October 15October 15The story goes that in the 1620s, Jakuba and Wojciech Celestów, dealers in lead and copper, were traveling from their base in Cracow through the forests of central Poland when they lost their favorite horse. After an unsuccessful search, the brothers vowed that if they ever found her, they would build a chapel to the Virgin. Seven years later, passing that way again, they heard familiar neighing: there was the beloved mare with seven foals. Built on that spot, the Chapel of the Holy Nativity of St. Mary was consecrated October 15, 1633 by the Primate of Poland. On its altar the brothers placed a copy of the ancient icon of Our Lady of the Snows in Rome, whose Cracow replica was connected with a recent victory over the Turks in Poland. Because of the addition of cherubim to the composition, the Domaniewice icon became known as Our Lady of Angels. In 1975, another Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, designated the chapel the Sanctuary of the Mother of God Consoler of the Afflicted and Mother of Beautiful Love. Under this title the icon was crowned on September 8, 2000, feast of the Nativity of Mary.
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