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Part of a series of articles on
20th Century
Persecutions of the
Catholic Church


Mexico

Cristero War  · Iniquis Afflictisque
Saints  · José Sánchez del Río
Persecution in Mexico  · Miguel Pro

Spain
498 Spanish Martyrs
Red Terror (Spain) · Dilectissima Nobis
Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Martyrs of Daimiel
Bartolome Blanco Marquez
Innocencio of Mary Immaculate

Germany

Mit brennender Sorge  · Alfred Delp
Alois Grimm · Rupert Mayer
Bernhard Lichtenberg · Max Josef Metzger
Karl Leisner  · Maximilian Kolbe

China
Persecution in China · Ad Sinarum Gentem ·
Cupimus Imprimis  · Ad Apostolorum Principis
Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei · Beda Chang
Dominic Tang
Poland
Stefan Wyszyński
108 Martyrs of World War Two · Policies
Poloniae Annalibus  · Gloriosam Reginam
Invicti Athletae · Jerzy Popiełuszko

Eastern Europe
Jozsef Mindszenty  · Eugene Bossilkov
Josef Beran  · Aloysius Stepinac
Meminisse Juvat  · Anni Sacri

El Salvador

Maura Clarke  · Ignacio Ellacuría
Ita Ford  · Rutilio Grande
Dorothy Kazel  · Ignacio Martín-Baró
Segundo Montes  · Óscar Romero

General

Persecution of Christians
Church persecutions 1939-1958
Vatican and Eastern Europe
Vatican USSR policies

Eastern Catholic persecutions
Terrible Triangle
Conspiracy of Silence (Church persecutions)

Poloniae Annalibus (July 16, 1953) is an apostolic letter of Pope Pius XII commemorating the seven hundredth anniversary of the canonization of Saint Stanislaw AAS [1] and encouraging the Polish episcopate to be united and strong in face of persecution.


Saint Stanislaw was an exemplar of steadfastness in his time and a model for our time. As bishop of Krakow, he was a model for piety, social engagement and courage. He dared to tell King Boleslaw his faults and sin in his face. He was tortures as a result but his mind did not bend.[2] The Krakow faithful were so enraged over this sacrilege, that they forced the king to abdicate. He went into exile for the rest of his life.


The bishops of Poland display the same fervour and the same love as the faithful in those days. Indeed, their trials are very comparable to those of Saint Stanislaw. A night of terror has descended over faithful Poland. But in the darkness of night shine the stars of Polish loyalty in such a way, that the whole world watches in admiration. Many Poles lost everything, because they defended their faith. Many lost their lives. Many bishops, priests and Religious were incarcerated, sent to Siberia, robbed of all rights, tortured, maligned and falsely accused of all things, for one reason only: They were messengers of Christ. Average and dispirited persons cannot understand this, but eternal honour is certain all those, who gave everything. They are the true successors of Saint Stanislaw. His virtues continue to flourish among the Polish people. It may take time, but the powerful blessings of all these sacrifices will later bear rich fruit.


Pope Pius XII reviews Polish history, in order to show, how Polish loyalty and faith, following the example of Stanislaw, was always victorious. Saint Stanislaw this is not only a saint of virtue but of justice as well. And the Poles, who were divided at the time unified around th relics of the great saint. He admonishes the episcopate, to maintain the same unity.[3]


Quotations[]

    • May your confidence be stronger then granite. May your love of enemies never weaken because of injustices.May your hopes shine brighter then the sun, even if everything seems to fall apart. Your great sacrifices will bear fruit [4]
    • Nobody loves the esteemed mother of God more than you do. May the Holy Mother of God gracefully look towards all Polish people, who seek her protection. May she be your protection and change into joy, what today appears as deep concern.[5]


References[]

  • Poloniae Annalibus, Acta Apostolicae Sedis, AAS, 1953, 498

Sources[]

  1. XLV, 1953, 498
  2. Poloniae Annalibus 3
  3. Poloniae Annalibus 8
  4. Poloniae Annalibus 9
  5. Poloniae Annalibus 11

id:Poloniae Annalibus

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