Advancing in Tandem: Pilgrimage to Jasna Gora

Marek has never seen the face of his wife Magda. Although blind, he still has a vivid memory of the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, which is how he imagines his wife’s face. To celebrate their 6th wedding anniversary they rode together on a tandem bike to visit our Lady in Jasna Gora.

Both are 40 years old and were born only twelve hours apart. Marek is a well-known physical therapist, and also a cooperator of Opus Dei. He has helped quite a few athletes to recover from a debilitating injury, including his wife Magda. After a serious car accident, she entrusted her recovery to Marek, and now they work together. Magda has a degree in psychology and is an expert in psychosomatic medicine.

Both of them also have a strong devotion to our Lady. Marek’s parents helped to build the parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Powisle, his hometown, during communist rule. Marek recalls very well the image of our Lady that he frequently saw there.

He lost his sight in two separate accidents. The first was when he was four years old, while playing a game at school. The doctors couldn’t do anything to save his detached retina. Seventeen years later the cork from a bottle of wine struck his other eye, and at 21 he was totally blind. He remembers the date very well: 26 August 1999, feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

Far from being resentful, Marek sees God’s hand and our Lady’s help behind every event in his life. “God grants even greater favors,” he says, and he is very grateful for the people our Lord has placed on his path.

Before their respective accidents, both Marek and Magda had been very athletic. He liked to ride a bicycle and she loved riding horses. After their marriage they bought a tandem bike. “The couple who sold it to us said they found it impossible to ride since they we constantly arguing. But for us,” says Magda laughing, “this bicycle is a beautiful therapy. Because the two persons riding it can’t go off on their own. You have to pedal in unison and listen to each other as you ride.”

Magda is now Marek’s eyes in the world. And she will be the one who guides them on the three hundred kilometer trip to Jasna Gora to ask Our Lady of Czestochowa, among other things, for the gift of being parents.