Poles protest holy day concert by "Madonna."

July 7, 2009

12:12PM US/Eastern - AFP, worldwide news agency

"A Polish ultra-religious movement Tuesday said it planned prayer sessions to protest a concert by US superstar in Warsaw on August 15, which is when Roman Catholics honour the Virgin Mary.

"We're going to continue our crusade with daily prayer sessions outside Warsaw city hall from August 1," said Marian Brudzynsk, head of the Committee for the Defence of the Faith and Tradition.

"We'll start with a group of a few hundred people, but I'm convinced that the square in front of city hall will end up filled with pious Poles," he said.

Brudzynski, an independent local councillor who previously represented the far-right and ardently Catholic League of Polish Families, has been pushing Warsaw city hall to ban Madonna's first-ever show in Poland.

Concert organisers said the 70,000-ticket event was already all but sold out.

Madonna has often angered faithful Christians in the past not only with her racy shows but also with on-stage antics such as a mock crucifixion scene.

Even though her real first name is Madonna, that also offends some Christians because it is an alternative term for the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.

The Virgin Mary holds a special place for Roman Catholics, who every August 15 mark the Assumption, celebrating her being taken bodily to heaven after her death.

The Virgin Mary is particularly important in Poland, where more than 90 percent of the population of 38 million people are professed Roman Catholics.

Her shrines have long been a symbol of the country's survival in the face of centuries of foreign invasion, and she was even declared queen of Poland 350 years ago. "

________________________________

The choice of the Feast of the Assumption for this concert is no coincidence.

Maryjo, Krolowo Polski,

Jestem przy Tobie, pamietam,

Jestem przy Tobie, czuwam, czuwam

Mary, Queen of Poland,

I am by your side, I remember,

I am by your side, I keep vigil for you,

I keep vigil for you.

Comments

[bla]

This pathetic action against Madonna will neither prevent the event from happening nor attract even 10% of the number of individuals who bought the tickets shortly after they were offered for sale.

[bla_is_BS]

"bla" if even one faithful Pole shows up to protest this blasphemous whore it is worthwhile.

The only thing that is pathetic are people like you who think that determining whether something is right or wrong is based on a popularity contest.

[Fr. D.]

As a Polish American, and for living in Poland for 7 years...The Poles will put up a fight against this concert... "Pathetic action against Madonna" "Bla" you have that backwards...The action against our Blessed Mother is offensive...Just remember as Our Lady of Fatima told the 3 children and us..In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph. And it will triumph over this type of evil..

[Pray for her]

I think everyone should pray for Madonna. She lost her Catholic mother at a young and vulnerable age and I suspect she has been angry at God and His Church ever since .This anger is clearly visible in her provocative antics and her choice of stage name but grace can achieve miracles in any heart and since she won't ask for such graces herself I for one have been praying for her and her innocent children.

[Mikki]

Good for Poland! Let us pray they can follow through on the plans!

[Michigan Wolverine]

I'm curious to see what peoples' opinions are regarding Sotomayor.

[Judith Miller]

Madonna has lost her way for too long. One can only pray for the lost soul, she has no conception of what 'Madonna' means. Her ego knows only blatant provocation in order to satisfy her craving for attention. Pity she couldn't use her talent and energy for more humanistic causes rather than just 'strutting her aging stuff' across sick and dirty stages. She must feel really empty inside. Only a sad, lonely, spiritually-starved person would do this with their life. What a waste!