Sanktuaria Pańskie prowadzone przez Braci Mniejszych w Polsce
The Lord’s Sanctuaries ruled by Minor Friars in Poland

Summary/Abstract: There are more than 90 Lord’s sanctuaries currently functioning in Poland. Although they comprise only 12% of the total number of sanctuaries in Poland, they have always been significant pilgrimage centres on Polish soil. Friars Minor are custodians of over 50 sanctuaries, 7 of which are the Lord’s sanctuaries. Within the analysed group the most important centres are: sanctuary of Our Lord’s Passion in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (of international rank), sanctuary of St. Anne and of Our Lord’s Passion on Mount St. Anne (of international rank) as well as Our Lord’s Passion sanctuaries in Kalwaria Pacławska, Wejherowo, Pakość and Alwernia (of the rank ranging beyond a single diocese and region). The Lord’s sanctuaries are one of the oldest pilgrimage centres in Poland. One of the most important factors that influenced their creation and development in the 13th century onwards was the pastoral activity of mendicant orders – Franciscans and Dominicans. The Franciscan spirituality focused mainly on the poor and suffering Christ. Through the introduction of nativity play and the devotion of the Christmas crib the Friars Minor revived the cult of the Child Jesus in Poland. Most importantly, though, they influenced the shaping and development of the cult of Our Lord’s Passion. The paper outlines the origins and the functioning of Our Lord’s sanctuaries run by Friars Minor. It also presents Franciscan churches which, during the pre-partition time in Poland, were popular pilgrimage centres and were frequently visited by the faithful; and other Franciscan pilgrimage centres housing miraculous painting of Suffering Christ, crucifixes and calvaries, which despite not being canonically approved as Our Lord’s sanctuaries, still remain important places of the cult of the Lord’s Passion, and during main Plenary Indulgence celebrations gather numerous pilgrims.

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