October 19, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Jerzy Popiełuszko, the Polish martyr who stood up to the communist government.
Jerzy Popiełuszko was born on September 14, 1947 in Poland. During the years of communist repression, Popiełuszko accompanied Polish workers and Catholics as a priest. Associated with the "Solidarity" trade union, he had no qualms about speaking out about abuses committed by the government.
Despite the imposed censorship, the priest encouraged his fellow citizens to peaceful resistance. His homilies brought together thousands of people every week, who saw in Popiełuszko a beacon of hope and an example of fortitude in the face of the attitude of the communists.
Despite the fact that the Polish priest constantly launched appeals for peace and asked to avoid feelings of revenge, the Służba Bezpieczeństwa Ministerstwa Spraw Wewnętrznych, the intelligence service of the communist government,decided to end Jerzy's life.
Murder of Jerzy Popiełuszko
The attempts of the secret police were several, but they failed. If at first the agents wanted to provoke a car accident, when they saw that Popiełuszko survived they changed the plan and kidnapped the priest.
On October 19, 1984, three members of the Służba Bezpieczeństwa violently assaulted Jerzy Popiełuszko and locked him in a trunk. After a brutal beating, they threw the priest, still alive, into the Vistula River with a sack of stones tied to his body.
Beatification
The Polish people mourned the death of Jerzy Popiełuszko, whose body was not recovered until October 30. Such was the affection the faithful felt for the priest that half a million people attended his funeral.
It is not surprising that St. John Paul II to promote the process of beatification of the young martyr. However, he was his successor, Benedict XVIwho declared Jerzy Popiełuszko blessed on June 6, 2010. The cause of canonization is still open and the martyr's tomb is a place of pilgrimage attended by millions of people.
