Posted on 10/24/2019 5:49:14 PM PDT by marshmallow
Honors Polish priest-martyrs on 35th anniversary of Fr. Popiełuszko's martyrdom
WARSAW, Poland (ChurchMilitant.com) - On Oct. 19, Poland celebrated the first National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy adopted by the Polish Parliament. The date coincides with the day Bl. Jerzy Popiełuszko was martyred 35 years ago by the Communist secret service.
"May these brave clergymen be an example and an inspiration to all of us to deepen our faith and work for the good of our temporal and eternal homeland," said Abp. Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish bishops' conference.
A solemn Mass and display of relics took place in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Warsaw where Bl. Popiełuszko (pronounced "pop-eh-WOOSH-ko") spent the last years of his life serving the working people of his parish, including those who belonged to the Solidarność (Solidarity) movement.
During the martial law days of the early 1980s, Fr. Popiełuszko celebrated regular mass for striking Polish workers and listened to their complaints when more fearful clergy declined.
He was an outspoken critic of totalitarian values.
"Kneel only before God," he advised, not the state.
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