At the gate of the bet, he was greatly amazed. He was greeted by a spade of people welcoming him with tears in his eyes. At 1 point, the strikers started applauding. Father George thought that individual crucial was following him. He looked around, and there was no 1 there. Then he realized that these applauses were for him – the priest who came to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist. So it can be said that people chose him as chaplain of "Solidarity". 1 of the most beautiful stories from Fr Jerzy's visit to Huta Warsaw are the certificates of converts. He was approached by people who were 10 and sometimes 20 years old without confession. They fell down on their knees in their rotten suits and asked for a sacrament of penance and reconciliation – says Jolanta Sosnowska, author of the book “The Martyr for religion and Solidarity. Biography illustrated by Blessed Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko" and Vice-President of the White Raven Publishing House.
Dear Mrs Jolanto, fewer Polish Catholics know that Blessed Fr Jerzy Popieluszko received the name Alfons at his baptism. Why did Alfons Popieluszko decide to be called Jerzy Popieluszko?
It is actual that fewer know the first baptism name of Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko. He was indeed baptized as Alfons in honor of Saint Alfons Maria Liguori, a figure who in the household of Popieluszkos was worshipped. Furthermore, 1 of Fr Jerzy's uncles on the part of his mother, known for his large patriotism, bore the name; he was a Lieutenant of the AK, was killed by russian solstice in 1945.
In his childhood and teenage age, Alek – due to the fact that that's how he was said to be the hero of our conversation – lived in Okopy, Podlasie, and went farthest to Suchowola. In that environment, the name Alfons had no bad connotations. Rather, it was respected. However, erstwhile Alek Popieluszko went to Warsaw, he was very rapidly confronted with the fact that his name – Alfons has references to a half-worlder, a man who struggles with fornication. At that time he realized that if the name was associated in this way, it was not appropriate for the priest. Therefore, in 1971 – before receiving the first degree of ordination – he officially changed his name and became Jerzy Popieluszka.
I started our conversation with this question due to the fact that there is more of this kind of communicative from the life of Fr Jerzy, which is not known to Polish Catholics. You describe them in your latest book "The Martyr for religion and Solidarity". I will say plainly: after reading this publication, I concluded that Jerzy Popieluszko was, nevertheless this does not sound, "condemned for priesthood" ...
The word “defiled” is not rather appropriate here, due to the fact that it is associated with a conviction from which there is no appeal, due to the fact that it means that something happened in a way outside the will of Alka Popiełuszko. In my opinion, he was called and led to the priesthood by the Lord God from his childhood, and voluntarily accepted to service the Lord God.
While he was inactive in his mother's womb – Mrs.Marianna – she, not knowing if a girl or a boy would be born, sacrificed her kid to the parent of God. She besides asked that if it was a son, he should become a priest, and if it is simply a daughter, then let him become a nun.
The kid of Marianna and Władysław Popieluszków was born on 14 September 1947 on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. After the birth, Mrs. Marianna lost her sight. 2 days later, the boy was baptized and the next day Mrs. Marianna regained her sight.
The home of Ashes was highly religious. Mrs Marianna gave a speech to the customs in it and the kind of household life. Mr. Władysław, of course, assisted her very much, but she was the individual who played in the home “first violin”.
And indeed this boy has learned prayer and various forms of piety from an early age. At the same time, he learned to work according to the Benedictine rule of “Ora et labora”, or “Pray and work”. It was nothing unusual. At the time, children from childhood as much as they could, and as much as they had the strength, helped on the farm. Alek was no exception here. He learned then that work must be respected; that work is something that shapes the character of man and at the same time gives a origin of livelihood.
Mrs. Marianna taught Alka and his siblings very simple principles of faith, specified as: “To heaven is simply a simple way, to love people, to love God. Love heart and deeds, you will be with angels.” They were very simple, childish mottos, but with tremendous theological depths, which allowed us to know in the world.
“If God is at home in the first place,” Mrs. Marianna besides said, “there is no foolishness in head and there is no problem with raising children.”
We will return to the “simple principles of faith” preached by Fr Jerzy. You said that Mrs. Marianna trusted the parent of the Blessed kid in her womb. Here I thought of the rosary of Fr George, whom he had tens, if not hundreds...
The Rosary is simply a ladder to heaven. It was an integral part of the spiritual life of Fr Jerzy, in which he imitated the Holy Father John Paul II, who had a rosary in all pocket. Pope Pole handed the rosary to all people who visited him and did not do so to hang him on the wall and boast that he had a gift from him, only to catch hands and pray. Fr Jerzy Popieluszko openly admitted that in his sermons he imitated the teaching of the Pope and the Primate of Poland Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. Both of them were admired and loved by Fr Jerzy. Fr Jerzy besides handed out the rosary, established the rosary circles. He loved this prayer since he was a child, and in school he even had unpleasantness.
It is worth recalling that before he became the Book of George and chaplain of “Solidarity”, as alumn of Alek in the penal military peculiar unit in Bartoszice, where the communists had imprisoned the clergy for 2 years to kill their vocation, crush and humiliate, he gave courageous evidence of attachment to the Rosary. For refusing to take a image of him, 21-year-old Alka met a chicane who described without a shadow of hatred: “At 17.45 in a full uniform as to the eye [forbade leaving the barracks—JS], I appeared on the enlisted officer. There the test lasted until 8:00 with a dinner break. At 8:00 p.m., they were taken to the platoon commander. That's where it started. First he wrote down my data. Then he told me to rock, pull my shoelaces out of my shoes, and make an episode. So I stood barefoot in front of him. Of course, always on alert. I stood like a convict. He started taking it out. He utilized different methods. He was trying to embarrass me. To be humiliated in front of your colleagues is to surprise again the anticipation of holidays and passes. I stood barefoot for an hr (60 minutes). My legs were cold, they were blue, so he made me wear my shoes at 9:00. He left the area for a while and went to the boys (my platoon colleagues). He came to me with a comforting message, “There in the hall they pray for your intentions.” Indeed, the boys were saying the rosary together. Rather, I gave him silence, praying in thought and offering suffering, caused by the overwhelming weight of the backpack, masks, weapons, and helmet, God as a propitiation for sins. God, how somewhat you endure erstwhile you know that you endure for Christ.”
Alek, while in the military unit in Bartoszice, animated his fellow believers to pray. At the end of the day, the Rosary, the Hours, the Way of the Cross, the Bitter Regrets gathered together at night. Those who did not receive leave on Sunday recited Mass with him.
Fr Jerzy frequently did not give homily during Holy Mass due to the fact that he preached beautiful teachings while considering the mysteries of the Rosary...
That's true, due to the fact that he knew that in the mysteries of the rosary there is nothing in the pill of all theology, the full Mystery of Redemption.
Fr Jerzy besides knew that without the rosary we would not climb advanced on our way to heaven. We besides must remember this today. The Rosary must be our aid and our weapons.
In the Marian revelations of the last centuries, Our woman calls us to prayer of the Rosary. We must beg Mary to intercede before God for all the graces needed, for peace, for Russia to convert, etc.
Alek Popieluszko, as you said earlier, listened to his parents and was faithful to them throughout his life. But there were times erstwhile he could stand up to them. I am referring to the substance described by you in the book “The Martyr for religion and Solidarity” of choosing a seminary...
In my opinion, this was not an accident decision. Fr Jerzy was already led by the Holy Spirit.
He did not want to go to a seminary in Białystok, even though the local parish priest, Fr Zarzycki, and the father of Alka – Mr Władysław Popieluszko was very pressured on it. However, Alek decided to go to a seminary in Warsaw, which put himself at hazard for unpleasantness from the parish priest, who did not compose him an opinion on morality, and specified a paper was a request to get to the seminary. Eventually, this certificate was issued to him by 2 erstwhile catechestes of Alka.
How did you become a chaplain of Solidarity? Why did he – the inconspicuous young man get this honor, not individual who showed greater regular charisma?
Father George was said to be inconspicuous. Many people seemed to be incarcerated, withdrawn, yet erstwhile the time of trial came, he proved to be a actual titan of spirit and faith. He did not impose on anyone his personality, nor was he even a man who, at first glance, "scaptured" his stature or eloquence. He was an inconspicuous priest who at first even refused to preach – this was the case in the parishes of Zębki and Anina, where after priestly ordination he was successively a vicar. But then it turned out that Fr Jerzy could preach beautiful, succinct and highly simple, yet deep into the hearts and minds of homilies.
You ask how Fr Jerzy became chaplain of “Solidarity”. erstwhile on 31 August 1980 the metallurgists declared an business strike in Huta Warszawa, then the decision of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Primate of Poland, Fr Jerzy Popieluszko was sent there to execute Sunday Mass for the strikers. Fr Jerzy himself then mentioned that it was a large experience for him. For he did not know what situation he would find there, how he would be accepted, or where he would even celebrate the Eucharist.
At the gate of the bet, he was greatly amazed. He was greeted by a spade of people welcoming him with tears in his eyes. At 1 point, the strikers started applauding. Father George thought that individual crucial was following him. He looked around, and there was no 1 there. Then he realized that these applauses were for him – the priest who came to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist. So it can be said that people chose him as chaplain of "Solidarity".
One of the most beautiful stories from Fr Jerzy's visit to Huta Warsaw are the certificates of converts. He was approached by people who were 10 and sometimes 20 years old without confession. They fell down on their knees in their rotten suits and asked for a sacrament of penance and reconciliation.
Yeah. Fr Jerzy is mainly associated with strong anti-communist sermons today, but it is seldom mentioned that he could convert sinners who, after 30 years, “returned to the Church”...
If we are talking about conversions, I will remind you that Fr Jerzy helped to convert to actor Danuta Szaflarska, whose evidence I quote in this book. This change took place in her after 40 years! What is more: this did not happen due to the fact that Fr Jerzy encouraged her, reproved her, taught her, told her how to live, etc.
Szaflarska met Fr Jerzy in the courtroom erstwhile the trials of oppositionists were taking place. Fr Jerzy accompanied them during these trials, offering his spiritual support. The actor started looking at him. Fr Jerzy at 1 point suggested that she come to Mass for her Homeland, which he celebrated in the church of St Stanislaus Kostka in Żoliborz. Szaflarska came, took part in poesy recitations, but continued to observe Fr Jerzy's behavior, what he said etc. At 1 point she asked him to confess. In her later testimony, she admitted that she was a staunch anticlerical, that she did not baptize her daughter, that she did not go to church for 40 years, and under the influence of Father George she believed and converted.
Another example. In December 1983, on the night of 12 to 13 December, after being interviewed by the esbeks and their celebrated provocation, which they made in the flat of chaplain “Solidarity” on Chłodna Street, Fr Jerzy stayed 1 night in prison with 5 criminals. As a consequence of the intervention of the Polish Episcopal Secretary, Archbishop Dąbrowski, he was released from prison very quickly. Friends to whom he went consecutive from prison asked him how he survived. They knew that Fr Jerzy was mediocre health. And he got a small light on it and said he confessed 4 murderers.
Priest George, like his mother, had this gift from the Holy Spirit, that in simple words he could teach the top mysteries and all the depths of Catholic faith. He did not preach any theological discourse, which the authors understood at most, but at all turn he reminded us: “Christ died, Christ risen, Christ will return.”
In lands where there are now large theological disputes, churches are usually empty. In order to do so, many theologians who participate in them frequently do not believe in God. specified people then treat theology as 1 of the many fields of discipline in which 1 can make a career, succeed, gain citation and popularity. The work of a theologian, who is not on his knees before God, is not utilized to bring people closer to the Creator, but to make his image.
That's the difference! perceive to the sermons of Fr George available online. Everyone will see in them the fact coming out of the Gospel. Everyone will realize that we must bear witness to our religion in the Risen Christ and that only before Him must we kneel. And most importantly: listening to Fr George, we remember that we are children of God and are called to salvation.
Finally, I would like to quote from Fr George: “To service God is to talk of evil as a illness to be revealed in order to treat it. To service God is to brand evil and all its manifestations." It seems to me that many priests present have forgotten this. present the most crucial thing is “holy peace” ...
Father George's life shows that to him "holy peace" was no value. He learned that very quickly. As I mentioned, at the age of little than 19, he was incarnated in a penalty, or else he could not be called a military unit in Bartoszice for 2 years of service to dissuade him from being called. It was a kind of repression of the communist state towards the Catholic Church. They tried to destruct alumns so that after 2 years of brainwashing, humiliating, and physical destruction, they would no longer return to clergy seminars. Unfortunately, any of them succeeded.
Alumna Alka, as I mentioned earlier, could not be broken despite various harassments, punishments, humiliations, physical and intellectual abuses. This young man – much more mature than his peers and in calling, and in godliness, did not know the word “holy peace”. Even erstwhile he was consistently denied leave and was threatened not to get it even if his parent died, and if he wanted to escape, they would get him and put him in custody. In a letter to his parents dated 26 June 1967, under 20 years of age, Alek wrote: “It must be remembered that whom God experiences more in suffering, he loves more. In all affliction, God’s will must be sought, and peace must be sought in God. It is best in quiet prayer, in the command of everything that is done to God. In the world, in this wailing of tears, it is already so that everyone suffers.”
So although he was bullied in various ways, this young, diseased man so wonderfully in religion and love for the Lord God formed, did not give up. It's extraordinary how powerful he was. What a giant of spirit and faith...
And what can I say, Mrs. Jolanto? I guess only that if my generation had at least 10% of this courage, this determination, this religion that Fr Jerzy had, then Poland and the planet would look completely different...
You are right, and that is why we must remind you of how large a man Fr Jerzy Popieluszko was. This should be done, even if it bothers others or even hurts them. Each of us separately will answer to God for his actions and omissions. This is why I compose books devoted to the large Poles, like Blessed Fr Jerzy Popieluszko, Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, or Saint John Paul II, so that Poles do not feel alone, so that they know that we have individual to imitate, that we have proven teachings, to which we can scope in this planet full of confusion. I besides compose to remind you that they are our powerful advocates in heaven, to which we should flee asking for support for us and for our Homeland.
God bless the conversation.
Tomasz D. Kolanek
