The Pilgrim's Journey

Gorzkie Zale

For a new practice, sing and pray the Polish traditional Gorzkie Żale this Lent

Natalie HoeferLast Updated: February 23rd, 2024Featured Pilgrimages, Poland, Spiritual Reflections

Lent is fast approaching. Before the fasting and abstinence of Ash Wednesday of course comes the feasting of Shrove or Fat Tuesday. Cakes and sweets and pastries, oh my! And don’t forget the popular Polish paczki—donuts filled with jelly or cream then deep fried and covered with powdered sugar, icing or glaze. (You’re drooling just … Read More

Divine Mercy & St. John Paul II

Bri CampbellLast Updated: January 20th, 2021Ebooks, Poland, Saints

Do not be afraid. In the Gospel of Matthew, these are the first words Jesus spoke to His disciples after His resurrection. Nearly 2000 years later, they were also among the first words spoken to the world by the newly elected Pope John Paul II. In his inaugural papal homily, he invited everyone listening – … Read More

Lithuania’s Beating Heart for Mercy

Bri CampbellLast Updated: January 20th, 2021Ebooks, Poland, Saints

The beating heart of the Lithuanian nation just keeps giving. It’s the title that St. John Paul II gave to this almost forgotten land that helped bring us the Divine Mercy Devotion. St. Faustina spent much of her convent life here; it was the site of the first public veneration of the famous Divine Mercy … Read More

The Ultimate Interview: 1-on-1 with the Mother of God

Bri CampbellLast Updated: February 17th, 2023Poland, Saints

St. Luke is a man after my own heart. He had the privilege of interviewing the Virgin Mary and thoughtfully recounting what she told him about her life with Jesus. As a journalist, this makes my heart want to sing. Any interview would pale in comparison to interviewing the Queen of Heaven. And that’s what … Read More

A Holy Man and His Holier Mother

Bri CampbellLast Updated: February 17th, 2023Poland, Saints

August 14 marks the feast of a saint whose lifetime is not far removed from our own. Born in 1894, small Rajmund would soon grow up to be St. Maximilian Kolbe – Franciscan, radio host, monastery founder, newspaper publisher, and most famously, victim of the Auschwitz death camp. As a young man, St. Maximilian Kolbe … Read More

This Chapel is Literally the Salt of the Earth

Bri CampbellLast Updated: June 29th, 2020Poland

Opened in the 13th century, the Wieliczka Salt Mine was Poland’s oldest business venture until it was forced to close in 2007 due to declining salt prices and flooding in the mine. What was left behind wasn’t just a 1,072-foot-deep hole in the ground, but an astounding architectural marvel that amazes close to 1.2 million people annually.