The City of Györ in northern Hungary, stands halfway between Vienna in Austria and the capital city of Budapest. In a chapel dedicated to Saint Anne in the Cathedral of Györ is enshrined a crowned image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus. It is known as the Irish Madonna, the Weeping Madonna, and Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted. The painting inexplicably wept blood in 1697.
The painting of the Irish Madonna & Child is an image which is quite unique. It shows Our Lady in Irish dress, wearing a ‘galway shawl’ with green stitching. The Child Jesus – asleep in the care of his mother – has pale skin and red curls. Our Lady is in prayerful adoration, looking lovingly at her son, our King. Her left ear is seen, as is the ear of the Child Jesus. They know our suffering and are listening to our prayer.
Our Lady solemnly proclaimed as Queen of Ireland
The 17th century was an extremely difficult time in Ireland. The Catholic Church was disestablished in favour of the ‘Church of England’ of which the King was declared the new head. The Civil War of 1644 in England brought Oliver Cromwell to power and with him further conflict was inflicted on Catholics. He arrived in Dublin in 1649 with a large army. He brutally crushed all opposition and proclaimed - ‘The Irish can go to Hell or to Connaught’.
Father Phelim Monaghan OCD in his book ‘The Old Abbey of Loughrea – 1300 to 1650’ recalls how the bishops of Ireland had come together in Loughrea on the 8th of December 1650, at the large Carmelite Church there, and before this painting of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, solemnly proclaimed Our Lady to be the Queen and Patroness of Ireland and that as a perpetual memorial of this happy event the Feast of the Immaculate Conception should be observed in Ireland from that day forward. Just one year later, the painting would leave Ireland in the care of Walter Lynch, Bishop of Clonfert who took the painting with him for safekeeping when he was exiled in 1951.
Walter Lynch was born in Galway in 1593. He studied theology in Lisbon and Paris, where he was ordained a priest. He earned his doctorate at the Sorbonne and on March 11th 1647, he was appointed Bishop of Clonfert. By June 1651, Cromwell’s troops had reached Clonfert and in July 1651 they had taken Galway. Walter Lynch with several bishops escaped to Inishbofin, 10 miles off the West coast of County Galway, which was the last seat of Confederate resistance. On 14th February 1653 they capitulated and according to the article of surrender, the Governor with 1000 troops and all the clergy were allowed to leave. Bishop Lynch and the other bishops were able to get to Porto and then to Belgium and then on to Vienna – and not long afterwards it was reported to Rome that Bishop Walter Lynch ‘was in great need’. He travelled to Vienna in 1655 where he found refuge. He had very little possessions, but among them was this painting of the Irish Madonna & Child. It was in Vienna that he met Bishop Janos Pusky of Györ, who invited the homeless Irish Bishop to Györ and ensured him a livelihood. He was appointed a Canon and later an assistant bishop.
Bishop Lynch was planning to return to Ireland to settle a dispute in his diocese but on July 14th 1663 he passed away and was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral. The painting of the Irish Madonna was placed near the altar of St. Anne in the Cathedral of Györ where it can be venerated to this day. Bishop Lynch, according to Bishop Zichy of Györ “was a model pastor, who spent his income on the protection of the poor and who was greatly loved by the people”.
The Miracle in Györ
The year 1697 was a time of particular suffering in Ireland. The Act of Banishment was passed by the Protestant Parliament ordering all bishops, priests, and religious men and women to leave Ireland under pain of death. On St Patrick’s Day – March 17th 1697 – in the Cathedral of Györ in Hungary while an early morning Mass was being celebrated, droplets of blood, like sweat, were observed coming from the eyes and face of Our Lady Queen of Ireland. The painting was wiped by means of a fine linen cloth, and the sweat broke out again and continued for another three hours until 10.00 a.m. The news spread quickly around the small town and crowds, young and old, rushed to witness the miraculous event.
To dispel any suspicion of possible fraud the Church authorities had the painting taken down from the wall, separated it from its ornamental frame, stripped it of its stretching laths, and had it closely inspected and shaken. It was found to be free of any natural moisture and the wall where it was hung was dry. Moreover, being detached and held alone over a table, it continued to sweat blood from the eyes and the face. Among those who attested to the miracle were the Bishop, the Captain General of the City, Lutheran and Calvinist Ministers and a Jewish Rabbi.
A sudarium, the linen cloth which was used to sponge up the drops of blood, was later placed under glass in a silver frame and can be seen and venerated in the Cathedral of Györ where it is displayed for the public on the feast of St Patrick and other important Marian occasions.
Comforter of the Afflicted
The title ‘Comforter of the Afflicted’ is one given to the Virgin Mary because having endured suffering she is able to console those who are afflicted. St John Henry Newman explains the secret of true consolation: ‘Those are able to comfort others who, in their own case, have been much tried, and have felt the need of consolation, and have received it.’ A great devotion to the Irish Madonna of Györ, Comforter of the Afflicted, continues in Hungary to this day.
Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us!
