Prayer in the Life and Pastoral Work of the Blessed Primate of the Millennium – Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński (1901-1981)

Abstract

The purpose of this publication is to present the role of prayer in the life and pastoral work of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. We used elements of the biographical method to discuss the main features of his personality and show that he constantly strove for holiness as he believed that the future of the world depends on saints. He respected the past and attributed great value to culture, tradition and liturgy. Being an unyielding defender of Poland and the Church in the times of the communist regime, he was a man of heroic prayer. In his view, the ideals of life are based on harmony between God and the people. Therefore, this paper recalls the figure of the Primate who, through his life witness, believed, dreamed, longed and worked to restore balance in Polish society shattered by opposing political or ideological trends. In discussing prayer, we recall the Cardinal’s attitude toward acts of personal devotion, the rosary, breviary prayer and the daily Eucharist. We also point out his devotion to the liturgical year, the Sunday Eucharistic celebration and his service to Mary, mother of God. Characterising the main fields of the Primate’s pastoral activities, we distinguish individual periods associated with his ministry. We discuss in detail the period of his three-year imprisonment during which he sketched national pastoral programs.