Rosica,\u00a0Belarus<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> \u00a0Feb.\u00a018, 2012<\/p>\n<\/div> On Feb.\u00a017-18,\u00a02012, the Marian Fathers and parishioners celebrated the 69th\u00a0anniversary of the death of two Marian priests \u2014 Frs.\u00a0George Kaszyra and Anthony Leszczewicz \u2014 who perished in the flames of fire along with their parishioners during the pacification action conducted in the Belarusian village of Rosica. Both priests refused to abandon their faithful and stayed with them until the end.<\/p>\n The solemn remembrance is held annually at the Rosica church in honor of the two Blessed Marian priests\u2019 birth to the heaven. Below is the report on this year\u2019s solemnity (source: Catholic.by)<\/p>\n Where love conquers death \u201cWe are gathered here in the Rosica church to praise God and to ask the intercession of Blessed George and Blessed Anthony in our daily life. In those days we seek God\u2019s grace, the grace that was born here out the suffering and faith of the dying.\u201d<\/p>\n With these words, Fr.\u00a0Czaslau Kureczka,\u00a0MIC, the pastor of the Rosica parish addressed the numerous gathering of pilgrims, priests, and religious sisters \u2013 all those who came to Rosica on Feb.\u00a018 to honor the death of the Blessed Martyrs \u2013 Marian Fathers Anthony Leszczewicz and George Kaszyra. The event is held annually.<\/p>\n This year, pilgrims came to Rosica from P\u0142ock, Nowop\u0142ock, Vitebsk, Bras\u0142aw, Miory, Dzisna, G\u0142\u0119bokie, Luczaj, Rasony, Bigos\u00f3w, Druya, Vierchniedvinsk, Szarkowszyna, Pelikany, Minsk, Borysau, Zhodzino, and Pi\u0144sk. Along with the pilgrims, the Marian Fathers attended, led by Fr.\u00a0Provincial Pawe\u0142 Naumowicz,\u00a0MIC, the head of the Polish Province; the Apostolic Visitator for the Greek-Catholics in Belarus Archimandrite Sergiusz Gajek,\u00a0MIC; diocesan clergy; and Sisters from the Congregation of the Resurrection of the Lord. There were also Sisters\u2013Handmaids of Jesus in the Eucharist who, as Fr.\u00a0Kureczka emphasized, \u201cback in the day served the people in this shrine until the end.\u201d They came to complete their seven-day retreat and to renew their faith and love for God and man.<\/p>\n January marked the centennial jubilee of the church in Rosica. This event will be solemnly celebrated during the summer festivities, but Fr.\u00a0Czaslau already talked about it: \u201cWe give thanks to God for this church, where love conquered death, where a particular spirit of prayer is alive, and where our Blessed Martyrs pray together with us, their people, and for us. In these days, Rosica speaks to us in a special way.\u201d<\/p>\n The solemnity opened with the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. In his remarks, Fr.\u00a0Czaslau followed tradition by quoting excerpts from many letters that arrive in Rosica from the faithful all over Belarus. In these letters, pilgrims share their experience from visiting this holy Belarusian site and explain the impact made by the Rosica Martyrs on their own lives. It is worthy noting that there usually are long lines of people wanting to benefit from the sacrament of penance. Many pilgrims leave their intentions there, for which the Marian Fathers pray through the intercession of the Blessed Martyrs.<\/p>\n The Vicar General of the Diocese of Vitebsk, Msgr.\u00a0Franciszek Kisiel, was main celebrant at Holy Mass. The celebration was enhanced by singing of the choir from Barysau directed by Fr.\u00a0Viachiaslau Pialinak,\u00a0MIC. This choir comes to Rosica every year.<\/p>\n In his sermon, Fr.\u00a0Pawe\u0142 Naumowicz,\u00a0MIC, referred to the flames depicted on the image of the Blessed Martyrs, emphasizing that \u201cthe first meaning of that fire is suffering, persecution, injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese flames of suffering contain the light of God. Our Blessed Martyrs remained together with their parishioners to bring them love, because they carried within themselves another flame \u2013 the flame of God\u2019s love that gives birth to the flame of love for others. This flame of love made it possible for the Rosica Martyrs to enter into the flame of suffering. Our two Martyrs showed us a certain kind of suffering \u2013 the suffering that comes at a given moment,\u201d said the Provincial.<\/p>\n Father Pawel also mentioned the suffering that exists in our daily life. As an example, he recalled Blessed George Matulewicz, the Renovator of the Congregation of Marian Fathers, whose 25th\u00a0anniversary of beatification is celebrated this year.<\/p>\n What prompts the pilgrims to come to Rosica on those cold days, dedicating their free time and resources? What prompts them to freeze in the chilly church and to go in procession to the site of martyrdom? Father Cziaslau Kureczka often mentions this Rosica phenomenon. He said that a man was surprised to find out that pilgrims keep coming to Rosica, whether it\u2019s 30\u00b0C\u00a0below or above freezing. Learning about it, this man said: \u201cIndeed, God and His grace are at work here.\u201d<\/p>\n Truly, this phenomenon cannot be explained rationally. One recalls the story told by a seminarian about some foreign guests visiting Rosica on the August solemnity. These people saw with amazement the bloody footprints left behind by a pilgrim who arrived in Rosica by foot, having traveled 300\u00a0kilometers. \u201cWhy did he do it?\u201d asked the foreigners. \u201cAfter all, we live in the 21st\u00a0century.\u201d But they understood the reason when they came to the site of the Blessed Martyrs\u2019 death.<\/p>\n \u201cI find peace and joy, having had a good cry here. It is here that I draw strength. It feels as if you get a drink of cold water on a hot day,\u201d said a woman-pilgrim from G\u0142\u0119bokie.<\/p>\n A traditional crucifix that leads the procession of the faithful to the place of the Blessed Martyrs and their parishioners\u2019 death is carried by Konstanty from Zhodino. This crucifix is heavy, but a cross is never light. The people walking in this procession are always silent and focused. Certainly, many of us, following this road, recall these bygone events and these people.<\/p>\n At the closing, Fr.\u00a0Czaslau encouraged pilgrims to write, to revisit this place, and to leave their prayerful requests there. And naturally, many a pilgrim would come back to Rosica, to the place where love conquered death.<\/p>\n<\/div>Belarus: The Martyrs of Rosica honored<\/h1><\/div>
\nThe Rosica phenomenon<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/rosica-001.jpg\" "\\"rosica-001\\"")
<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>