St. Casimir’s landmark legacy celebrated annually August 15
by Rev. Dr. Czeslaw M. Krysa
“All Creation praise the Lady,” resounds the processional hymn for the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, Queen of the Harvest and Herbs. As our ancestors did each year, the priest at St. Casimir’s (see pic 1) blesses garden and wildflowers, herbs (rosemary, mint, dill, etc.), essential oils, even grains brought by friends and members, honoring Mama Mary, “the crown of all God’s creatures” (St. Casimir’s Polish Heritage Hymns).
Blessed beauty extends through fragrant consecrated, rose oil with which the priest anoints each woman present saying, “Follow the path of Nazareth’s Lady to Jesus.” This path extends far beyond the land of her birth. As brilliantly proclaimed in imported Meyer Company’s south transept stained glass, the Holy Spirit sweeps the “blessed among woman, full of grace” immediately after her earthly death directly into heaven.
The stunning window colorfully presents Mary’s tomb as the new spiritual “celestial womb.” As the ancients wrote, from her grave rose pure, white lilies, denoting new, Gospel life; after death is a true birth-day into everlasting, painless, and glorified bliss. In a certain way the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption is her personal, Easter Resurrection day, which true believers will fully taste at the end of time.
Aug. 15 celebrates this event with devotion. St. Casimir’s “Roaring 20s” Church was welcomed as America’s first Byzantine church. Its grand dome resting on four towers representing heaven atop the four corners of the earth, colorful, numerous cosmatesque, mosaic-like pillars replete with Sacred Scriptural and natural symbols, a Basilica-inspired High Altar and Coronation Apse. This and more inspire St. Casimir’s Church to celebrate a Byzantine Akathyst Devotion to the Mother of God (at 6:40 p.m.) – possible because this author and Senior Parochial Vicar, has permission from Rome to lead liturgies of the Eastern or Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Beauty completes living devotedness to St. Casimir’s Lady Mary, as participants carry sheaves and crowns of wheat, garden and field flowers, garden fruits, healing herbs and oils to the altar for sacred benediction. This 5-senses worship is complete on this day with the splendor of the field, aromatic rose incense and women’s anointing. Tasting symbolic Harvest Loaf extends supernatural life of the Eucharist onto family table fellowship. Farmers’ blessed mint and citrus calms and refreshes, not to mention the surrounding stained glass, earthenware terracotta, and white oak carvings wreathing this Buffalo landmark.
Illumination spiritually enlightens not only numerous vibrant windows, but also elucidates ancestral mysteries of our grandparents and precursors stewards of the soil and industry who tirelessly sought never to waste, spoil, or pollute nature, God’s work and human labor. Blessing delicate field flowers and hardy grain, intentionally honors the Creator, His Daughter and Queen of the Harvest, as well as the toil and sweat of every farmer and worker.
Crops and our nourishment are placed in Mary’s hands and blessed by the priest. These are not just old, nostalgic practices, this day’s procession and blessing celebrate God’s sacred ecology and nature’s innate harmony, given to us in a delicate supernatural balance.
There may be some baked goods on sale and (back by popular demand) a vintage paper-cut Heritage Raffle. St. Casimir’s heritage is a festive way of life, not just a once-a-year festival.
“All Creation praise the Lady,” resounds the processional hymn for the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, Queen of the Harvest and Herbs. As our ancestors did each year, the priest at St. Casimir’s (see pic 1) blesses garden and wildflowers, herbs (rosemary, mint, dill, etc.), essential oils, even grains brought by friends and members, honoring Mama Mary, “the crown of all God’s creatures” (St. Casimir’s Polish Heritage Hymns).
Blessed beauty extends through fragrant consecrated, rose oil with which the priest anoints each woman present saying, “Follow the path of Nazareth’s Lady to Jesus.” This path extends far beyond the land of her birth. As brilliantly proclaimed in imported Meyer Company’s south transept stained glass, the Holy Spirit sweeps the “blessed among woman, full of grace” immediately after her earthly death directly into heaven.
The stunning window colorfully presents Mary’s tomb as the new spiritual “celestial womb.” As the ancients wrote, from her grave rose pure, white lilies, denoting new, Gospel life; after death is a true birth-day into everlasting, painless, and glorified bliss. In a certain way the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption is her personal, Easter Resurrection day, which true believers will fully taste at the end of time.
Aug. 15 celebrates this event with devotion. St. Casimir’s “Roaring 20s” Church was welcomed as America’s first Byzantine church. Its grand dome resting on four towers representing heaven atop the four corners of the earth, colorful, numerous cosmatesque, mosaic-like pillars replete with Sacred Scriptural and natural symbols, a Basilica-inspired High Altar and Coronation Apse. This and more inspire St. Casimir’s Church to celebrate a Byzantine Akathyst Devotion to the Mother of God (at 6:40 p.m.) – possible because this author and Senior Parochial Vicar, has permission from Rome to lead liturgies of the Eastern or Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Beauty completes living devotedness to St. Casimir’s Lady Mary, as participants carry sheaves and crowns of wheat, garden and field flowers, garden fruits, healing herbs and oils to the altar for sacred benediction. This 5-senses worship is complete on this day with the splendor of the field, aromatic rose incense and women’s anointing. Tasting symbolic Harvest Loaf extends supernatural life of the Eucharist onto family table fellowship. Farmers’ blessed mint and citrus calms and refreshes, not to mention the surrounding stained glass, earthenware terracotta, and white oak carvings wreathing this Buffalo landmark.
Illumination spiritually enlightens not only numerous vibrant windows, but also elucidates ancestral mysteries of our grandparents and precursors stewards of the soil and industry who tirelessly sought never to waste, spoil, or pollute nature, God’s work and human labor. Blessing delicate field flowers and hardy grain, intentionally honors the Creator, His Daughter and Queen of the Harvest, as well as the toil and sweat of every farmer and worker.
Crops and our nourishment are placed in Mary’s hands and blessed by the priest. These are not just old, nostalgic practices, this day’s procession and blessing celebrate God’s sacred ecology and nature’s innate harmony, given to us in a delicate supernatural balance.
There may be some baked goods on sale and (back by popular demand) a vintage paper-cut Heritage Raffle. St. Casimir’s heritage is a festive way of life, not just a once-a-year festival.