(a shrine in Poland)

The Holy Mother, as a healer, gathers herbs in the forest
and teaches her Son how to collect the healing herbs. They are surrounded by fern, juniper,
lilies of the valley, and European red squirrels.

  (Fr. Jan Twardowski, Litania polska)

 In olden times, in every Polish village, there was a woman who could treat diseases with herbs. Still today in Poland the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother on August 15 is also called the Feast of Matka Boska Zielna (Holy Mother of Herbs). The people bring dried herbs from the meadows, forests, and mountains to church to be blessed. Later they hang the herbs in their homes and use them to treat sickness.