The very name Niepokalanów means “Town of the Immaculate Virgin”. The name was originally borne by the Franciscan monastery, and now also Marian sanctuary, sited some 40 km west of Warsaw.
The monastery was founded by Father Maksymilian Kolbe in 1927. His intention was to establish an evangelical centre focused on the spiritual and religious revival of the Polish nation, which had so very recently regained its independence after over 120 years of bondage. Within a few years the number of monks in the monastery had increased from 18 to 650, making Niepokalanów the largest Catholic religious house in the world.
Towering over the monastery complex is the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, whose foundation stone was laid by Fr Kolbe himself, though it was not actually erected until after World War II. Pope John Paul II later raised it to the rank of basilica minor.
We visited Niepokalanów on pilgrimage several years ago with a tour group and several close and very dear friends. Niepokalanów was a highlight of a trip filled with highlights.
For me, one of the great treasured memories of our visit to Niepokalanów is the Adoration chapel. I remember my breath being stolen away at first sight entering the door. Before you, at the front of this marble sanctuary stands a life sized image of our Blessed Mother, walking through lilies out of a star burst. With her chest lies our Eucharistic Lord. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you see this image. It impacted and impacts me so much. Probably the most awesome Adoration Chapel in which I’ve ever been or prayed. We had a few hours in Niepokalanów’s grounds and went back to the Adoration chapel a few times, so take was I by our Lady and Lord in this place.
The Adoration Chapel was developed and built on the basis of a wish that St. Maximilian Kolbe expressed in a 1937 letter, in which he had envisioned a chapel with a large statue of the Immaculate with open arms and a luminous heart.
Connie and I have recently come to praying our Rosary with the livestream image from Niepokalanów’s Adoration Chapel on our television.
Join in adoration any time, from anywhere.
