Did you know that the Czech Republic has the only pilgrimage site in the world dedicated to the seven joys of the Virgin Mary? You can find it in the foothills of the Jestřebí Mountains – in the village of Malé Svatoňovice. A place that many people love not only for its history, but also for its quiet and peaceful message.
Not only pain, but also joy
Many people know and experience reverence for Our Lady of Sorrows . It is no wonder - her story touches our own experiences. Each of us carries something heavy, something that hurts, and we often look for inspiration on how to cope in such life situations. But Christianity does not end with pain. After the cross comes the resurrection. Next to sadness there is joy. The joyful rosary, for example, reminds us of this, which tells of good and hopeful moments from the lives of Jesus and Mary.
And it is precisely this sometimes neglected side of faith that the pilgrimage church in Malé Svatoňovice – dedicated to the seven joys of the Virgin Mary – points to.
Joy pervading our daily lives
The number seven is not accidental. In the Bible and in tradition, it symbolizes fullness. The seven joys that people commemorate here are based on the Gospel stories and the tradition of the Church:
- Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the birth of Jesus Christ
- Mary's meeting with Elizabeth
- The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
- The sacrifice of Jesus in the Jerusalem temple
- Finding Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem when he was lost to his parents at the age of twelve
- Assumption of Mary
- Coronation of Mary
These moments are not just ancient history. They are also a reminder that joy can permeate our daily lives, alongside hardship and suffering.
Celebrities and Malé Svatoňovice
Malé Svatoňovice is not just a place of pilgrimage. It is also, for example, the birthplace of the world-famous writer Karel Čapek, who always fondly remembered his birthplace. The writer Božena Němcová also liked to come here, and expressed her memories with a simple sentence: “Oh… it is so beautiful here.” The memory, or perhaps even the imprint of this place, was probably reflected in the episcopal coat of arms of Prokop Brož, the auxiliary bishop of Hradec Králové, who came from the vicinity of Malé Svatoňovice. The motif of seven blooming cherry blossoms – a symbol of the seven local joys – can be seen in his episcopal coat of arms.
And then there are mainly the crowds of "nameless" people, who were addressed and encouraged in their lives by the message of the seven joys of the Virgin Mary. But before God, there is no one nameless! Everyone is dear and precious to Him, everyone is a celebrity to Him. Therefore, everyone who has come to this place of pilgrimage with an open heart to draw joy that comes only from God can be counted among the "celebrities" in Malé Svatoňovice.
Inner quiet joy for each of us
Perhaps today, this place of pilgrimage of quiet joy has more to say than ever. In a time when everything is accelerating and joy is often mistaken for shallow humor, entertainment, sarcasm, etc., Malé Svatoňovice offers something different:
That true joy doesn't have to be loud
and can be quiet, subtle, deep.
That joy doesn't come from everything being easy,
but is rooted right in the heart of God.
And anyone who stops for a moment might hear it.
Just as people have been finding it here for centuries.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I repeat, rejoice... the Lord is near." (Bible, Phil 4:4-6).
