Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Polish parliament declares 2021 the Year of Cardinal Wyszynski

Polish parliament declares 2021 the Year of Cardinal Wyszynski

Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński with Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, the future St. John Paul II. Photo courtesy of Adam Bujak/Biały Kruk

CNA Staff, Jan 4, 2021 / 04:00 am (CNA).- The Polish parliament has declared 2021 the Year of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, in honor of the churchman who helped to preserve and strengthen Christianity under communist rule.

Resolutions of both houses of parliament — the Sejm (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) — hailed the achievements of the cardinal who led the Polish Church at the height of communist oppression and is expected to be beatified soon.

The resolutions were adopted by overwhelming majorities.

The Sejm’s resolution said: “In his priestly activity, the Primate of the Millennium paid attention to man’s inherent dignity, the source of all his rights.”

Wyszyński is known as the “Primate of the Millennium” because as Primate of Poland he oversaw a nine-year program of preparation culminating in a nationwide celebration of the millennium of Poland’s baptism in 1966.

The Sejm’s resolution also praised the cardinal for his robust defense of the Church’s independence under communism. It alluded to his 1953 letter to Poland’s communist leader Bolesław Bierut in which he refused to subordinate the Church to the authorities, declaring “Non possumus!” (We cannot). Wyszyński was imprisoned later that year.

“As a man of deep faith and love for the Church and the Fatherland, he sought agreement with the authorities. However, when the actions of the authorities of the Polish People’s Republic threatened the rights of the Church and the faithful, they heard the resolute ‘Non possumus!’ The Primate of Poland was imprisoned. He became a symbol of an unwavering attitude of opposition to evil,” said the resolution, dated Nov. 27 and passed by 387 votes to 48, with 16 abstentions.

In its resolution, the Senate described Wyszyński as “one of the greatest Poles of the 20th century.”

“It is impossible to accurately describe the merits and the role that Primate Stefan Wyszyński played in those years for Poland and the Church. He and John Paul II were together the great teachers of the nation and supported Poles in the most difficult moments in our homeland’s history,” said the resolution, dated Dec. 2 and passed by 77 votes to three, with two abstentions.

It continued: “He watched over the fate of the Polish Church in the darkest years of Stalinism with exceptional care. For his steadfast attitude towards the communist authorities, for his opposition to the destruction of social and ecclesial life — expressed by the famous phrase ‘Non possumus!’ — he was imprisoned for several years.”

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Wyszyński’s birth and the 40th anniversary of his death.

He was born on Aug. 3, 1901, in Zuzela, 60 miles north-east of Warsaw.

Before the Second World War, he engaged in social and educational work with Christian trade unions and organized the Catholic Union of Young Workers.

During the war, he became a member of the Home Army, Poland’s underground resistance movement, serving as chaplain of a hospital for insurgents in Laski, near Warsaw.

In 1946, Pope Pius XII named him bishop of Lublin and, two years later, as archbishop of Gniezno and Warsaw.

Wyszyński served as Primate of Poland until his death in Warsaw on May 28, 1981, months after the founding of the trade union Solidarity, which would lead to the collapse of Polish communism in 1989.

His beatification cause opened in 1989. On Oct. 3, 2019, the Vatican announced the approval of a miracle attributed to the cardinal’s intercession.

The miracle involved the healing of a 19-year-old woman from thyroid cancer in 1989. After the young woman received the incurable diagnosis, a group of Polish nuns began praying for her healing through the cardinal’s intercession.

The beatification was due to take place on June 7, 2020, in Warsaw. But in late April, the ceremony was postponed to an indefinite date because of the coronavirus pandemic.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Jan 4, 2021CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
Head of Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church sends New Year message of peace to war-torn UkrainePope accepts resignation of Kenyan Cardinal John Njue
You Might Also Like
 
Vatican announces launch of Catholic ‘global compact’ on the family
 
Advent Reflections: Week three

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
2 years ago Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Catholic News, Communism, Europe, News Briefs, Poland, Polish ParliamentCardinal Karol Wojtyła, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Catholic Church, Communism, Europe, News Briefs, Poland, Polish Parliament31
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Pope at Ecumenical Prayer in South Sudan: Those who unleash war betray God
  • Pope Francis meets 2,500 refugees in South Sudan
  • Investigation into FBI, fed agencies’ targeting of Christians and pro-lifers to begin next week
  • Priest, 5 students arrested for chants against president after Pope Francis event in DRC
  • Pope addresses Zayed prize-winners and encourages interreligious dialogue
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!