My Beloved Homeland
Jadwiga Michalczyk
One must always work honestly and support one’s country by all means
Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus
Everyone who was lucky and honoured to be within Archbishop Wielgus’s radiant wisdom could see his heroic, sacrificial work and desires of his heart that Poland was the Most Serene Republic where happy people lived. One can find indelible traces of this attitude in his rich literary output, which is full of care for the good of the Church and Homeland. Thanks to the initiatives of his fellow countrymen from Wierzchowiska the fragments that represent the Author’s views have been chosen from his works. These fragments ordered in seven chapters constitute the book entitled ‘Moja umilowana Ojczyzna’ [My Beloved Homeland], which includes Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus’s speeches delivered in the years 1989-2005. The author has a unique gift to understand problems and to communicate his thoughts in an emphatic and unequivocal language, which is at the same time simple and compressible. That’s why the book, although written by a professor, is easily understood by all readers and clearly shows what attitude towards the surrounding reality Poles should assume. Therefore, some are right to call Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus a guard of Christian and national values. And nothing can change that because Archbishop Wielgus has deserved this title by his scientific and pastoral activities and the book, published by the Diocesan Publishing and Printing House in Sandomierz, is their undeniable testimony.
The Author’s arguments do not contain any groundless statements. He recollects what was important in the individual and social dimension. There is a wide and intelligent discernment of the situation, based on facts and understandable premises that clearly show readers what is good and what is bad and it allows predicting the development of the situation, inclines to proper choice, forms appropriate attitudes towards God’s gifts as well as the works of human hand and mind. It leads to the ability to shape one’s life. Readers can find views and opinions referring to the fatherland and to the European Union, the times of the Polish People’s Republic, figures who were providential for Poland, the role of science, education and family, the wise use of the goods of nature and the role of man in shaping his fate as well as his participation in the future of the Homeland. This publication is especially valuable for those who deal with education because it depicts the situation from the point of view of educated and experienced people. That’s why one can treat many formulations as aphorisms, e.g., ‘All that is beautiful, good and valuable requires effort, labour, sacrifice and offering’ (p. 28); ‘A given country means only so much as her citizens mean’ (p. 40); ‘Patriotism is an enrichment and ennoblement. It is a priceless contribution to the treasure of culture of all mankind’ (p. 45); Only when we begin reforming ourselves and our closest environment we will be able to change the world we live in and will be able to make our beloved Homeland more beautiful, better, authentically friendly and good for all her children’ (p. 48); ‘One should always work honestly and support one’s country by all means’ (p. 69). We could multiply the examples of wise statements since the book has 206 pages. The fact is that ‘the Catholic Church has never feared reason’ (p. 183) and ‘We, Poles, face more and more challenges and tasks to meet so that we could survive and make our Homeland better and more beautiful’ (p. 175). Therefore, let us not waste time and let us act wisely and laboriously. The advice can be found in the book by Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus. Our reflections concern only some important aspects. But they are sufficient to show our appreciation and gratitude for the Author and thank him for strengthening us when we confront the surrounding reality. We trust that the book will make our spiritual sight sharper, revive our spirit of Polishness and multiply the good in our Homeland – for the benefit of each of us.
Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne i Drukarnia w Sandomierzu, Zeromskiego Street 4, 27-600 Sandomierz, tel. (15) 644-04-00, zamowienia@wds.com.pl, www.wds.pl
"Niedziela" 8/2011