Jasna Gora in Czestochowa - Station 04 - Main Courtyard

Description

Maurice in Wroclaw and at the same time a gift offered by the Archdiocese of Wroclaw. On the east, you can see the two-storey chapel of the Holy Sacrament (photo 01.05.008), You are now in the main courtyard, also called the sacred courtyard. Please, stand back from Wałowa gate so you can better see the described elements. On the left side, still in the gate building, there is the Miejsce Przyjmowania Ofiar (Offerings Reception). Next, there are the stairs leading to the bulwarks and the bastions surrounding the monastery. Next to the stairs there is a narrow building known as the House of Musicians (photo 01.04.001), in which are located the Straż Jasnogórska (Jasnogórska Guard), the Poradnia Życia Rodzinnego (Family Life Counselling), and the headquarters of the Rodzina Różańcowa (Family of Rosary) community. Then, you see a narrow passage heading to John Paul II gate, and further, to the main parking lot and the Pilgrim’s House. With this passage you may also get to the Arsenal and to the Museum of the 600th Anniversary. On the right side of the passage there are the Royal Rooms, which served the dignitaries of the state (photo 01.04.002). The Pauline Rule prohibits the entrance into the monastery of non cleric people, so it was decided to build a separate house for guests. Today, on the ground floor of this building there is Jasna Gora Information Centre. On the facade of the Royal Rooms building there is a contemporary mosaic (photo 01.04.003) depicting the icon of Our Lady of Jasna Góra, as well as father Augustine Kordecki and Prince Władysław of Opole. On the right side of the building there is a way through the courtyard, in front of the Chapel of the Miraculous Icon. In the passage there is also the entrance to the tower. Once, between the House of Musicians and the Royal Rooms there was a wall with a gate separating the administrative from the sacred part. In front of you there is a porch in the shape of a Renaissance chapel (photo 01.04.004), from which you can enter the basilica. The entrance is decorated with a Renaissance portal. At the top there is the figure of the Archangel Michael (photo 01.04.005), who holds in his right hand a sword pointed at Satan, who is being trampled. Below, you can see the figure of Mary Help of Christians (photo 01.04.006) surrounded by two angels and, kneeling, St. Paul and St. Anthony. Above the portal there are two sundials, the one on the left with Arabic numerals (photo 01.04.007) and the one on the right with roman numerals (photo 01.04.008). Under the group of sculptures there is an inscription (photo 01.04.009). These are the words from the Book of Psalms meaning, "Holiness befits your house, o Lord". Please, note also the semicircular top of the entrance decorated with fleurons (photo 01.04.010). This motif, often used during the Renaissance, used to adorn the ceiling of chapels and tombs. These flowers symbolise the stars and the sky, giving a sense of entering into a heavenly reality. In the wings of the arch there are two bas-reliefs which personify two theological virtues. On the left you can see Fides (photo 01.04.011), the faith, shown as a woman holding a cross in the one hand and a chalice in the other. On the right side there is Spes (photo 01.04.012), the hope, represented as a woman holding an anchor with a pigeon sitting on her knee. On the right side of the portal there is an information board about the bestowal to the temple the title of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius X (photo 01.04.013). The event took place on the 23 November 1906. Below the board there are well-preserved cannonball (photo 01.04.014), which got stuck in the wall probably during the Swedish deluge. On the right of the porch there are two chapels from the 17th century. The first, dedicated to St. Paul the First Hermit (photo 01.04.015), is also called the Denhoff chapel, from the name of the patron. It is connected to porch by a small room (photo 01.04.016), surmounted by a statue of Mary standing on a globe (photo 01.04.017). This room leads to the lower part of the chapel, which serves as mausoleum of Denhoff family. Its facade is decorated with the obverse rustication, which is a lining made of huge dressed stones, resembling a brick wall. On the southern facade there is a decorative cartouche, with, at its centre, a black marble plaque surrounded by two angels (photo 01.04.018). Till today nobody knows why on this plate no epitaph was written. The second chapel (photo 01.04.019), with a modest facade, is called the Jabłonowski chapel. Inside, it is divided into two parts: the upper is the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the lower is the Chapel of the Holy Relics. Further to the right there is the Cenacle, which is the focus of the next record. Farther on the right side, close to the stairs there is a building called the Marian Hall, where is, among others, the Chapel of the Sacrament of Penance.

We invite you now to the fifth stop, which is located on the right of the main courtyard. Please, stop in front of the gate leading to the Cenacle.