Visit to Poland 
We expected to be visiting a somewhat backward country, only marginally 
more up-to-date that many third world countries. This was an entirely 
invalid expectation, in that Poland presented itself as a modern, 
culture-laden and history-rich country that is joyful to be free from 
the clutches of depressive Communism/socialism - and which is building 
a good market economy. 

The country is 95% Roman Catholic, and it shows. Many shrines have been 
built along highways and roads and into the roof peaks of homes; towns 
have many Churches that fill - with men, women, children, young boys 
and girls of all ages, and people of all walks of life - at Mass. Poland 
has many churches - about 180 in the city of Krakow alone, whose 
population is 800,000. 

It was not uncommon to see people remove their hats and bless themselves 
when passing a Church. (Just like in Mexico.) Priests in cassocks and nuns 
in habits are a common sight. At the Mass that we were able to attend, 
there were no Eucharistic Ministers, and no procession of laity prior to Mass. 
The priest read both readings himself, and another priest helped him to 
distribute Holy Communion - at an altar railing where the Faithful knelt 
and received on the tongue. A nun (in habit) took up the collection. 
Of course, most of the Mass was said in Polish, with the priest facing 
the congregation. 

Our Lady of Fatima Church in Zakopane was built in 1980, and has a modern 
exterior façade of smooth horizontal and vertical lines. It looks gorgeous, 
built of large construction stones - evoking permanence. The inside of 
this modern church … actually looked like a church. The sanctuary and 
nave reached toward the heavens in verticality, and the iconography was 
generous and well done. It made one feel that he/she was in a special 
place - in a house of worship. It was very inspirational.

Other new, modern Churches were externally configured to the geometry of 
Bishop's mitres and the like - but (we understand) actually look like Churches 
inside. It was at once inspirational and humbling to a visitor from an 
affluent country in which its Catholics build cheap, sterile, and bland 
"throwaway" churches - while our counterparts in a decidedly less 
wealthy country just 11 years into democracy, can manage so much more. 

The heterodoxy, the dissent, and the scandals afflicting the West are 
not evident in Poland. There are no shortages of priests or Churchgoers. 
Our guide was more concerned about our group's making Mass on Sunday, 
than were several of our group's members - especially the young lady 
in our group. 

Our Lady of Czestochowa - and the so-called "Black Madonna" - was 
breathtaking. Jasna Gora just feels like a holy place. It was a joy 
to watch and listen to hundreds of teen agers singing Polish hymns 
(in unison) as they walked up in a casual procession toward the 
monastery and shrine. 


Eugeniusz Dolecki September 22, 2002