in is 1 rat rum h ere m ita ru m s. Pauli prim i h e re m ita e (Roma a ro u n d 1520), ru b ric a 53; i d e m , In c ip it ■d irecto riu m sin g u lo ru m fra tru m o fficia liu m o rd in is s. Pauli p rim i h e re m ita e su b re g u la b ea ti A u g u s tin i m ilita n tiu m (Som a a ro u n d 1520), p. 7— 8.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA S N A GÛRA 179
th e y in tro d u c ed a "sp ecial a n n iv e rs a ry " 18 for „K ing Louis, his paren ts, his w ife an d d a u g h te rs on th e d a y of th e m arty rs Profus and H y acin th ", (Septem ber 11, th e d a te of his death).
T he p a rtic u la r clo se re la tio n sh ip b e tw e e n th e K ing a n d th e O rder c re a te d a nu m b er of o ccasio ns for D uke L adislas' p e rso n a l c o n tacts w ith them . T h e sp a rse info rm atio n of L adislas y o u th h a s led Rev. Leon К a r a to h y p o th e siz e th a t th e fu tu re d u k e of O pole w as ed u c ated in th e sp ecial school for th e m ag n a ts („C ollegium N obilium ") co n d ucted by th e P a u lin e F a th ers a t th e N o sztre M o n a ste ry in H u n g ary. Y ears la te r th e D uke b ro u g h t over a g roup of 16 m onks from th is m o n a ste ry to C zęsto ch o w a and a g roup of 12 m on ks to M ochow n e a r G łogów ek.188
T he N o sztre M o n a ste ry (M ârianosztra), th e fo u n d atio n of Louis th e G reat in 1352, w a s o n e of th e m ost, d istin g u ish e d H u n g a ria n m o n a ste rie s a n d w a s h ig ly p riz e d for its a rc h ite c tu re . T h e N o sztre M o n a s te ry co n sisted of tw o b u ild in g s in h a b ite d b y th e P aulin e F a th e rs an d th e p a la c e w h e re "C ollegium N o b iliu m ” for th e ro y a l and d u cal sons w a s lo cated . T he en d ow m en t of th e m o n a ste ry w as sufficient for th e m a in te n a n c e of 300 m on k s.18b
T h e p a rtic u la r d id a c tic re g u la tio n s p re se rv e d in th e "D irecto rium " of P a u lin e : F a th e rs h a s a c h a ra c te ristic c h a p te r en tile d „H ow to te a c h th e sons of k in g s an d d u k e s ” .18c Such a p rog ram p o in te d out th e m ajo r q u a litie s of th e "C ollegium N o b iliu m ” e d u c atio n a l system . T h ere are th e n u m ero u s exam ples: how to d evelo p ph y sical skill in a y o u n g m an; how to d e v e lo p te m p e ra n c e in ea tin g and drin k in g as w ell as m o d eratio n and d ig n ity of dressing. H ow to d ev elo p m oral C h ristian p rin cip les so th a t th e y m ay p e rv a d e o n e's e x ercise of a u th o rity and m ilieux. It ta k e s in to c o n sid e ratio n n o t on ly archery , equitation- ja v e lin casting, h u nting , b u t also lea rn in g fo reig n la n g u ages, e sp e c ia lly H un g arian , Ita lia n and B ohem ian. It o rders k e y le c tu re s on gram m ar, rh eto ric, dialectics, an d ex h o rts th e stu d y of philosophy;
ls G. G f i . n g i j e s i n u s , Incipiunt declarationes, op. cit., ru b ric a 69. 18a L. K a r a , H istorie der Kirche und der Stadt O berglo gau und aus der
G eschichte d e s K lo s t e r s und der Parochie W i e s e Pauliner (circa 1972). T he
ty p e s c rip t h as b e e n p r e s e rv e d a t K u ria D ie c e z ja ln a in O pole, p. 12— 13. W ith th e in fo rm atio n a b o u t th e g ro u p of 16 P a u lin e F a th e rs, L adislas D uke of O pole b ro u g h t oveif; to C z ę sto c h o w a th e lo c a l J a s n a G ó ra M o n a s te ry tra d itio n h a rm o n i zes w ell, b e in g a liv e d in th e X V II-th c e n tu r y w h ic h h a s p ro claim ed , th a t th e p rim a ry e n d o w m en t h a s b e e n su ffic ie n t fo r th e m a in te n a n c e of o n ly 16 P a u lin e m onks: A c ta c o n ven tu s Clari M ontis C zęstoch ovien sis, A rch iw u m J a s n o g ó rsk ie sy g n . 197 p. 1. (co n tin u ed : A J).
18b Documenta artis Paulinorum, vol. 2, ed. B. G y é r e s s y , B u d ap est 1976,
p. 99.
18c G. G e n g à j e s i n u s, Incipit directorium, op. cit., fol. 31—33: „Q uom or do re g u m et p rm c ip u m filii su n t in s tru e n d i. C ap itu lu m X V I".
180 KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPĘ
T he e q u e stria n se al of L adislas D uke of O p o le on th e A c t of F o u n d a tio n of th e J a s n a G óra M o n a ste ry from th e 9th of A u g u st 1382, figures a k n ig h t sta n d in g in stirru p s on a g a llo p in g horse, h o ld in g up th e sw o rd in h is rig h t h an d w ith th e face tw in e d to w a rd a sp ectato r, A dog is p o rtra y e d as g a in in g on th e g allo p in g h o rse .18d O n th e b a sis of th is seal — it is p o ssib ile to c o n je c tu re th a t La d isla s D uke of O p o le lik e d an d ex celled in h o rsem an sh ip an d h u n ting.
N o th in g c e rta in , h o w e v e r is k n o w n a s to w h e th e r Louis p e r so n a lly o rd ere d or w ish e d a M o n a ste ry to b e e re c te d in C zęsto ch o w a. T he in fo rm atio n q u o ted b y D ługosz in th is c a se is ra th e r v a g u e 19 a n d n o co n firm atio n can b e fo u n d in th e F o u n d a tio n s D o cum en ts of Ja sn a Góra, or th e H o ly T rin ity M o n a ste ry n e a r G łog ó w ek. A p a rt from th e s e tw o, th e D u k e also e sta b lish e d a m o n a s te ry of th e O rd e r in W ielu ń , an d in all lik elih o o d th e m o n a s te ry in W ie ruszów .
It is w o rth em p h asizing h ere, th e fa c t th a t th e D u ke w a s v e ry close to th e relig io u s, an d w ith in th e circles of his im m ediate fam ily. O n e of his b ro th ers, H e n ry w a s a cleric a t th e E m peror's c o u rt; and o ut of fou r s is te rs th r e e w e re N u n s: K u n e g u n d a w a s a P oo r C la re in O ld Buda, E lizabeth a C hoir N u n in T rzebnica, an d A n n a a Poor C la re in W ro cław . O f th e D u k e's four d a u g h te rs from his first m arriag e, tw o w e re N uns: A g n es a P o o r C lare in S ta ry Sącz, an d K inga a P o o r C la re in O ld Buda. H is n e p h e w Jo h n , n am e d „K ropi d ło" h e ld se v er e p isco p al p o s ts in P oland; a n d a niece, A nna, w a s a C hoir-nun a t T rzebnica w h e re in 1428 sh e w as e le c te d abbess.®0
T he last y e a rs of th e D u ke's life th ro w s a c h a ra c te ristic lig h t on him. Lost in h is h o p es an d am bitions, d e se rte d b y e v e ry o n e and poor, h e spen t his la s t d a y s m an a g in g h is sm all estates, an d to a v o id b a n k ru p tc y sold w h a t w a s left of h is p o ssessio n s a n d th in k in g o f his salvatio n , p re s e n te d g ran ts to th e C hurch or m o n aste ries.21 It sh o u ld b e n o te d th a t J o h n D ługosz a ra th e r h a rsh op inio n of th e d u k e 's fa v o rite n e p h e w Jo h n , th e D u ke of O pole, B ishop of Poznań, W łocław ek, n o m in e e of th e A rch b ish o p of G niezno, h a s b e e n m iti g a te d b y re c e n t sch olarship . J o h n led a c o n siste n t b a ttle w ith th e T eu to n ic K nights to r e ta in in w h o le th e W ło cław ek d io c e se an d its
18d ZD no. 13 p. 24 V. 22— 35; th e p h o to g ra p h y of th e se a l; Z. R o z a n o w , E. S m u l i k o w s k a , S k a r b y k u lt u r y na Jasn ej Górze (The c u ltu ra l h e rita g e of J a s n a G ó ra ), W a rs z a w a 1974, ,p. 128.
18 K. P i e r a d z к a, Fundacja klas ztor u ja sn o g ó rsk ieg o w C z ę s t o c h o w i e w 3382 r. (The F o u n d a tio n of th e J a s n a G ó ra c lo iste r in C zęsto ch o w a in 1382), K ra k ó w 1939, p. 16— 18.
20 W ’. D w o r z a c z e k , Genealogia. T ablice (G enealogy. T ab les), W a rs z a w a 1959, ta b le 9.
21 Z. B o r a s , K sią ż ę ta p ia s t o w s c y Śląska (The P iast D ukes of SiLesia), K a to w ic e 1975, p. 267.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA SN A GÓRA 181
m a te ria listic state. H e su p p o rte d h ig h e r ed u c atio n for th e clergy; he finish ed th e ere c tio n of th e c a th e d ra l in 1411; d u rin g h is life h e g e n e ro u sly su p p o rte d th e D om inicans. T w o m o n th s b efore h is d eath, h e g a v e th e to w n 600 m ark s to reb u ild O p o le from w o o d e n stru c tu re s to b rick stru c tu re s. M oreover, h e left 500 m ark s for th e e re c tio n of a v a s t n ew h o sp ita l w ith tw o C hapels, an d a s e p a ra te d o w ry fund for th e v e ry p o o r an d o rp h an ed to w n sw o m en of O pole.22
T h e O rd er of St. P aul w o rk e d v e ry c lo se ly w ith th e D uke in estab lish in g J a sn a Góra. A d o c u m e n t23 (dated J a n u a ry 19, 1385) gi v es an acco u n t of th e O rd e r’s p e rs is te n t re q u e sts t o c re a te b e tte r facilities for th e m o n a ste ry v e rifie s th is rela tio n sh ip . A nd w h e n th e d e fe a te d D uke lo st his p o w e r an d lands, th e y q u ick ly a p p e are d before th e ro y a l c h a n ce lle ry of L adislas J a g i e ł ł o in K raków , w h e re th e y re c e iv e d h ig h er g ra n ts 214 fo r th e m o n aste ry . This w as th e so-called "seco n d fo u n d atio n " of J a s n a G óra. A fter th e K ing's death, B rother A n drew , th e p rio r of J a s n a Góra, a p p e a re d before Bishop Z bigniew in K rak ó w on M a y 11, 1436, an d a sk ed „hum bly and fo rc e fu lly "25 for th e co n firm ation of th e p riv ile g e s g ran te d b y th e d e c e a se d m onarch.
W h a t w e re th e m o tiv es for th e foundation? T he a n sw er to th is q u e stio n can b e found in th e F o u n d a tio n 's d ocu m ents of D uke La dislas. T h e y w ere: th e sa lv a tio n of soul, th e souls of his ancestors, and th e d esire to v e n e ra te th e M ost H o ly V irg in M ary.
T he sa lv a tio n m o tiv e is v e ry c le a rly d efined in th e d ocu m en t d a te d J a n u a ry 19, 1385, h e n c e it sho u ld n o t be tre a te d as m erely a ste re o ty p e . It is difficult to state, w h e th e r th e re w as a n y c o n n e ct ion b e tw e e n th e e re c tio n of th e M o n a ste ry a n d th e D uk e's co n tritio n a fte r th e liftin g of a c h u rc h e x co m m u n icatio n in 1381.
In th e e sta te s of th e P ło ck bish o pric, D uke L adislas illeg a lly co llected ta x e s from th e v illag ers, and h is officials a b u sed th e law. B ecause of this, Bishop D obiesław ex co m m u n ic a te d th e d uk e. W h en d u rin g th e E aster season, a p rie st refu se d to g ive him th e H o ly Sa cram ents, th e D uke h um bled him self b efo re Jo h n th e A rchbish op of G niezno, w h o th e n lifted th e C h u rch p e n a lty (before M ay 13, 1381). In th e p re se n c e of D obiesław B ishop of Płock, Z b ilut Bishop of W ło cław ek, an d m a n y noblem en, th e D uk e pro m ised to rem o v e th e h e a v y ta x e s p u t on th e v illa g e rs a n d co m p en sate for th e ir lo sses.28
22 A. L i e d t k e , Jan z w a n y „Kropidło" (Jan n a m e d „K ropidło"), p rin te d in:
P olski sło w n i k biogr aficzny, v ol. 10, op. cit., p. 436—438.
23 ZD no. 18, p. 36, v. 35— 36.41; p. 37, v. 38.40— 41. 24 ZD no. 33, p. 64— 67.
25 ZD no. 109, p. 205, v. 50.
26 Jana z C zarnkow a K ro nik a Polska: 1333— 1382 (Jan of C za rn k ô w 's P olish
C h ro n icle: 1333— 1382), p re p a r e d b y J. S z l a c h t o w s k i , p rin te d in: M onu
m enta Poloniae Historica, p u b lish e r A. B i e l o w s k i , v ol. 2, Lw ów 1872, p. 691—■
1 8 2 KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPĘ
T he m o tiv e or d e sire to v e n e ra te O ur Lady. T he title, co u ld h a v e b een su g g e ste d b y th e p a rish ch urch in S tara C zęstochow a, or it could h a v e been ch o sen b y th e P au lin e O rder, w ho h a v e c u ltiv a te d th e cu lt of th e Blessed V irgin M ary, it could h a v e b e e n ch osen by th e D uke him self. In all p ro b ab ility th e title w as th e re s u lt of m u tu al u n d e rsta n d in g b e tw e en th e fo u n d er an d th e O rder. But th e fact rem ains, th a t in b o th fo u n d atio n do cum en ts of A u g u st 9, 1382 th e m o n aste ry b ears th e title (of th e B lessed V irgin M ary), th e m o n a ste ry of St. M ary ,27 as it w as e re c te d in h e r h o n o r.82
It is w o rth m en tio n in g here, th a t th e D u k e in th e F o u n d a tio n 's d o cu m en t of th e P a u lin e O rd er M o n a ste ry in S ilesia specified c le a rly th a t th e y w e re u n d e r o b lig atio n to say one M ass each d a y to th e V irg in M a ry for th e sa lv a tio n of his soul and th o se of his a n c esto rs.29
T he m o tiv e of O ur L ady w a s particu lax y em phasized b y th e D uke's gift: th e p ic tu re of th e M o th er of God.
The F o u n d a tio n d o cu m en ts do n o t m en tio n th e p ictu re. C h a ra c te ristic a lly in co n ten t, th e d o cu m en t of O cto b er 30, 1388 seem s to p o in t to a M a ria n cult w h ich h a d a lre a d y e x iste d th e n on J a sn a Góra. A cleric, Jo h n , th e son of M ath ew M andrys, to g e th e r w ith his step- -m other G ertruda, reso ld to Ja k u b , th e prior of Ja sn a G óra an d th e en tire M o n a ste ry of St. P aul th e farm lan d s an d fields sp read in g onto th e a re a of th e iron sm eltin g w o rk s n e a r th e to w n of C zęsto chow a. T h e y specified th a t th is sale is n o t b e in g do n e for profit alone, but to sav e th e soul of th e ir fa th e r M ath ew M an d ry s an d his leg al children, an d to h o n o r th e glorio u s V irg in M a ry .30 L et u s also ta k e n o te here, th a t th e sam e tw o m o tiv es — th e sa lv a tio n an d th e M arian cult ex ist h e re as th e y do in th e F ou n d atio n d o cu m en ts of th e M o n astery .
T he e a rlie st info rm atio n c o n cern in g th e p ic tu re of O u r L ady of C zęstochow a can be found in T ra n sla tio tabule, th a it is, th e first „ m y th ical'' d e scrip tio n of th e F o u n d atio n of Ja sn a Góra. In 1428, an unk n o w n a u th o r com piled a d e scrip tio n of th e p ictu re of O u r Lady of C zęstochow a b ein g tra n sfe rre d from Je ru sa le m to J a s n a G óra.31 A cco rdin g to him it is p a in te d on th e ta b le top used b y th e V irgin M ary; th e p a in tin g itself h a d been th e w o rk of St. Luke th e E v an g e list. T he d u k e for sp iritu a l rea so n s v o w ed th a t öfter e sta b lish in g and fu rn ish ing a m ag n ificen t m on astery , w o u ld b rin g th e p ictu re to J a sn a Góra. H e found th e p ictu re in th e Bełz castle in Red Russia, and th e a u th o r claim s th a t fiv e of th e d u k e 's n ob lem en w itn esse d th e ev ent.
ZD n o . 13, p. 26, V. 22.30; n o . 14, p. 30, v. 15. 28 ZD no. 14, p. 30, v. 6.
23 D o cu m en t fro m J a n u a r y 20, 1388: ZD no. 28, p. 57, v. 5—6. 30 ZD n o. 29, p. 59, y. 4— 6..
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA SN A GÖRA 183
T he a u th o r of T la n sla cio does n o t m en tio n th e d e stru c tio n of th e p ictu re w h ich to o k p la c e in 1430. H e p raise s L adislas Ja g ie łło as th e second fo u n d er of J a s n a Góra, w h ic h h e d escrib es as a p lace of p ilg rim ag es an d in d u lg en ces. H en ce w e m ay assum e th a t he w ro te his sto ry a ro u n d 1428, a n d th e p lac e of th is sto ry in th e code w ou ld also a c k n o w led g e th is fact.
T he a u th o r of Translacio a d o p te d a com m on leg e n d of th o se tim es a n d lin k ed it w ith J a s n a G óra. T he s to ry 's m o tiv es could h a v e b een ta k e n from a m an u sc rip t ab o u t th e m iracles of th e M o th e r of God, copied before 1417 b y B rother J a k u b of Ż agań.32 T he m a n u sc rip t m en tio n s th e e x iste n c e of a m iracu lo u s p ictu re of th e M o th er of G od in C o n stan tin o p le, w h ic h u n v e ile d itself e v e ry F rid a y evening. T h ere is also m en tio n of th e m iracu lo u s p ictu re of St. Luke th e E vangelist. T he p ictu re w as said to h a v e b een p a in te d by Luke at th e re q u e st of th e A po stles. A t a c e rtain m om ent, St. Luke fell in to a daze an d th e p ic tu re of O ur L ady m iracu lo u sly cam e in to ex isten ce. A fter th e A scension, th e p ictu re w as ta k e n to th e M on a ste ry of th e B lessed V irgin in th e T em ple. T he L ateran clerg y u rged Po pe S e r g i u s to h a v e th e p ic tu re rem o v ed to th e L ateran. H e h o w ever, w as ca u tio n ed b y H e a v e n n o t to do so. T he p ic tu re m oved itself to a co n v en t of n u n s an d th e po p e in o b ed ience to a d iv in e m an d a te g av e th em a ric h grant.
In d escrib in g th e life of K rak o w 's Bishop Jo h n of R adliczyce, D ł u g o s z ste a d fa stly claim s th a t L adislas O po lczyk b y ch an ce d isc o v e red th e p ic tu re in R ussia an d d o n a te d it to th e M o n a ste ry in J a sn a G óra.33
F ollo w in g th e Translacio tabule, th e le g e n d a ry h isto ry of th e p ic tu re is rep o rted w ith sm all ch ang es b y a p rin te d p ra y e r sh eet in G erm an d a tin g from th e first d e c a d e of th e 16th c e n tu ry .34 A d e ta il ed d escrip tio n is offered te n y e a rs la te r b y R i s i n i u s w ho also gives th e d a te of th e ico n 's p lac e m e n t in J a sn a Góra: A u g u st 31, 1384,3S an d m o reo v er stre sse s — to q u o te th e tra n s la tio n of F a th er M ikołaj W i l k o w i e c k o — „th is h isto ry w as to ld b y th e D uke h im self and so re c o rd e d ” .36
® Secuntur miracula b ea te Virginis. Per manus fra iris Jacobi de Sagano, AJ
lib ra ry m a n u s c rip ts m a rk e d II-17 col. 104— 104—vo.
38 J. D ł u g o s z , Cata logus epis coporum Cracovie nsiu m , in: O pera omnia,
p u b lish e d b y A l. P r z e ź d z i e c k i , v ol. 1, K rak ó w 1887, p. 419.
34 X P i r o ż y ń g k i , N a js t a r s z y z ach ow an y, d r u k o w a n y p r z e k a z le g e n d y
o ob ra zie M atki Boskie j C z ę s t o c h o w s k ie j (The o ld e st e x istin g p rin te d v e rs io n of
th e le g e n d of th e p ic tu re of O u r L ady of C zęsto ch o w a), B iu lety n B iblioteki J a g ie llo ń sk ie j 23(1973) no. 1/2, p. 151— 165.
. ** P. R d s i n i u s , op. cit., p. 19. 86 H i s t o r y a, op. cit., p. 14.
184 KAZIMIERZ SZAPRANIEC OŚPE
From J u ly 1425, J a sn a G óra is m e n tio n e d as a p lac e to w hich pilgrim s w e n t se ek in g and u n d e r c e rtain conditio ns re c e iv in g in d u l g e n c es.37 T he rap id d e v e lo p m en t of th e M arian S hrine by th e secon d d e cad e of th e fifte e n th c e n tu ry is confirm ed b y th e ro b b e ry o f A pril 16, 1430 p e rp e tra te d b y th e im p o v erish ed n o b les Ja m e s N adobny, Jo h n K u ro p atw a an d F ed k o K orybutow icz, D uke of R u ssia.38
T h e p ic tu re w as strip p ed of th e jew e ls d o n a te d b y pilgrim s, but la te r p ut to g e th e r in C racow b y p a in te rs w h o d id n o t u se th e "G reek " te c h n iq u e of p a in tin g b u t R ussian.39 T he bottom of th e p a in tin g w a s tre a te d as a relic, b e c a u se th e g en e ra l belief w as th a t it h a d b een a p a rt of th e ta b le used b y th e V irgin M ary. U nder th e p re se n t can v as a re h o les m ad e b y p re v io u s nails, used to a tta c h th e p rec io u s je w e ls to th e h o ly icon. T h e tw o slash es on th e face of th e M ad on n a w e re p a in te d to v isu a liz e fo re v e r th e p ro fa n a tio n suffered b y th e p ictu re. T he fig u re of th e M o th er of G od an d th e In fant Je su s rec a ll th e old H o d e g e tiia icon d e s tro y e d in 1430.
C icero claim s th a t g e stu re s a re an ex p ressio n of th e body. T he infant J e s u s h o lds in h is left h a n d th e G ospel; his rig h t h a n d is lifted p o in tin g u p w ards; th e sm all fin g ers an d thum b a re b ent, th e in d ex a n d m id d le fin gers p o in t u p w ard s. T h at is th e g e stu re of a sp eak er; a g e stu re w e ll k n o w n as c la ssic a l a n c ie n t art, w h ic h w as ap p lied b y C h ristian ic o n o g ra p h y 40 in an cien t tim es and com m only used in th e icons. T he in fan t Je su s is th e Son of th e F ather, His W ord. In th e E p istle to th e H eb rew s is w ritte n ; ,,God, w h o once spok e m a n y tim es to our fath e rs in. v a rio u s w a y s th ro u g h th e p rophets, in th e s e tim es sp e ak s to us th ro u g h H is S on ".41
T he M iddle A ges in th e ir ow n w a y su rro u n d e d th e p ic tu re of C zęstoch ow a an d J a sn a G óra w ith a leg en d , th a t w as ta k e n up b y fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s and a lte re d . T he 20th cen tu ry, th ro u g h its h i sto rian s a n d a rt sh o lars is c re a tin g a to ta lly d ifferen t and in te re s t in g ed itio n of th a t legend.
For exam ple, Ew a S n i e ż y ń s k a - S t o l o t claim s th a t " th e In fan t is b lessin g c h a ra c te rs n o t sh o w n ” . From a d e sc rip tio n of th e V isita tio n carried o ut b y J e rz y C ard in al Radziw iłł, th e Bishop of Cracow , in 1593 she assum es th a t th e M ad o n n a w as k e p t in a closed trip ty c h , th e sid e p a n e ls of w h ich w e re a d o rn e d b y th e p a in tin g s of St. B arbara an d St. C ath erin e. S he b e lie v es th a t th e w ord tabula
88 J. D ł u g o s z , Historiae Polonicae, vol. 4, in: O pera omnia, p u b lish e d b y Al.
P r z e ź d z i e c k i , v ol. 13, K rak ó w 1877, p. 399—400.
89 P. R i s i n i u s , op. cit., 2.25; se e R. K o z ł o w s k i , Historia obrazu ja sno
górs k ieg o w ś w i e t l e badań tech nologic znych i artystycz n o -lo r m a ln ych , (The h i
sto ry of th e J a s n a G ó ra p ic tu re in th e lig h t of te c h n o lo g ic a l, an d a rtis tic an d fo r m a l re s e a rc h ), R oczniki H u m an isty czn e. H isto ria sztu k i, 20(1972) no. 5, p. 5—46.
40 E. J о s i, Gesti, in: Encyclopedia Cattolica, vol. 6, F iren ze 1951, co l. 220— ’ « H b r . 1,1— 2.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA S N A GÓRA 185
m ean s th e altar, and th a t th e m o n a ste ry in C zęsto ch ow a w as m ere ly an a filia te of St. L aw ren ce's m o n a ste ry n e a r O ld Buda.42
In fact th e g e stu re of th e In fan t J e su s is th a t of a sp eak er. In th e d escrip tio n of Bishop Radziwiłł'® v isit to J a s n a G óra th e re is m en tio n of a n a lta r p ie c e in w h ic h th re e p ic tu re s w e re k ep t: th e B lessed V irgin, St. B arbara, an d St. C ath erin e. T he p ic tu re of O ur Lady of C zęstochow a w as k e p t b e h in d th e c e n tral p a n e l show ing th e B lessed V irgin. T h e ex istin g p ictu res of th e tw o s a in ts d a tin g from th e en d of th e 16th c e n tu ry a re 54.5 b y 90 cm in size. T heir c h a ra c te ristic sty le rec a lls th e co rd o v a n s d o n a te d b y C ard in al B olognetti in 1585. A com parison of th e v isita tio n d e scrip tio n p ro v id e d b y R a dziw iłł and a n o th e r re p o rt -made by R eszka in 1585 a llo w us to a s su m e th a t th e m en tio n ed a lta r p ie c e w as m ad e b e tw e en 1585 a n d 1593. H ence, N adobny, K uropatw a, and K o rybutow icz in 1430 d id n o t h av e to to il in b rea k in g a n y trip ty c h . In th e Latin v e rn a c u la r u sed in C zę stochow a, tabula m ean s th e -bottom of th e p ictu re, an d im ago m ean s the picture.
T he C zęsto cho w a m o n a s te ry from th e n on becam e th e resid e n ce of th e P olish p ro v in cial. T h e p a rtic u la r clo isters of th e P olish P ro v in ce an d J a s n a G óra w e re ru le d b y th e p rio r g eneral, w h o se r e sid en ce w as in th e M o n a ste ry of St. L aw ren ce in Buda, H ung ary . A t no p erio d in h isto ry , h o w ev er, w a s J a s n a Gór-а a b ran c h of a n y H u n g a ria n M o n astery .
K ry sty n a P i e r a d z к a 43 th in k s it m o re lik e ly th a t K ing Louis of H ung ary , com paring his d o n a tio n s t-о M aria-Z ell and A achen sen t th e p ictu re to C zęstochow a, th u s g iv in g his ro y a l b lessin g to th e n ew m o n a ste ry of th e O rd er of St. Paul. A ra th e r farfetch ed th e o ry , w h ich in all so u rces c o n cern in g J a sn a G óra h as n o backing. F ranciszek K o t u l a 44 ex p lain s ,,A sh o rt d e scrip tio n of th e h isto ry of th e a n c ie n t picture... to 1820" as ,,the title -page of th e o ld est p u b lic a tio n c o n tain in g th e h isto ry of th e m iracu lo u s p ictu re of Ja sn a G óra". The first p u b lic a tio n c o n cern in g th e p ic tu re in C zęstochow a a p p e a re d a t th e beg in n in g of th e 16th cen tu ry .
A c h a ra c te riz a tio n of th e fo u n d er him self is e x tre m e ly difficult, from a p sy ch olo g ical p o in t of v iew . O ur n o tio n s c o n cern in g coun try , n a tio n a lity , a n d Poland do n o t e v en slig h tly coin cide w ith his b e liefs. Both his p o licies and his rela tio n sh ip lin k ed him w ith K ing Louis. In p o litic s h e w a s eleg an t, able and p a tie n t. H e w a s n o w o rse th a n m an y o th er d u k e s of his tim es, b u t d e fin ite ly m ore religious, d ilig en t and a b e tte r ruler.
42 E. S n i e ż y ń s k a - S t o l - o t , Geneza, s t y l i historia obrazu M atki Bosk ie j
C z ę s t o c h o w s k ie j (The c re a tio n , s ty le a n d h is to ry of th e p ic tu re of O u r L ady of
C zęsto ch o w a), in : F o lia h is to ria e artiu m , v ol. 9, K ra k ó w 1973, p. 8, 15, 42. 43 O p. cit., p. 66.
44 O sta ry m dom u C zarnej M a d o n n y (O n th e old h o m e of th e B lack M ad o n
186 KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPĘ
T he c h asu b le h e w as said to h a v e d o n a te d — w a s a gift of th e H u n g a ria n fam ily of D rugeth H o m on n ay in seco nd d ecad e of th e 16th century, and w as n o t his gift. A lso, Ja sn a G óra has n o rich d o n a tio n from th e B lessed Q u een Jad w ig a, w h ich S t r z e l e c k a and S i a b i ή s к a45 stu b b o rn ly claim she m ade.
2. T he D ev elo p m en t a n d H isto rical S ignificance of J a s n a G óra: F acto rs an d Tasks
In th e six c e n tu rie s of th e life of J a sn a Góra, p a rtic u la rly th re e tra its stan d out: th e co m m u n ity of th e O rd er of St. Paul, th e S h rin e of th e B lessed V irgin, a n d th e fo rtre ss of M ary. C hronologically, th e first tra it is th e sta rtin g point; th e th ird e x isted on ly a t c e rtain perio d s d u e to ex istin g p o litical c o n d itio n s; th e second tra it o u tlin ed th e d e v elo p m en t of J a s n a Góra, and still do es m aps o ut th e p a s to ral an d social task s of th e cloister.
T he O rd er of St. Paul th e H erm it w as e stab lish ed in H u n g a ry in th e m iddle of th e 13th cen tu ry . T he life sty le in itia lly w as c h a ra c te riz e d b y an iso la te d e x iste n c e b e h in d c lo iste red w alls. T he d a ily sc h ed u le w as d efin ed b y th e M ass and b rev ia ry . In th e first half of th e 16th cen tu ry , th e o n sla u g h t of th e T u rk ish arm y d iv id ed th e H u n g arian state, and as a re su lt dozens of th e O rd e r's m o n aste rie s w e re d e stro y e d . In th e 1640's, th e H u n g arian p ro v in c e n u m b ered
12 clo isters a n d no m o re th a n 60 friars, w h ile th e Polish p ro v in c e
in th e sam e p e rio d h a d 13 c lo iste rs and som e 200 m em bers.46 T he re a l tre n d -se ttin g in th e life of th e O rd er w as ta k e n over b y th e Polish p rovince, or to be m o re p recise — J a s n a G óra w h ic h th e n b e cam e th e O rd e r's m ain m o n aste ry an d m o th e r house. In fact it th e n had as m an y friars as th e e n tire H u n g arian province.
A lrea d y in th e 15th cen tu ry , th e P olish m em b ers of th e O rd er to o k on p aro ch ial resp o n sib ilities. In th e n e x t cen tu ry , c o o p eratio n in th e stru g g le ag ain st th e R eform ation bro u g h t th em into· th e forefront of so u l-sav in g tasks, an d m ad e it n e c e ssa ry for th em to h a v e su ita b le in te lle c tu a l p re p a ra tio n . A s th e re su lt of orders re c e iv e d after v isita tio n s from th e H o ly See in th e y e a rs 1577, 1585, 1593, 1609, a n d 1635, as w ell as th e efforts of Polish p ro v in c ials and
45 A. S t r z e l e c k a , Ja d w ig a A n d e g a w e ń s k a , A n jo u , k ró lo w a P o lski (J a d w ig a A n jo u , Q u e e n o f P oland), in: P o lski sło w n ik b io g ra iic zn y , vol. 10, op. cit., p. 296: J. S t a b i ń s k a , K ró lo w a Ja d w ig a (Q ueen Jad w ig a), e d itio n II, K rak ó w 1975, p. 125. See Z. R o z a n o w , E. S m u l i k o w s k a , S k a rb y k u ltu r y na Ja sn ej G órze (C u ltu ra l tr e a s u re s at J a s n a G óra), W a rs z a w a 1974, p. 94.
46 A c ta o rd in is generalia, vol. 1,. p. 135, B udapest, E g y etem i K o n y v ta r, sign AB. 154.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA SN A GÓRA 187
a few in te lle c tu a l friars, th e O rd er beg an c re a tin g its ow n schools of learn in g , w h ich p ro v id ed co urses in p h ilo so p h y and C a th o lic th eo lo g y . T h ese leg a l and o rg an iz atio n al e n d e av o rs w e re crow n ed w h en p o p e C l e m e n t X g ran te d b y his bull E x iniuncto
nobis (A pril 3, 1671) th e P au lin e Prio r G en eral th e rig h t to confer
u n iv e rsity d egrees. In J a s n a Góra, courses in rh etorics, p h ilo so p h y and m oral th e o lo g y w e re av ailable, w h ile le c tu re s in dogm atic th eo lo g y w e re p ro v id ed m ain ly by th e M o n astery in. Cracow .
N o te w o rth y ev id e n c e s of th e sp irite d life of th e O rd er of St. P aul d u rin g th e 17th and th e 18th ex ist v e ry d a y a t J a sn a Góra, m ost of th e a rc h ite c tu re of th e M o n astery , rich archives, larg e m usic archives, th e lib ra ry w ith a fine o ld-print division, th e buildin g of th e form er p harm acy, th e form er p rin tin g house, w o rk s tu rn e d out b y th e p a in te rs', th e ca rp e n te r's, th e go ld sm ith 's an d th e em bro idery w o rk sh o p s of th e m o n a ste ry .47
T h e p a rtitio n s of Poland, and esp ec ially th e d isso lu tio n s of re li g ious h o u ses after th e J a n u a ry U prising (1863) to ta lly d isp ersed th e J a s n a G óra com m unity, w h ich w as su ccessfu lly reo rg an ized only after th e c o u n try reg a in ed its in d ep e n d e n c e in 1918. In th e in te rw a r period, and after W o rld W a r II th e O rd er of St. Paul th e H erm it in P oland o p en ed relig io u s fo u n d atio n s b o th a t hom e an d ab ro ad and in creased its to ta l m em bership. T h e P au lines as m an y o th er orders, faced th e d ifficu lty of a d a p tin g th e ir lifestyle, once enclo sed in so litud e, to th e m o dern n e e d s of th e pilgrim m in istry at Ja sn a Góra.
T he g ro w th of th e S h rin e of O ur L ady a t J a sn a G óra should be seen in th e v e in of charism a, p a rtic u la rly th e charism a of giving. It all b e g an w ith th e fo u n d er D uke w h o fin an ced th e m o n aste ry an d d o n a te d th e h o ly ico n of th e M o th e r of God, H is ex am ple w as follow ed b y o th ers — in m o st c a se s a n o n y m o u s donors,48 w h o w e re also led b y th e sam e tw o m o tiv es: th e sa lv a tio n of th e ir souls and th eir d e v o tio n for th e B lessed V irg in M ary. T he fo u n d atio n s c o n c e rn ed b o th th e p lac e an d w a y s of cu lt: a lta r pieces, chapels, organs, e n tra n c e gate, th e a rt of M arian h y m n o d y (the O ffice of th e
Imma-47 See K. S z a f r a n i e c, Przeor Kord ecki, w trzechsetle cie zgonu: 1673—
1973 (Prior K o rd e c k i on th e 300th a n n iv e r s a ry of his d e a th : 1673— 1973), A te n e u m
K a p ła ń sk ie 80(1973) p. 284—302; H. C z e r w i e ń , Szk oła paulińska (The O rd e r of St. P au l's school), in: D zie je te ologii k a to l ic k i e j w Polsce, vol. 2, p a rt II, Lublin 1975, s. 509— 548; J. H. Z b u d n i e . w e k , Kata log d o m ó w i re z y d e n c ji polskiej
pro w in cji p aulinów (C atalog of h o u se s an d re s id e n c e s of th e P olish p ro v in c e of
th e O rd e r of St. P aul), N asza P rzeszło ść 31(1969) p. 181— 228; S. S z a f r a n i e c,
K o n w e n t pa u lin ó w ja snogórskich 1382— 1864 (C onvent of th e O rd e r of St. P au l
at J a s n a G ó ra 1382— 1864), R om a 1966.
48 See S. S z a f r a n i e с, Jasna Góra. Studium z. d z i e jó w kultu M atki Boskiej
C z ę s t o c h o w s k ie j (Ja sn a G óra. S tu d y in to th e h is to ry of th e c u lt of O u r L ady
of C zęsto ch o w a), in: Sacrum Poloniae Millennium, vol. 4, R om a 1957, p. 9— 67; Z. R o z a n o w , E, S m u l i k o w s k a , S k a rb y ku ltu ry na Jasn ej G órze (C u ltu ral tre a s u re s a t J a s n a G óra), W a rs z a w a 1974.
188 KAZIMIERZ SZAFRANIEC OSPĘ
cu late C onception, th e L itan y of Loretto), th e c e leb ratio n of M ass and v o tiv e lights.
Even before 1430, J a sn a G óra w as th e p lace of pilgrim ag es.49 G roups of p ilg rim s from afar v isited J a s n a G óra to b e g th e M o th e r of G od for g race an d m ira cle s at H er shrine. T he friars in cre ase d th is a lre a d y g re a t d e v o tio n to M ary b y in tro d u c in g re v e re n c e se r vices, d u rin g w h ich — from th e m iddle of th e 16th c e n tu ry — a v o cal an d in stru m e n ta l ch oir perform ed, serm ons w e re p reached , w ith th e a ssu ra n c e th a t th e re e x iste d p o ssib ilities of re c e iv in g in d u lg e n c es w h ich on ly th e "h o ly s ite ” could give. This g rea t d e v o tio n and im ag in atio n h a v e a lw a y s b e e n c o n c e n tra te d e sp ecially on th e a d o rn ing of th e p ic tu re of O u r L ady and th e altar, on w h ich th e p ic tu re is k e p t. T he p re se n c e of special ro y a l sym bols as n o tew o rth y : th e ro y al crow n, sceptre, th e orb, th e ro y a l dress, th e th ro n e, th ro n e room, ro y a l b u g le call, an d th e trib u ta ry scroll. A lre a d y in th e b e g in n in g of th e 16th cen tu ry , in th e first e tc h in g of th e p ictu re th e r e is a crow n on th e h ead of th e M o th e r of God. T ow ard th e end of th a t c e n tu ry w e re som e e x a g g era tio n s w h ich b ro u g h t w o rd s of rep ro a c h from G eorge C ard in al R adziw iłł in 1593, w h o o rd ered re s tra in t a n d good ta s te .50 The p rev io u s v isita tio n official, Rev. R eszka in 1585 had a can o p y h u n g o v er th e altar, an d th e rich jew e ls m ad e as offerings, w hich form erly had h u n g on th e p ictu re w e re rem o v ed to se p ara te boards. O n ly th e m ost precio u s gifts w e re left on th e p ic tu re itself, nam ely, th e gem s d o n a te d b y th e Q u een of Poland, a s w ell as th e gold rin g s and ch ain s.51 W ith th e y ears, th e jew e ls in creased , an d in th e la tte r h alf of th e 17th cen tu ry , th e m o n a ste ry 's chief em bro iderer friar C lem ent T om aszew ski u sed th em to m ak e four dresses. T hese w e re n e x t rem a d e an d changed; a t p re se n t th e re are five such dresses. T he p ic tu re w a s cro w n ed in 1717 an d 1910. T h e sc ep tre an d orb are gifts of P olish w om en in 1926. O ne of th e m ost in te re stin g and p o p u lar p ro ce d u re s in th e J a s n a G óra c h u rc h is th e u n v e ilin g of th e p icture, p erfo rm ed to th e acco m p an im en t of an in stru m e n ta l group, w h ich d u rin g th e u n v e ilin g alw ay s p lay s th e old ro y a l sa lute. T h e silv er trib u ta ry scroll, p lac e d u n d e r th e p ictu re, co n tain s th e do cum ent of p lac in g th e N a tio n u n d er th e m o th erly , lo v e of M ary in 1966, and P op e P a u l V F s b rie f confirm ing th is fact.
T he crow ds of p ilg rim s th a t v isite d J a sn a G óra from v a rio u s p a rts of th e c o u n try in th e first half of th e 15th c e n tu ry did n o t d e c re a se o v er th e cen tu ries. T h eir social a n d sp iritu a l p rofile h a s
49 ZD no. 95, p. 174— 175.
50 T o m u s p rim u s m ira cu lo ru m В. V. m o n a ste rii C e sto c h o v ie n sis, A J m a rk 2096, col. 49.
51 W iz y ta c je k o n w e n tu J a s n e j G óry: 1577— 1743 (V isitatio n s of th e .Jasn a G ó ra c o n v e n t: 1577— 1743), A J m a rk 2407, p. 16.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA SN A GÖRA 189
a lte re d , b u t th e p ilg rim ag es h a v e n e v e r stopped, n o t e v en d u rin g th e N azi o ccu p ation of P o lan d d u rin g W o rld W a r II. T he b o ly d ay s of th e M o th er of God b rin g g ro u p s a n d crow ds of pilgrim s, w ho h a v e a lw a y s co m e to th e "h o ly site in C zęsto ch ow a" to sa v e th e ir souls a n d bow before th e M o th e r of God.
In 1429, K ing L adislas J a g i e ł ! о 52 w ro te to Pope M a r t i n V th a t in J a sn a G óra d u e to th e g race of G od th e re a re m an y m y ste r ious m iracles, th a t m an y com e th e re in th e h o p e of rec e iv in g in d u lg en c e s and salv atio n . D ł u g o s z , in co n n ectio n w ith th e in fo r m atio n th a t th e s a n c tu a ry had b een ro b b ed in 1430, sta te d th a t pilgrim s, draw n b y th e fam e of e x c ep tio n a l cures, h u rrie d to th e h o ly site from th e w h o le te rrito ry of Poland, as w ell as from Silesia, M oravia, Prussia, an d H un gary, to ta k e p a rt in th e c e leb ratio n se r v ice s h o n o rin g M a ry 's h o ly d ay s. T h e p rese n c e of n u m ero u s pilgrim s from H u n g a ry is confirm ed b o th b y R i s i n i u s and th e O rd e r's C o n fra te rn ity b o o k (started in 1517)53, in w h ich H u n g arian sig n atu res can be found. It is c h a ra c te ristic th a t som etim es th e title of St. P au l's c o n fra te rn ity is chang ed to th e c o n fra te rn ity of th e B lessed V irgin a t J a s n a G óra. O ne h u n d red y e a rs la te r th e J a s n a G óra S hrine b e c a m e to o sm all for th e in cre asin g n u m b er of pilgrim s. A ccord ing to th e ir ow n estim a tes th e m o n a ste ry n e e d e d 70 friars, in clu d in g a t lea st 30 confessors, a n d as e v id e n c e it is said th a t in 1629 som e 200.000 pilgrim s re c e iv e d com m union th ere , an d all of th em w ish ed to go to confessio n first. A u th o r N i e s z p o r k o w i c w ro te: „A nnually, th e citizen s of sm aller an d b ig g er to w n s w e re accu sto m ed to v isitin g th is p lac e w ith th e ir ow n ro w s a n d th o se of w h o le com m unities, n e ver, h o w ev er, w e re th e crow ds so la rg e as in th e y e a r of O u r Lord 1630 after th e d a n g e ro u s p lag u e th a t h it th e w h o le co u ntry. It h a p p e n e d th a t on one d a y som etim es 15, som etim es 20 or 30 th o u sa n d p e o p le cam e t o fulfill th e pro m ises m ade d u rin g th e plague, and h e re th e y g ro u p ed to go to co n fessio n an d h o ly com m union.54 T he title of „Q u een of Poland" u sed b y p re a c h e rs in d escrib in g th e B lessed V irgin w a s v e ry soon lin k e d w ith th e p ictu re of O u r L ady of C zęsto ch o w a as its ico n o g ra p h ic a l p re se n ta tio n , and th is w as stre n g th e n e d b y F a th e r A u g u sty n K o r d e c k i ' s N o w a gigantom achia, in w hich th e a u th o r p u b lish e d th e te x t of th e Lwów p ledges m ad e b y K ing J o h n Casim ir. T h ese v o w s w e re p re c e e d e d b y th e pro clam ation d e c la rin g th e B lessed V irg in as Q u e e n of P oland.55 T he co ro n atio n
52 ZD no. 95, p. 174—.175.
58 S e q u itu r re g e stru m c o n ir a te rn ita tis o rd in is fra tru m h ere m ita ru m s. Pauli p rim i h e re m ita e , 1517, A J, m ark . 798,
54 O p. cit., p. 60.
55 S. S z a f r a n i e c, T r z e c h se tie c ie M a r y jn e j e le k c ji (300 y e a rs of M a ry 's election),. A te n e u m K a p ła ń sk ie 49(1957) p. 16—27..
190 KAZIMIERZ SZÄFRANIEC OSPE
of th e p ictu re a t J a s n a G óra on S ep tem b er 8, 1717 w as co n sid ered as th e co ro n atio n of th e M o th er of G od as th e h e re d ita ry Q ueen of Poland. T he ce le b ra tio n is said to h a v e a ttra c te d som e 200.000 pilgrim s.
T he loss of in d ep e n d e n c e slow ed do w n th e pilg rim age tren d, w h ic h w as v e ry g re a t to w a rd th e end of th e 19 th c e n tu ry . A gain d u rin g th e in te rw a r p eriod, J a s n a G óra becam e th e site of th e Epis co p a te 's conference, a c e n tre of co n g resses and conferences, a n d in 1936 ev en th e se at of th e P le n a ry Synod. A m ong th e nu m b er of p led g es m ade at th a t tim e, a p ro m in en t p lac e m u st be given' to th e E p isco p ate's A c t of J u ly 27, 1920,56 in w h ich th e bisho p s of P oland h ead ed b y Edm und C ardin al D a 1 b о r chose th e Blessed V irgin "o n ce ag a in as our Q u e e n an d L ad y ” .
In re c e n t y e a rs m ass cele b ra tio n s h o n o rin g O ur Lady at J a s n a G óra w e re op en ed b y th e co n secratio n to th e Im m aculate H e a rt of M ary o n S eptem b er 8, 1946, w h ich in tw in p rep a re d th e w a y for th e " Ja s n a G óra V o w s” on A u g u st 26, 1956. T h e G reat N o v e n a sta rte d th e follow ing y e a r and th e p ra y e rs for th e S econd V atican C ouncil w e re c o n tin u o u sly held a t Ja sn a G óra an d th e S h rin e b ecam e th e n a tio n a l sp iritu a l c e n te r w h ich in a lastin g w a y influ en ced th e Polish C hurch. T he "six y e a rs of g ra titu d e " p rec e d in g th e A n n iv e rsa ry of J a sn a G óra in 1982 h a v e th e sam e ch aracter.
T he ch an g es of econom ic co n d itio n s h a v e n o t b a sic a lly a lte re d th e c h a ra c te r of p ilgrim ages to J a s n a Góra. W h ile th e re a re few er pilgrim g rou p s w h o jo u rn e y o n foot, th e re a re m o re sm all p ilg rim ages organ ized w ith in fam ilies, and th e tim e for su ch pilgrim ag es has been sp read out, and co v ers p ra c tic a lly all d a y s free from w ork. The an n u a l W a rsa w pilg rim age on foot to J a s n a G óra has grow n in size and h as ta k e n on th e sh a p e of re tre a ts h e ld d u rin g th e trip to Ja sn a G óra. D uring th e p a st dozen or so y ears, foreign to urism has grow n at J a sn a Góra: th e re a re pilgrim gro up s from H un gary, C ze choslovakia, th e G erm an D em ocratic Republic, Italy, and esp ec ially from th e U nited S ta te s of A m erica.
S ta tistics (w hich h a v e an im pact all th e ir ow n) sh o w th a t in 1971 a t J a sn a G óra com m union w a s g iv en to 947,810 p eo p le, and in 1976— 1,085, 070.
T he fo rtress b u ilt in th e th irtie s of th e 17 th cen tu ry , com p leted d u rin g th e seig e in N o v em b er an d D ecem ber of 1655, e x p a n d ed in th e first half of th e 18 th cen tu ry , h as se rv e d as a d e fe n siv e s tru c tu re for th e h o ly site. It had its rig h t of e x iste n ce in th e p o litic a l co n d itio n s and th e fro n tie r c h a ra c te r of its location. T he fo rtificatio n s
56 O rig in a l te x t of p le d g e w ith th e a u to g ra p h s of th e b ish o p s: U ro c zy sto śc i i n a b o że ń stw a , A J m a rk 2103, p. 151— 152.
600th ANNIVERSARY OF JA S N A GÖRA 191
w e re d e stro y e d in 1813 and th e d e fe n se w alls w e re reb u ilt in th e m iddle of th e 19th cen tu ry . B etw een 1900 an d 1913, th e fields aro un d th e fo rtress w e re c o n v e rted in to a p a rk an d 14 S tatio n s of th e C ross w e re e re c te d as a p lac e of p ra y e r an d m ed ita tio n for th e pilgrim s.
From th e in te rw a r p erio d to th e presen t, J a sn a G óra becam e a r e tre a t h o u se for th e bish op s of P oland an d ofttim es th e site for th e ir conferences. T he C h u rch is th e scen e of th e re n e w a l of v ow s and p ra y e rs for groups, so cieties and o rgan izatio n s; it is th e cen ter of p a sto ra l m in istry gu ided b y th e P olish ep isco pate.
