While so much sadness and fear sweeps around the world in sadness, there is a Youth Rally going on at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. This is the site of the Black Madonna; a place of hope and miracles. Over the years the cities of Warsaw and Krakow have also become well known tourist sites. There are the Wieliczka Salt Mines where underground carvings seem to magically appear from the walls of the mines. A church with dedication to St. Anthony blossoms from the earth. One learns the healthy side of the salt mines and the rich history of how it played out during the wars.
I was able to visit Poland many years ago. I enjoyed the culture, the people, and the sites. There was a sense of peace and tranquility there I did not feel elsewhere. The culture, music, and religious sites were welcoming.
At Jasna Gora many miracles have happened at this Sanctuary as one sees by the crutches and hardware that lines the walls of the church. I remember being brought to tears and humbled when I went there. Although I was not on a Religious Tour I did take in many of the beautiful Catholic sites there. History has so many to teach us and being there brought the reality of the past to the present.
Only a drive away are the terrible reminders from the Holocaust at the Prison Camps. Polar opposites here than from Czestochowa. It was raining, dark, and oppressive at the camps. It made me so sad knowing what transpired in those buildings. The museum of artifacts was smothering. Thinking about it makes me feel the pain expressed there.
Pope Francis is visiting with the many pilgrims in Krakow, Poland this week. His smiling face is encouraging all of us to be compassionate and giving. This Rally is a joy filled experience as young people from around the world gather to sing, pray, and visit with one another. 
Although he is encouraging the youth to be part of change and love in the world, he speaks to all of us regardless of our religious affiliation. Sometimes we forget how much we are needed to step outside of our 4 walls. We need to be present for our family, but then to share with all those around us.
The first night I snapped this photo of a television broadcast just to show you the number of youth present there. They were sleeping in tents, traveling with minimal possessions, and doing without the pleasures that they normally have. I heard a man being interviewed on Sirius Satellite Radio yesterday who was in his late 20’s. He was from Canada and this is his 3rd Youth Rally. He said he needed to be refreshed and renewed.
These Youth Rallies began with Pope John Paul II who was originally from Poland. He set aside time for the young people to come together and be recognized as agents for change. I am praying for their safety to and from the gathering.
We all have responsibility to empower one another. If you read my blogs, I am always trying to encourage people to be the best version of themselves. This and all the churches that provide mission experiences are building up a new generation of caring and kind people. Let the mini miracles begin to shine.