120th Anniversary of the January Uprising. Holy Mass for the Homeland at the Warsaw Church of Saint Stanisław Kostka on 30 January 1983

Abstract

The teaching of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko falls within the scope of patriotic preaching in Poland. In the years 1982–1984 he celebrated famous church services for the Homeland at the church of Saint Stanislaw Kostka in the Warsaw district of Żoliborz. Each monthly service had a unique form since it included prayers for the Nation, singing, special decoration of the chancel, poetry recitals, and a sermon. All of that was designed to convey a patriotic message, typically focusing on one subject, as each mass was dedicated to a different issue. The liturgy of 30 January 1983 was exceptional, which the martyr for communism celebrated on the 120^th anniversary of the January Uprising. In the sermon, he presented the social situation leading to a common effort to regain independence in 1863. Popiełuszko referred to the November Uprising, the Polish–Soviet War and World War II in order to better present the history of Polish efforts to make the Nation and Poland free. The chaplain of the Solidarity Movement used that to strengthen the faithful’s love of the Homeland, so that they would become hopeful and steadfast in their struggle for the rights of individual people and society to be respected, disregarded by the totalitarian regime. The whole event was made complete by the use of special decorations and poetic contributions.