On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Shrine Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Łódź-Łagiewniki became the focal point of the jubilee celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the patron saint. The Secretary General of the Order, Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK, presided over the solemn vigil Mass. In his homily, he retraced the history of the Shrine as a place of continual healing, while also calling the faithful to fight against spiritual apathy.
A History Rooted in God’s Call
The Mass was an opportunity to recall the extraordinary origin of the Shrine in Łagiewniki, which dates back to 1675. The story began with mysterious apparitions in the mansion of Samuel ŻELEWSKI. These later proved to be requests for prayer from the soul of the deceased estate owner, Jerzy BEŁDOWSKI, who was in Purgatory. According to the friary chronicles, the spirit requested that a chapel be constructed in honor of St. Anthony as reparation for past sins.
A simple carpenter named Jerzy played a central role in these events. St. Anthony appeared to him personally and entrusted him with the task of building the chapel. What St. Anthony told him has become the motto of this year’s jubilee: “Rise at once, healed, and finish what you have begun.”
The Shrine as a Clinic for Healing Spiritual Apathy
The homily gave the jubilee a deeper spiritual meaning. Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK identified acedia, or spiritual apathy, as a modern affliction of the soul. He stressed that this deadly sin does not destroy through great crimes, but rather through “a million small omissions” and the constant postponement of good deeds until tomorrow
He presented the Shrine at Łagiewniki as a “clinic for healing spiritual apathy,” where, through the intercession of St. Anthony, the faithful can regain their spiritual vitality. He described the call to “rise at once” as a remedy for apathy and an invitation to really work on oneself in daily life.
Liturgical Signs and Historical Testimony
One significant moment during the Mass was the performance of the traditional Antonian rites. Lilies, symbols of innocence and protection against impure forces, were blessed. Bread was also blessed, so that the faithful, following the example of St. Anthony, might share it with those in need.
During the Mass, Friar Tomas also highlighted the continuity of miraculous events at the Shrine Church in Łagiewniki. He talked about Friar Jakub PIASECKI, who in the 19th century collected and published testimonies of graces and healings, recorded under oath before ecclesiastical commissions. In honor of that legacy, Friar Jakub’s historic publication has been reprinted for the jubilee year.
The Mass concluded with a solemn blessing using the relics of St. Anthony. It served as a prelude to the main patronal festivities and upcoming Masses to be celebrated by the friars of the friary in Łagiewniki.
Friar Maciej PIECZYNIA
