Work and Freedom

Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko Celebrates Mass in 1982

Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and also May Day. While the mandatory attendance at the communist party marches is now a thing of the past, the day is still a national holiday, turning into “Europe’s longest weekend.” May 3rd is also a national holiday, the anniversary of the passing of the historic Constitution of May 3, 1791. Mane people, especially in the United States, where knowledge of Polish and Central European history, in general, is at a miserable low, do not realize that this constitution was the second written constitution in the world, and the first in Europe. At the time, it was hailed by such people as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington as an amazing act of bravery and hope for the cause of freedom and democracy.
These days are a great time to reflect in the blessings of freedom, and to be thankful for what we have in the United States. Yesterday, I was in Warsaw, and visitied a place that I have come to be very attached to—the 1930’s, “Modernist Gothic” church of St. Stanislaw Kostka, in northern Warsaw’s Zoliborz neighborhood. Though the church is nestled into a block of apartments, and remains largely unnoticed by many people who pass by, it is perhaps on of the most important places in the Polish fight and struggle for freedom in the 1980’s, which led to the fall of communism throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
As one walks into the church yard, through the front gate, his sight is immediately drawn to the grave in the right hand side, which bears the name of “Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko: Murdered October 19th, 1984. Lived 37 years.” Here lie the mortal remains of one of the most beloved and widely hated priests in the Polish People’s Republic of the 1980’s. His body lies under a giant marble cross, which upon examination, one realizes that it is the cross of a Rosary, which surrounds it, made of stones that are connected by giant steel chain links. The grave steadily draws hundreds of people a day, both from Warsaw, and from outside of the city. John Paul II came to pray at the grave in 1987.
Born in 1947, at the height of some of the most turbulent times in the history of modern Poland, Adam Popieluszko was known to be a quiet and simple boy, born on a farm in a small Mazovian town. His parents instilled in him a sense of piety, and instructed him in his faith as a young boy. His contemplative nature soon led him to realize that he might have a vocation to the priesthood, and he joined the seminary at a fairly young age. In the 1950’s, the Polish Church was at the height of its persecution, as the communist authorities sought to dominate it by persecuting and arresting clergy. A dramatic moment came when Stefan Cardinal Wyszinski, the “Primate of the Millennium,” was placed under house arrest by the authorities, who tapped his phone lines and kept their eyes on him. Only by the end of the decade was there a “thaw,” when the Polish Church gained more rights, after the authorities realized that it would be impossible to battle with an institution that was the very soul and spiritual strength of the nation.
By the late 1970’s, Fr. Jerzy had been ordained, and was known for his quiet and simple ministry, both to the poor, and to young people. He always brought great joy to the sick in the hospital, where he was a chaplain. Never a very social person by nature, he enjoyed taking solitary kayaking, hiking, and skiing trips on his own, where he was able to experience the quiet majesty of the Lord in His Creation.
The 1980’s were marked by the now-famous rise of the Solidarity trade union, which was the beginning of a breath of freedom in the nation that had become accustomed to the iron grip and absurdity of a false ideology. The government realize that their ideology could not take hold in the hearts and souls of the Polish nation, so they sought to use any means necessary to suppress rebellions or movements for freedom. This fear if losing power, of course, was seen in the now-famous declaration of martial law by General Jaruzelski on December 13th, 1981.
It was during these difficult times that Fr. Popieluszko was inspired to begin saying a Mass for the Nation once a month, from the temporary altar that was set up on the balcony in front of the church. From this location, high above the thousands of Poles who would gather to pray for freedom and an end to violence against the dignity of the human person, Fr. Jerzy would preach firm, but peaceful, homilies, condemning the unjust actions and persecutions of the government. It was from this balcony that Poles could hear about the freedom that they longed for, and be inspired to pursue it. “Conquer evil with good,” Fr. Jerzy would repeat after St. Paul, always condemning the use of force against the injustice.
His homilies revealed the power of an idea. Never encouraging anybody to fight with violence, and always encouraging to act prudently, resolutely, and justly in resisting the government, the authorities grew nervous about the possible loss of power, and about this simple “priest” who darted to challenge the state. His preaching of the Truth made the communist government ever more nervous and determined to protect their lies and falsehoods.
Throughout 1984, Fr. Jerzy was faced with many troubles. Although he believed that he was truly called to say this Mass for the intention of freedom, he grew tired of the continuous pressure by the government, which threatened him with jail, and other forms of punishment. The constant psychological stress made him consider leaving to Rome to study and rest, but in the end, he decided to stay with his people, even though several attempts on his life had been made. On October 19th, 1984, Fr. Popieluszko was asked to participate in a Mass and Rosary in Bydgoszcz. His last words at the Rosary meditation were, “Let us pray to be free from fear and fright, but first of all, from the desire for revenge and violence.” These words are striking, and were lived out by the man who spoke them.
On his way to Torun, Polish SB (secret police) officials stopped his car, dressed up as regular traffic officers. They then forced him to hand over the car keys. The driver was taken out, and he was arrested and taken to a police car. He was then thrown into the trunk, after being stunned by beating over the head. However, one of the officers became afraid, and he jumped out of the moving car. Car malfunctions also began to plague the “kidnappers,” and they realizes that Fr. Jerzy was also trying to set himself free. Upon stopping the car, Fr. Jerzy jumped out of the trunk and began to run for help. The kidnappers caught up to him, and beat him to the point of unconsciousness, throwing him again into the trunk. Coming back to consciousness, Fr. Jerzy began trying to set himself free, once again. The officials parked the car near a forest, and began to beat him with sticks, threatening him with a gun. After he lost consciousness once again, they bound his arms and legs and proceeded to drive a few miles down the road again. Once again stopping, they beat him again, and tied a noose around his neck, connected to his legs, so that when he tried to move his legs, he would begin to choke himself. He was still alive, though not conscious.
Deliberating what to do next, they decided to stop at the Wloclawek Dam on the Vistula River, where the threw Fr. Jerzy into the river to drown him. It is not known whether he was still alive at this time or not.
The nest day, the official television report informed the country that Fr. Jerzy had been “kidnapped,” though nobody believes the report. Ten days later, his body was found in the river, and he was hailed a martyr and a true hero.
Fr. Jerzy’s process for beatification is moving forward, and he has been declared “venerable.” He is only one victim of a regime that sought to limit the freedom that man is called to. This freedom, as John Paul II stated, “is not only given as a gift, but also as a task and responsibility.”
So many people take the gift of freedom for granted, and do not appreciate the sacrifices that have been made in order to secure its blessings. How many times, do people take for granted their freedom to worship, to criticize a government, to speak about the Truth? There are many Catholics in the United States who take their faith for granted, and do not realize that people in the MODERN WORLD are dying for their faith!
These questions are all worthy questions to ponder and to reflect on as we celebrate this weekend in Poland, and as Memorial Day nears back in the United States. Perhaps we can all appreciate in a new way the faith that has been given us as the greatest gift, and which we so often take for granted!