How Edith Stein, a rebellious Jewish girl raised in Wroclaw became the saint patroness of Europe and of World Youth Day?
Were her ways through Wroclaw, the picturesque city on the Odra River, her little ways to salvation, holiness, perfection, martyrdom, and sanctity?
Née Edith Stein, born into a religious Jewish family on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Reconciliation, October 12, 1891, in Wroclaw.
Being young teen she said: “ I consciously decided, on my own volition, to give up praying.”
During her school and early university years, her home was in the area of the church of Saint Michael the Archangel,
the first bigger Roman Catholic church built after Prussian seizure of Wroclaw, which soon became a centre of resistance against the Bismarck's Kulturkampf.
| "If
she is ever canonized, she will be one saint that I don't think they
can sweeten up on holy cards and write a lot of 'pious pap'
about." Flannery O’Connor about Edith Stein in a letter to a friend known only as A. |
„Gott ist die Wahrheit. Wer die Wahrheit sucht, der sucht Gott, ob es ihm klar ist oder nicht.“ „Bóg jest prawdą. Kto szuka prawdy, ten szuka Boga, czy to jest dla niego jasne, czy też nie." "God is truth, and whoever seeks the truth is seeking God, whether it is clear to him/her or not." Edith Stein, O.C.D.: Brief / List / Letter 3/23/1938 an / do / to s. Adelgundis Jaegerschmid |
|
Edith
Stein on Reason and
Faith
Letter to Sr. Callista Kopf, OP, <presumably sent to Munich>, St, Magdalena <Speyer>, February 12, 1928. (...) Of course, religion is not something to be relegated to a quiet corner or for a few festive hours, but rather, as you yourself perceive, it must be the root and basis of all life: and that, not merely for a few chosen ones, but for every true Christians (though of these there is still but a “little flock”). That is possible to worship God by doing scholarly research is something I learned, actually, only when I was busy with [the translation of ] st. Thomas [Aquuinas' Questiones de Veritatae from Latin into German]. … Only thereafter could I decidet o resume serious scholarly research. Immediately before, and for a good while after my conversion, I was of the opinion that to lead a religious life meant one had to give up all that was secular and to live totally immersed in thoughts of the Divine. But gradually I realized that something else is asked of us in this world and that, even in the contemplative life, one may not sever the connection with the world. I even believe that the deeper one is drawn into God, the more one must "go out of oneself", that is, one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it. The only essential is that one finds, first of all, a quiet corner in which one can communicate with God as though there were nothing else, and that must be done daily. It seems to me the best time is early morning hours before we begin our daily work; furthermore, [it is also essential] that one accepts one's particular mission there, preferably for each day, and does mot make one's own choice. Finally, one is to consider oneself totally as an instrument, especially with regard to the abilities one uses to perform one's special tasks, in our case, e. g., intellectual ones. We are to see them as something used, not by us, but by God in us. (...) La razón y la fe: núcleo de Edith Stein |
St Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic church in Wroclaw, Poland
Area where Edith Stein was used to live when she passed her maturity exam
Edith Stein sister Teresa Benedicta, Barefoot Carmelite, in the years 1922- 1933 prayed in St Michael the Archangel church in Wroclaw, Poland
| Tablica głosi W TYM KOŚCIELE MODLIŁA SIĘ W LATACH 1922 - 1033 EDYTA STEIN KARMELITANKA S. TERESA BENEDYKTA OD KRZYŻA ZAMORDOWANA W OŚWIĘCIMIU W 1942 BEATYFIKOWANA 1-V-1987 W KOLONII PRZEZ JANA PAWŁA II |
The plate reads IN THIS CHURCH IN THE YEARS 1922 - 1933 PRAYED EDITH STEIN CARMELITE SISTER TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS MURDERED IN AUSCHWITZ IN 1942 BEATIFIED 1-V-1987 IN COLOGNE BY JOHN PAUL II |
Die Platte lautet IN DIESER KIRCHE IN DEN JAHREN 1922 - 1033 GEBETET EDITH STEIN KARMELITER SCHWESTER TERESA BENEDICTA DES KREUZES ERMORDET 1942 IN AUSCHWITZ SELIGGESPROCHEN 1-V-1987 IN KÖLN VON JOHANNES PAUL II |
|
Prayer
to Saint Michael the Archangel Holy
Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard
against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we
humbly pray, and do thou, the Prince of the heavenly host, by the power
of God, thrust down into hell Satan and all the wicked spirits who
wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
|
Is Saint Michael the Archangel still important to humanity? Yes, he is. Like never before:
Historical
events on July 5, 2013
(a)
Popes John Paul II, John XXIII were announced to be canonized(b) Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) was published an unprecedented encyclical letter of 29 June 2013, co-written by Pope Francis and his living predecessor Benedict XVI in which the two popes said faith was a "common good" and called for dialogue with non-believers, as Faith "does not simply brighten the interior of the Church, nor does it serve solely to build an eternal city in the hereafter, it helps us build our societies,", "The unity of faith, then, is the unity of a living body; this was clearly brought out by Blessed John Henry Newman when he listed among the characteristic notes for distinguishing the continuity of doctrine over time its power to assimilate everything that it meets in the various settings in which it becomes present and in the diverse cultures which it encounters, purifying all things and bringing them to their finest expression. Faith is thus shown to be universal, catholic, because its light expands in order to illumine the entire cosmos and all of history." [Arabic, Byelorussian, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]
(c) the State of the Vatican City was dedicated to St. Joseph and St. Michael the Archangel, monument to St. Michael unveiled on one of the highest points in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI present at consecration of Vatican City State to Archangel Michael.
BLESSING OF THE NEW STATUE OF ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
ADDRESS OF HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
Vatican Gardens, Friday, 5 July 2013
Your
Holiness, Your
Eminences, Venerable
Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here in the Vatican Gardens to inaugurate a monument to St Michael the Archangel, Patron of Vatican City State. This initiative was planned long ago with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our affection and acknowledgment are ever due, and to whom we would like to express our great joy in having him here with us today. Thank you with all my heart!
I am grateful to the Directors of the Governorate, in particular Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, for his cordial words, to the Boards of Administration and to the workers involved in this achievement. I also thank Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, President emeritus of the Governorate, for his presentation of the work and of the results. A word of appreciation goes to the sculptor, Mr Giuseppe Antonio Lomuscio, and to the benefactor, Mr Claudio Chiais, both present here. Thank you!
In the Vatican Gardens there is a variety of works of art; this one added today, takes a special place, however, both for because of its placement and the meaning it expresses.
In fact, it is not only a celebratory work but also invites reflection and prayer, which fits well into the Year of Faith. Michael — which means: “Who is like God?” — is the champion of the primacy of God, of his transcendence and power. Michael fights to reestablish divine justice; he defends the People of God from their enemies and above all from the arch-enemy par excellence, the devil. And St Michael triumphs because in him it is God who acts. This sculpture reminds us therefore that evil is vanquished, the accuser is unmasked, his head is crushed, because salvation was fulfilled once and for all by the blood of Christ. Even if the devil is always trying to scratch the face of the Archangel and the face of man, God is stronger; his is the victory and his salvation is offered to every human being. On the journey and in the trials of life we are not alone, we are accompanied and sustained by the Angels of God, who offer, so to speak, their wings to help us overcome the many dangers, to be able to fly above those realities that can make our lives difficult or drag us down. In consecrating the Vatican City State to St Michael the Archangel, let us ask him to defend us from the Evil One and cast him out.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us also consecrate Vatican City State also to St Joseph, the guardian of Jesus, of the Holy Family. His presence helps us to be ever stronger and to have the courage to make space for God in our life so that good may always conquer evil. Let us ask him to keep us, care for us, so that the life of Grace may increase every day in each one of us.
We are gathered here in the Vatican Gardens to inaugurate a monument to St Michael the Archangel, Patron of Vatican City State. This initiative was planned long ago with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our affection and acknowledgment are ever due, and to whom we would like to express our great joy in having him here with us today. Thank you with all my heart!
I am grateful to the Directors of the Governorate, in particular Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, for his cordial words, to the Boards of Administration and to the workers involved in this achievement. I also thank Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, President emeritus of the Governorate, for his presentation of the work and of the results. A word of appreciation goes to the sculptor, Mr Giuseppe Antonio Lomuscio, and to the benefactor, Mr Claudio Chiais, both present here. Thank you!
In the Vatican Gardens there is a variety of works of art; this one added today, takes a special place, however, both for because of its placement and the meaning it expresses.
In fact, it is not only a celebratory work but also invites reflection and prayer, which fits well into the Year of Faith. Michael — which means: “Who is like God?” — is the champion of the primacy of God, of his transcendence and power. Michael fights to reestablish divine justice; he defends the People of God from their enemies and above all from the arch-enemy par excellence, the devil. And St Michael triumphs because in him it is God who acts. This sculpture reminds us therefore that evil is vanquished, the accuser is unmasked, his head is crushed, because salvation was fulfilled once and for all by the blood of Christ. Even if the devil is always trying to scratch the face of the Archangel and the face of man, God is stronger; his is the victory and his salvation is offered to every human being. On the journey and in the trials of life we are not alone, we are accompanied and sustained by the Angels of God, who offer, so to speak, their wings to help us overcome the many dangers, to be able to fly above those realities that can make our lives difficult or drag us down. In consecrating the Vatican City State to St Michael the Archangel, let us ask him to defend us from the Evil One and cast him out.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us also consecrate Vatican City State also to St Joseph, the guardian of Jesus, of the Holy Family. His presence helps us to be ever stronger and to have the courage to make space for God in our life so that good may always conquer evil. Let us ask him to keep us, care for us, so that the life of Grace may increase every day in each one of us.
ATTO DI CONSACRAZIONE DELLO STATO DELLA CITTÀ DEL VATICANO A SAN GIUSEPPE
ATTO DI CONSACRAZIONE DELLO STATO DELLA CITTÀ DEL VATICANO A SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO
Le mani dell’artista canosino Antonio Lomuscio consegnano la statua dell’Arcangelo S. Michele
"Even if the devil is always trying to scratch the face of the Archangel and the face of man, God is stronger; his is the victory and his salvation is offered to every human being."
et ego dico tibi quia tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversum eam Matthaeus 16:18
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Matthew 16:18
Otóż i Ja tobie powiadam: Ty jesteś Piotr [czyli Skała], i na tej Skale zbuduję Kościół mój, a bramy piekielne go nie przemogą. Ewangelia wg św. Mateusza
Und ich sage dir auch: Du bist Petrus, und auf diesen Felsen will ich bauen meine Gemeinde, und die Pforten der Hölle sollen sie nicht überwältigen Matthaeus 16
ואף אני אמר אליך כי אתה פטרוס ועל הסלע הזה אבנה את קהלתי ושערי שאול לא יגברו עליה׃ מתיו 2
The
Blessed Pope John Paul II, at the Shrine of St Michael the Archangel on
Monte Gargano on the coast of Apulia in 1987 said:
"How much the figure of the Archangel Michael, the protagonist in many pages of the Old and New Testaments, is felt and invoked by the people and how much need the Church has of his heavenly protection: of him, who is presented in the Bible as the great warrior against the Dragon, the leader of the demons.
We read in the Book of Revelation:
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Rev 12:7-9).
With this dramatic description, the sacred author presents us with the fall of the first angel, who was seduced by the ambition to become “like God”.
Whence the reaction of the Archangel Michael, whose Hebrew name “Who is like God?”, affirms the uniqueness of God and his inviolability.
As fragmentary as it is, the evidence of Revelation concerning the personality and the role of St Michael is very eloquent. He is the Archangel (cf. Jude 1:9) who affirms the inalienable rights of God.
He is one of the princes of heaven (cf. Dan 12:1)—charged with guarding the Chosen People—from whom the Saviour will come.
Now the new People of God is the Church.
That is the reason she considers him her protector and support in all her struggles for the defence and expansion of the kingdom of God on earth.
It is true that “the powers of death shall not prevail”, as the Lord assured (Mt 16:18), but this does not mean that we are exempt from trials and battles against the snares of the evil one.
In this struggle the Archangel Michael stands alongside the Church to defend her against all the iniquities of the age, to help believers to resist the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour” (1 Petr 5:8)."
"How much the figure of the Archangel Michael, the protagonist in many pages of the Old and New Testaments, is felt and invoked by the people and how much need the Church has of his heavenly protection: of him, who is presented in the Bible as the great warrior against the Dragon, the leader of the demons.
We read in the Book of Revelation:
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Rev 12:7-9).
With this dramatic description, the sacred author presents us with the fall of the first angel, who was seduced by the ambition to become “like God”.
Whence the reaction of the Archangel Michael, whose Hebrew name “Who is like God?”, affirms the uniqueness of God and his inviolability.
As fragmentary as it is, the evidence of Revelation concerning the personality and the role of St Michael is very eloquent. He is the Archangel (cf. Jude 1:9) who affirms the inalienable rights of God.
He is one of the princes of heaven (cf. Dan 12:1)—charged with guarding the Chosen People—from whom the Saviour will come.
Now the new People of God is the Church.
That is the reason she considers him her protector and support in all her struggles for the defence and expansion of the kingdom of God on earth.
It is true that “the powers of death shall not prevail”, as the Lord assured (Mt 16:18), but this does not mean that we are exempt from trials and battles against the snares of the evil one.
In this struggle the Archangel Michael stands alongside the Church to defend her against all the iniquities of the age, to help believers to resist the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour” (1 Petr 5:8)."
The chapel of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, in the St Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic church in Wroclaw, Poland
Marysia Sokolowska, age 17, praying to St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, virgin and martyr
Marysia Sokołowska, lat 17, modli się do Św. Teresy Benedykty od Krzyża - Edyty Stein, dziewicy męczennicy, żydowskiej buntowniczej dziewczyny wychowanej we Wrocławiu, która szukała prawdy i znalazła Boga, zakonnicy, zagazowanej w niemieckim obozie śmierci Auschwitz, która została świętą Kościoła Katolickiego i patronką Światowego Dnia Młodzieży.
The non-conformity, non-compliance rebellion of virgins - Bunt dziewic przeciwko podporządkowaniu się, przeciwko uległości
The rebellion of virgins against conformity to man-made rules and principles, against complying with the influence of the environment
Bunt dziewic przeciwko podporządkowaniu się stworzonym przez ludzi normom i zasadom, przeciwko uleganiu wpływowi otoczenia
Two common types of rebellion are against socially fitting in (rebellion of non-conformity) and against adult authority (rebellion of non-compliance)
see: Rebel with a Cause: Rebellion in Adolescence
Dwa typowe rodzaje buntu wymierzone są przeciwko społecznemu dopasowaniu się (bunt niepodporządkowania) i przeciwko władzy dorosłych (bunt nieulegania)
St. Michael the Archangel ensures that virgins rebelled against man-made rules and principles, against influences of the environment - conform to God and comply with His will.
Św. Michał Archanioł zapewnia, że dziewice zbuntowane przeciwko stworzonym przez ludzi normom i zasadom, przeciwko wpływom otoczenia - podporządkowują się Bogu i ulegają Jego woli..
For that to happen, St Archangel Michael has to defeat Satan who preys on the natural rebellion of adolescence and early adulthood.
Aby tak się stało, św. Michał Archanioł musi pokonać szatana, który żeruje na naturalnym buncie okresu dorastania i wczesnej dorosłości.
Ask St. Archangel Michael to beat the devil in you, and you will avoid irreversible losses that incur at the instigation of the devil.
Poproś św. Michała Archanioła, aby pokonał szatana w tobie, a unikniesz nieodwracalnych strat, które poniesiesz za namową szatana.
How to ask? Jak prosić?
As simply as possible. While God lets us to be His friends, the same we are certain about His Archangels, Angels, and Saints.
Jak najprościej. Skoro Bóg pozwala nam być Jego przyjaciółmi, tego samego jesteśmy pewni ze strony Jego Archaniolow, Aniołów i Świętych.
Compare: simplest, rhymed, easy to remember request to St John Paul II for immediate defense against sinning: "Saint JP, pray for me!"
Porównaj: najprostsza rymowana, łatwa do zapamiętania prośba do św. Jana Pawła II o natychmiastową obronę przed zgrzeszeniem: "Święty JP, módl się za mnie!"
The chapel of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, beatified and canonized by Pope from Poland John Paul II
The chapel of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, wall info in Polish, English, German, and Italian
God lets us to be His friends
The Holy Father Benedict XVI Verbum Domini: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church (30 September 2010)
[Byelorussian, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]
1.
Predigten und Ansprachen von Papst Johannes Paul II.
bei seinem zweiten Pastoralbesuch in Deutschland sowie Begrüßungsworte und Reden,
die an den Heiligen Vater gerichtet wurden 30. Apri' bis 4. Mai 1987
2.
1° maggio 1987, Rito di Beatificazione di Suor Teresa della Croce[Italiano, Tedesco]
3.
Homily Of John Paul II for the Canonization of
Edith Stein
[Polski, Deutsch, English, Español, Italiano, Português]
| 5. Drodzy bracia i siostry! Miłość Chrystusa była ogniem, który
rozpalił życie s. Teresy Benedykty od Krzyża. Ten ogień ogarnął ją
znacznie wcześniej, niż to sobie uświadomiła. Jako pierwszy cel Edyta
Stein wyznaczyła sobie wolność. Przez długi czas była osobą
poszukującą. Jej umysł niestrudzenie dociekał prawdy, a jej serce
otwierało się na nadzieję. Z zapałem przemierzała niełatwą drogę
filozofii i dlatego została ostatecznie wynagrodzona: zdobyła prawdę.
Trafniej można powiedzieć, że została zdobyta przez prawdę. Odkryła
bowiem, że prawda ma na imię Jezus Chrystus. Od tego momentu Wcielone
Słowo było dla niej wszystkim. Wspominając ten okres swojego życia już
po wstąpieniu do zakonu karmelitańskiego, pisała w liście do pewnej
benedyktynki: «Kto szuka prawdy, szuka Boga, czy jest tego świadom, czy
nie». Chociaż Edyta Stein została wychowana przez swą matkę Żydówkę w duchu religijnym, w wieku czternastu lat «z pełną świadomością i z własnej woli przestała się modlić». Chciała zbudować swoje życie wyłącznie na samej sobie, dążąc usilnie do potwierdzenia swojej wolności w życiowych wyborach. U kresu długiej drogi dokonała zaskakującego odkrycia: tylko ten kto związuje się z miłością Chrystusa, jest naprawdę wolny. Doświadczenie tej kobiety, która musiała stawić czoło wyzwaniom naszego burzliwego stulecia, staje się dla nas wzorem. Współczesny świat zwodzi nas kuszącą wizją otwartej bramy, która ma oznaczać, że wszystko jest dozwolone. Zarazem nie chce dostrzec ciasnej bramy rozeznania i wyrzeczenia. Dlatego zwracam się w szczególny sposób do was, drodzy młodzi chrześcijanie, zwłaszcza do licznych ministrantów, którzy w tych dniach przybyli z pielgrzymką do Rzymu: Bądźcie czujni! Wasze życie nie jest niekończącym się dniem otwartych drzwi! Wsłuchujcie się w głos swego serca! Nie zatrzymujcie się na powierzchni, ale docierajcie do głębi rzeczywistości! A kiedy nadejdzie pora, miejcie odwagę dokonać wyboru! Bóg czeka na was, byście złożyli swoją wolność w Jego dobrych dłoniach. 5. Liebe Schwestern und Brüder! Die Liebe Christi war das Feuer, das das Leben von Schwester Teresia Benedicta vom Kreuz entflammt hat. Längst bevor es ihr bewußt wurde, war sie von diesem Feuer ergriffen. Zunächst hatte sich Edith Stein der Freiheit verschrieben. Lange war sie eine Suchende. Ihr Geist wurde nicht müde, sich der Forschung zu widmen, und ihr Herz streckte sich nach Hoffnung aus. Voller Begeisterung legte sie den mühseligen Weg der Philosophie zurück. Dafür wurde sie schließlich belohnt: Sie eroberte die Wahrheit. Oder besser gesagt: Sie wurde von der Wahrheit erobert. Denn sie durfte entdecken, daß die Wahrheit einen Namen hat: Jesus Christus. Von diesem Augenblick an war das menschgewordene Wort ihr Ein und Alles. Als sie auf diesen Lebensabschnitt als Karmelitin zurückblickte, schrieb sie an eine Benediktinerin: “Wer die Wahrheit sucht, der sucht Gott, ob es ihm klar ist oder nicht”. Obwohl Edith Stein von ihrer jüdischen Mutter religiös erzogen worden war, hatte sie sich mit vierzehn Jahren “das Beten ganz bewußt und aus freiem Entschluß abgewöhnt”. Sie wollte ihr Leben ausschließlich aus sich selbst heraus gestalten, ganz darauf bedacht, ihre Freiheit in den Entscheidungen ihres Lebens zu behaupten. Am Ende eines langen Weges durfte sie zur überraschenden Erkenntnis gelangen: Nur wer sich an die Liebe Christi bindet, der wird wirklich frei. Diese Frau hatte die Herausforderungen eines so umwälzenden Jahrhunderts wie des unseren zu bestehen. Ihre Erfahrung wird zum Beispiel für uns. Die moderne Welt prahlt mit der verlockenden Tür, die sagt: Alles ist erlaubt. Dabei übersieht sie die schmale Pforte der Unterscheidung und des Verzichts. Deshalb wende ich mich besonders an Euch, liebe junge Christen, vor allem an die vielen Ministranten, die in diesen Tagen nach Rom gepilgert sind: Gebt acht! Euer Leben ist kein endloser Tag der offenen Tür! Hört in Euer Herz hinein! Begnügt Euch nicht mit der Oberfläche, sondern geht den Dingen auf den Grund! Und wenn es Zeit ist, habt den Mut, Euch zu entscheiden! Der Herr wartet auf Euch, daß Ihr Eure Freiheit in Seine guten Hände legt. |
| 5.
Dear brothers and sisters! The love of Christ was the fire that
inflamed the life of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Long before she
realized it, she was caught by this fire. At the beginning she devoted
herself to freedom. For a long time Edith Stein was a seeker. Her mind
never tired of searching and her heart always yearned for hope. She
traveled the arduous path of philosophy with passionate enthusiasm.
Eventually she was rewarded: she seized the truth. Or better: she was
seized by it. Then she discovered that truth had a name: Jesus Christ.
From that moment on, the incarnate Word was her One and All. Looking
back as a Carmelite on this period of her life, she wrote to a
Benedictine nun: “Whoever seeks the truth is seeking God, whether
consciously or unconsciously”. Although Edith Stein had been brought up religiously by her Jewish mother, at the age of 14 she “had consciously and deliberately stopped praying”. She wanted to rely exclusively on herself and was concerned to assert her freedom in making decisions about her life. At the end of a long journey, she came to the surprising realization: only those who commit themselves to the love of Christ become truly free. This woman had to face the challenges of such a radically changing century as our own. Her experience is an example to us. The modern world boasts of the enticing door which says: everything is permitted. It ignores the narrow gate of discernment and renunciation. I am speaking especially to you, young Christians, particularly to the many altar servers who have come to Rome these days on pilgrimage: Pay attention! Your life is not an endless series of open doors! Listen to your heart! Do not stay on the surface, but go to the heart of things! And when the time is right, have the courage to decide! The Lord is waiting for you to put your freedom in his good hands. |
| 5.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas, el amor a Cristo fue el fuego que
encendió la vida de Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz. Mucho antes de darse
cuenta, fue completamente conquistada por él. Al comienzo, su ideal fue
la libertad. Durante mucho tiempo Edith Stein vivió la experiencia de
la búsqueda. Su mente no se cansó de investigar, ni su corazón de
esperar. Recorrió el camino arduo de la filosofía con ardor apasionado
y, al final, fue premiada: conquistó la verdad; más bien, la Verdad la
conquistó. En efecto, descubrió que la verdad tenía un nombre:
Jesucristo, y desde ese momento el Verbo encarnado fue todo para ella.
Al contemplar, como carmelita, ese período de su vida, escribió a una
benedictina: «Quien busca la verdad, consciente o inconscientemente,
busca a Dios». Edith Stein, aunque fue educada por su madre en la religión judía, a los catorce años «se alejó, de modo consciente y explícito, de la oración». Quería contar sólo con sus propias fuerzas, preocupada por afirmar su libertad en las opciones de la vida. Al final de un largo camino, pudo llegar a una constatación sorprendente: sólo el que se une al amor de Cristo llega a ser verdaderamente libre. La experiencia de esta mujer, que afrontó los desafíos de un siglo atormentado como el nuestro, es un ejemplo para nosotros: el mundo moderno muestra la puerta atractiva del permisivismo, ignorando la puerta estrecha del discernimiento y de la renuncia. Me dirijo especialmente a vosotros, jóvenes cristianos, en particular a los numerosos monaguillos que han venido durante estos días a Roma: Evitad concebir vuestra vida como una puerta abierta a todas las opciones. Escuchad la voz de vuestro corazón. No os quedéis en la superficie; id al fondo de las cosas. Y cuando llegue el momento, tened la valentía de decidiros. El Señor espera que pongáis vuestra libertad en sus manos misericordiosas. |
| 5.
Cari Fratelli e Sorelle! L'amore di Cristo fu il fuoco che incendiò la
vita di Teresa Benedetta della Croce. Prima ancora di rendersene conto,
essa ne fu completamente catturata. All'inizio il suo ideale fu la
libertà. Per lungo tempo Edith Stein visse l'esperienza della ricerca.
La sua mente non si stancò di investigare ed il suo cuore di sperare.
Percorse il cammino arduo della filosofia con ardore appassionato ed
alla fine fu premiata: conquistò la verità, anzi ne fu conquistata.
Scoprì, infatti, che la verità aveva un nome: Gesù Cristo, e da quel
momento il Verbo incarnato fu tutto per lei. Guardando da carmelitana a
questo periodo della sua vita, scrisse ad una benedettina: "Chi cerca
la verità, consapevolmente o inconsapevolmente cerca Dio". Pur essendo stata educata nella religione ebraica dalla madre, Edith Stein a quattordici anni "si era consapevolmente e di proposito disabituata alla preghiera". Voleva contare solo su se stessa, preoccupata di affermare la propria libertà nelle scelte della vita. Alla fine del lungo cammino le fu dato di giungere ad una constatazione sorprendente: solo chi si lega all'amore di Cristo diventa veramente libero. L'esperienza di questa donna, che ha affrontato le sfide di un secolo travagliato come il nostro, diventa esemplare per noi: il mondo moderno ostenta la porta allettante del permissivismo, ignorando la porta stretta del discernimento e della rinuncia. Mi rivolgo specialmente a voi, giovani cristiani, in particolare ai numerosi ministranti convenuti in questi giorni a Roma: guardatevi del concepire la vostra vita come una porta aperta a tutte le scelte! Ascoltate la voce del vostro cuore! Non restate alla superficie, ma andate al fondo delle cose! E quando sarà il momento, abbiate il coraggio di decidervi! Il Signore attende che voi mettiate la vostra libertà nelle sue mani misericordiose. |
| 5.
Estimados Irmãos e Irmãs! O amor de Cristo foi o fogo que ardeu a vida
de Teresa Benedita da Cruz. Antes ainda de se dar conta, ela foi
completamente arrebatada por ele. No início, o seu ideal foi a
liberdade. Durante muito tempo, Edith Stein viveu a experiência da
busca. A sua mente não se cansou de investigar e o seu coração de
esperar. Percorreu o árduo caminho da filosofia com ardor apaixonado e
no fim foi premiada: conquistou a verdade; antes, foi por ela
conquistada. De facto, descobriu que a verdade tinha um nome: Jesus
Cristo, e a partir daquele momento o Verbo encarnado foi tudo para ela.
Olhando como Carmelita para este período da sua vida, escreveu a uma
Beneditina: «Quem procura a verdade, consciente ou inconscientemente,
procura a Deus». Embora sua mãe a tenha educado na religião hebraica, aos 14 anos de idade Edith Stein, «consciente e propositadamente desacostumou-se da oração». Só queria contar consigo mesma, preocupada em afirmar a própria liberdade nas opções de vida. No fim do longo caminho, foi-lhe dado chegar a uma surpreendente conclusão: só quem se une ao amor de Cristo se torna verdadeiramente livre. A experiência desta mulher, que enfrentou os desafios de um século atormentado como o nosso, é para nós exemplar: o mundo moderno ostenta a porta atraente do permissivismo, ignorando a porta estreita do discernimento e da renúncia. Dirijo-me especialmente a vós, jovens cristãos, em particular aos numerosos ministrantes reunidos em Roma nestes dias: evitai conceber a vossa vida como uma porta aberta a todas as opções! Escutai a voz do vosso coração! Não permaneçais na superfície, mas ide até ao fundo das coisas! E quando chegar o momento, tende a coragem de vos decidirdes! O Senhor espera que coloqueis a vossa liberdade nas suas mãos misericordiosas. |
4.
Angelus, 11 October 1998
[English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]
Biografia
[Deutch, English,, Espanol, Français, Italiano, Polski, Português]
| "Was nicht in meinem Plan lag, das hat in Gottes Plan gelegen. Lebendiger wird in mir die Glaubensüberzeugung, daß es - von Gott her gesehen - keinen Zufall gibt, daß mein ganzes Leben bis in alle Einzelheiten im Plan der göttlichen Vorsehung vorgezeichnet und vor Gottes allsehendem Auge ein vollendeter Sinnzusammenhang ist." |
| "Things were in God's plan which I had not planned at all. I am coming to the living faith and conviction that - from God's point of view - there is no chance and that the whole of my life, down to every detail, has been mapped out in God's divine providence and makes complete and perfect sense in God's all-seeing eyes." |
| "lo que no estaba en mis planes estaba en los planes de Dios. Arraiga en mí la convicción profunda de que -visto desde el lado de Dios- no existe la casualidad; toda mi vida, hasta los más mínimos detalles, está ya trazada en los planes de la Providencia divina y, ante los ojos absolutamente clarividentes de Dios, presenta una coherencia perfectamente ensamblada". |
| "Ce qui n'était pas dans mes plans était dans les plans de Dieu. En moi prit vie la profonde conviction que -vu du côté de Dieu- le hasard n'existe pas; toute ma vie, jusque dans ses moindres détails, est déjà tracée selon les plans de la providence divine et, devant le regard absolument clair de Dieu, elle présente une unité parfaitement accomplie". |
| "Ciò che non era nei miei piani era nei piani di Dio. In me prende vita la profonda convinzione che-visto dal lato di Dio - non esiste il caso; tutta la mia vita, fino ai minimi particolari, è già tracciata nei piani della provvidenza divina e davanti agli occhi assolutamente veggenti di Dio presenta una correlazione perfettamente compiuta" |
| "To czego nie było w moich planach, było w planach Boskich. Bardziej żywe staje się we mnie przekonanie, że-z punktu widzenia Boga - nie ma przypadków, że całe moje życie, do najdrobniejszego szczegółu, wyznaczone zostało w Boskich planach, a wszystkowidzące oko Boga to doskonały związek przyczynowy" |
Compare
"I am a small feather on the breath of God.”
Hildegard von Bingen (16 September 1098 – 17 September 1179)
REGINA CÆLI , St Peter's Square, Sunday, 27 May 2012
His Holiness Benedict XVI:
"I am delighted to announce that on 7 October, at the start of the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, I will proclaim
St John of Avila and St Hildegard of Bingen Doctors of the universal Church"
text video
5.
Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Letter Issued Motu Proprio
Proclaiming
Saint Bridget of Sweden
Saint Catherine of Siena and
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Co-Patronesses of Europe
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
for Perpetual Remembrance
Co Patronesses Of Europe
October 1, 1999
English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish
6.
The Passion of Edith Stein—Revisited
***
Edith Stein and John of the Cross
The Influence of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein
on Pope John Paul II’s Understanding of the Feminine Genius
Order of the Discalced Friars of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, O.C.D.
Three saint Barefoot Carmelites with Jewish family roots: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Saint John of the Cross
Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada of Gotarrendura, in the province of Ávila; Edith Stein of Wroclaw; Juan de Yepes y Álvarez of Fontiveros, near Ávila
The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel by Teresa
Re-imprimatur.+ Franciscus Archiepiscopus Westmonast. Die 27 Sept., 1904.
The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel. Written by Herself.
Translated from the Spanish by David Lewis.
Third Edition Enlarged. With additional Notes and an Introduction by Rev. Fr. Benedict Zimmerman, O.C.D.
all formats incl. e-books
| Teresa von Avila und Edith Stein | |
| Der
Bericht von Schw. Teresia Renata Posselt, Edith Steins erster
Biographin, über deren Bekehrung, ist inzwischen weltweit bekannt,
obwohl er fast etwas Legendenhaftes an sich hat. Die Autorin läßt Edith
Stein erzählen: „...ich holte ein umfangreiches Buch hervor. Es trug
den Titel ‘Leben der Heiligen Theresia von Avila’, von ihr selbst
geschrieben. Ich begann zu lesen, war sofort gefangen und hörte nicht
mehr auf bis zum Ende. Als ich das Buch schloß, sagte ich mir: ‘Das ist die Wahrheit’" |
The report of Sister Teresia Renata Posselt, Edith
Stein first
biographer, whose conversion is now known
around the world,
although she has something almost legend-like about it. The author can cite Edith Stein: "... I took out a large book. It was
entitled
'Life of St Teresa of
Avila',
written by herself. I started
reading,
was caught
immediately
and did not
stop until the
end.
When
I closed the book,
I said to myself: 'This is the truth' " |
Translated from the Autograph of St. Teresa of Jesus by The Benedictines of Stanbrook Thomas Baker, London [1921]
The Interior Castle or The Mansions by St. Teresa of Avila
the pdf containing the complete text and footnotes
The Son of God Jesus Christ was whipped and crucified for the sins of all humanity
Christ Flagellated statue made of full wood polichromated, 16/17th century, Archdiocesan Museum in Wrocław, Poland
"Ave Crux, spes unica": the theology of the cross in the life and works of Edith Stein by Nemazee, Rowshan, 2000
Edith Stein sister Teresa Benedicta, Barefoot Carmelite, who in the years 1922- 1933 prayed in St Michael the Archangel church,
is being venerated in the very same place, after been raised to our altars by Pope from Poland John Paul II
Figures of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Saint John Bosco below the painting of Saint Michael the Archangel in the main altar
of the Society of St. Francis de Sales (the Salesians of Don Bosco) church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Wroclaw, Poland
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic church - Rzymskokatolicki kosciól sw. Maksymiliana Kolbe - Römisch-katholische Heiliger-Maximilian-Kolbe-Kirche, Wroclaw, Poland
Main stained glass window above the altar: Christ's Triumphal Resurrection flanked by Martyrs of the German Death Camp Auschwitz
Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv. (founded by Stefania and Krzysztof Marszałek) ,
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O. C. D. (founded by Römisch-katholische Pfarrei St-Nikolaus Markt Bad Abbach - St. Nikolas Roman Catholic Parish, Abbach, Bavaria, Germany 1998)
Catholic Martyrs of the Holocaust
Apostolic Pilgrimage To Poland
Holy Mass at The Auschwitz - Birkenau German Concentration Camp
Homily Of His Holiness John Paul II
7 June 1979
[English, François , Espanol, Italiano, Português, Polish]
| 1. "This is the victory that overcomes the world, our
faith" (1 Jn 5:4). These words from the Letter of Saint John come to my mind and enter my heart as I find myself in this place in which a special victory was won through faith; through the faith that gives rise to love of God and of one's neighbour, the unique love, the supreme love that is ready to "lay down (one's) life for (one's) friends" (Jn 15:13; cf. 10:11). A victory, therefore, through love enlivened by faith to the extreme point of the final definitive witness. This victory through faith and love was won in this place by a man whose first name is Maximilian Mary. Surname: Kolbe. Profession (as registered in the books of the concentration camp): Catholic priest. Vocation: a son of Saint Francis. Birth: a son of simple, hardworking devout parents, who were weavers near Lódz. By God's grace and the Church's judgment: Blessed. The victory through faith and love was won by him in this place, which was built for the negation of faith—faith in God and faith in man—and to trample radically not only on love but on all signs of human dignity, of humanity. A place built on hatred and on contempt for man in the name of a crazed ideology. A place built on cruelty. On the entrance gate which still exists, is placed the inscription "Arbeit macht frei", which has a sardonic sound, since its meaning was radically contradicted by what took place within. In this site of the terrible slaughter that brought death to four million people of different nations, Father Maximilian voluntarily offered himself for death in the starvation bunker for a brother, and so won a spiritual victory like that of Christ himself. This brother still lives today in the land of Poland. But was Father Maximilian Kolbe the only one? Certainly he won a victory that was immediately felt by his companions in captivity and is still felt today by the Church and the world. However, there is no doubt that many other similar victories were won. I am thinking, for example, of the death in the gas chamber of a concentration camp of the Carmelite Sister Benedicta of the Cross, whose name in the world was Edith Stein, who was an illustrious pupil of Husserl and became one of the glories of contemporary German philosophy, and who was a descendant of a Jewish family living in Wroclaw. Where the dignity of man was so horribly trampled on, victory was won through faith and love. Can it still be a surprise to anyone that the Pope born and brought up in this land, the Pope who came to the see of Saint Peter from the diocese in whose territory is situated the camp of Oswiecim, should have begun his first Encyclical with the words "Redemptor Hominis" and should have dedicated it as a whole to the cause of man, to the dignity of man„ to the threats to him, and finally to his inalienable rights that can so easily be trampled on and annihilated by his fellowmen? Is it enough to put man in a different uniform, arm him with the apparatus of violence? Is it enough to impose on him an ideology in which human rights are subjected to the demands of the system, completely subjected to them, so as in practice not to exist at all? (...) |
| 1.
« Voici quelle est la victoire qui a vaincu le monde : c’est notre foi.
» (1 Jn 5, 4.) Ces paroles de la lettre de saint Jean me viennent à
l’esprit et me pénètrent le cœur lorsque je me trouve ici, en cet
endroit où a été remportée une victoire particulière de la foi. De la
foi qui fait naître l’amour de Dieu et du prochain, l’unique amour,
l’amour suprême qui est prêt a à donner sa vie pour ses amis » (Jn 15,
13 ; cf. 10, 11). Une victoire, donc, de l’amour que la foi a vivifié
jusqu’au sommet du témoignage ultime et définitif. Cette victoire de la foi et de l’amour, un homme l’a remportée en ce lieu ; son nom est Maximilien Marie ; son nom de famille : Kolbe ; sa profession (telle qu’il l’indiquait lui-même dans les registres du camp de concentration) : prêtre catholique ; sa vocation : fils de saint François ; sa naissance : fils de gens simples, laborieux et pieux, tisserands aux environs de Lodz ; par la grâce de Dieu et le jugement de l’Église : bienheureux. La victoire de la foi et de l’amour, cet homme l’a remportée en ce lieu qui fut construit pour la négation de la foi (de la foi en Dieu et de la foi en l’homme) et pour fouler aux pieds radicalement non seulement l’amour mais tous les signes de la dignité humaine, de l’humanité. Un lieu qui fut construit sur la haine et sur le mépris de l’homme au nom d’une idéologie folle. Un lieu qui fut construit sur la cruauté. À ce lieu conduit une porte, qui existe encore aujourd’hui, et sur laquelle est placée une inscription : « Arbeit macht frei » (le travail rend libre), qui rend un son sardonique, parce que son contenu était radicalement contredit par tout ce qui se passait à l’intérieur. Dans ce lieu du terrible massacre où trouvèrent la mort quatre millions d’hommes de diverses nations, le P. Maximilien, en s’offrant volontairement lui-même à la mort, pour un frère, dans le bunker de la faim remporta une victoire spirituelle semblable à celle du Christ lui-même. Ce frère vit encore aujourd’hui sur la terre polonaise. Il est parmi nous. Mais le P. Maximilien Kolbe fut-il le seul ? Certes, il a remporté une victoire qui frappa aussitôt ses compagnons de prison et qui frappe encore aujourd’hui l’Église et le monde. Il est certain aussi que beaucoup d’autres victoires semblables ont été remportées, je pense par exemple à la mort dans le four crématoire d’un camp de concentration de la sœur carmélite Bénédicte de la Croix, dans le siècle Edith Stein, illustre disciple de Husserl, qui est devenue une gloire de la philosophie allemande contemporaine, et qui descendait d’une famille juive de Wroclaw. Sur le lieu où la dignité de l’homme avait été foulée aux pieds d’une manière aussi horrible voici la victoire remportée grâce à la foi et à l’amour ! Quelqu’un peut-il encore s’étonner que le Pape né et élevé sur cette terre, le Pape qui est arrivé sur le siège de saint Pierre de ce diocèse sur le territoire duquel se trouve le camp d’Auschwitz ait commencé sa première encyclique par les mots Redemptor hominis, et qu’il l’ait consacrée dans son ensemble à la cause de l’homme, à la dignité de l’homme, aux menaces contre lui et enfin à ses droits inaliénables qui peuvent être si facilement foulés aux pieds et anéantis par ses semblables ? Suffit-il donc de revêtir l’homme d’un uniforme différent, de l’armer de tous les moyens de la violence, suffit-il donc de lui imposer une idéologie dans laquelle les droits de l’homme sont soumis aux exigences du système, complètement soumis, au point de ne plus exister en fait ?… (...) |
| 1. “...Questa è la vittoria che ha sconfitto il mondo:
la nostra fede” (1Gv 5,4). Queste parole della Lettera di San Giovanni mi vengono alla mente e mi penetrano nel cuore, quando mi trovo in questo posto in cui si è compiuta una particolare vittoria per la fede. Per la fede che fa nascere l’amore di Dio e del prossimo, l’unico amore, l’amore supremo che è pronto a “dare la vita per i propri amici” (Gv 15,13; cf.Gv 10,11). Una vittoria, dunque, per l’amore, che la fede ha vivificato fino agli estremi dell’ultima e definitiva testimonianza. Questa vittoria per la fede e per l’amore l’ha riportata in questo luogo un uomo, il cui nome è Massimiliano Maria, il cognome: Kolbe; di professione (come si scriveva di lui nei registri del campo di concentramento): sacerdote cattolico; di vocazione: figlio di San Francesco; di nascita: figlio di semplici, laboriosi e devoti genitori, tessitori nei pressi di Lodz; per grazia di Dio e per giudizio della Chiesa: beato. La vittoria mediante la fede e l’amore l’ha riportata quell’uomo in questo luogo, che fu costruito per la negazione della fede – della fede in Dio e della fede nell’uomo – e per calpestare radicalmente non soltanto l’amore, ma tutti i segni della dignità umana, dell’umanità. Un luogo, che fu costruito sull’odio e sul disprezzo dell’uomo nel nome di una ideologia folle. Un luogo, che fu costruito sulla crudeltà. Ad esso conduce una porta, ancor oggi esistente, sulla quale è posta una iscrizione: “Arbeit Macht frei”, che ha un suono sardonico, perché il suo contenuto era radicalmente contraddetto da quanto avveniva qua dentro. In questo luogo del terribile eccidio, che recò la morte a quattro milioni di uomini di diverse nazioni, Padre Massimiliano, offrendo volontariamente se stesso alla morte nel bunker della fame per un fratello, riportò una vittoria spirituale simile a quella di Cristo stesso. Questo fratello vive ancor oggi sulla terra polacca. Ma Padre Massimiliano Kolbe fu l’unico? Egli, certo, riportò una vittoria che risentirono subito i compagni di prigionia e che risentono ancor oggi la Chiesa e il mondo. Sicuramente, però, molte altre simili vittorie sono state riportate; penso, ad esempio, alla morte nel forno crematorio di un campo di concentramento della Carmelitana suor Benedetta della Croce, al mondo Edith Stein, illustre allieva di Husserl, che è diventata ornamento della filosofia tedesca contemporanea, e che discendeva da una famiglia ebrea abitante a Wroclaw. Sul posto ove è stata calpestata in modo così orrendo la dignità dell’uomo, la vittoria riportata mediante la fede è l’amore! Può ancora meravigliarsi qualcuno che il Papa, nato ed educato in questa terra, il Papa che è venuto alla Sede di San Pietro dalla diocesi sul cui territorio si trova il campo di Oswiecim, abbia iniziato la sua prima Enciclica con le parole Redemptor Hominis e che l’abbia dedicata nell’insieme alla causa dell’uomo, alla dignità dell’uomo, alle minacce contro di lui e infine ai suoi diritti inalienabili che così facilmente possono essere calpestati ed annientati dai suoi simili? Basta rivestire l’uomo di una divisa diversa, armarlo dell’apparato della violenza, basta imporgli l’ideologia nella quale i diritti dell’uomo sono sottomessi alle esigenze del sistema, completamente sottomessi, così da non esistere di fatto?... (...) |
| 1. "...Esta es la victoria que ha vencido al mundo,
nuestra fe" (1 Jn 5, 4) Estas palabras de la Carta de San Juan me vienen a la mente y me llegan al corazón, cuando me encuentro en este lugar donde se ha llevado a cabo una particular victoria para la fe. Para la fe que hace nacer el amor de Dios y del prójimo, el único amor, el amor supremo que está dispuesto a "dar uno la vida por sus amigos" (Jn 15, 13; cf. 10, 11). Una victoria pues para el amor que la fe ha vivificado hasta los extremos del último y definitivo testimonio. Esta victoria para la fe y para el amor la ha conseguido en este lugar un hombre, cuyo nombre es Maksymilian María (Maximiliano María), su apellido: Kolbe; de profesión (como se escribía de él en los registros del campo de concentración): sacerdote católico; vocación: hijo de San Francisco; nacido de padres sencillos, laboriosos y devotos, tejedores cerca de Lodz; por gracia de Dios y por decisión de la Iglesia: beato. La victoria mediante la fe y el amor la consiguió este hombre en este lugar, construido para la negación de la fe —de la fe en Dios y de la fe en el hombre— y para aplastar radicalmente no sólo el amor, sino todos los signos de la dignidad humana, de la humanidad. Un lugar que fue construido sobre el odio y el desprecio del hombre, en nombre de una ideología loca. Un lugar que fue construido sobre la crueldad. Conduce a él una puerta, que todavía existe, sobre la cual se puso una inscripción Arbeit macht frei, que suena a mofa, porque su contenido se contradecía radicalmente con lo que ocurría dentro. En este lugar del terrible estrago, que supuso la muerte para cuatro millones de hombres de diversas naciones, el p. Maximiliano, ofreciéndose voluntariamente a sí mismo a la muerte, en el búnker del hambre, por un hermano, consiguió una victoria espiritual similar a la del mismo Cristo. Este hermano vive todavía hoy en esta tierra polaca. Pero el p. Maximiliano Kolbe ¿fue el único? Ciertamente, él consiguió una victoria que tuvo repercusión inmediata sobre sus compañeros de prisión y que tiene repercusión aún hoy en la Iglesia y en el mundo. Pero seguramente se consiguieron otras muchas victorias; pienso, por ejemplo, en la muerte, en el horno crematorio de un campo de concentración, de la carmelita sor Benedicta de la Cruz, en el mundo Edith Stein, alumna ilustre de Husserl, que se ha convertido en honra de la filosofía alemana contemporánea y que descendía de una familia hebrea habitante en Wroclaw. En el lugar donde ha sido pisoteada de modo tan horrendo la dignidad humana, se ha conseguido la victoria mediante la fe y el amor. ¿Puede todavía extrañarse alguien de que el Papa, nacido y educado en esta tierra; el Papa que ha ido a la Sede de San Pedro desde la diócesis en cuyo territorio se halla el campo de Oswiecim, haya comenzado su primera Encíclica con las palabras Redemptor hominis y que la haya dedicado en conjunto a la causa del hombre, a la dignidad del hombre, a las amenazas contra él y, en fin, a sus derechos inalienables que tan fácilmente pueden ser pisoteados y aniquilados por sus semejantes? ¿Es suficiente revestir al hombre de un uniforme diverso, armarlo con instrumentos de violencia, basta imponerle la ideología en la que los derechos del hombre quedan sometidos a las exigencias del sistema, completamente sometidos, hasta no existir ya de hecho...? (...) |
| 1. ... Esta é a vitória que vence o mundo: a nossa fé
(1 Jo. 5, 4) Estas palavras da Carta de São João, vêm-me à mente e penetram-me o coração, quando me encontro neste lugar em que se verificou uma particular vitória da fé. Através da fé que faz nascer o amor de Deus e do próximo, o único amor, o amor supremo que está pronto a dar a vida pelos seus amigos (Jo. 15, 13; cfr. 10, 11), Uma vitória, pois, através do amor, que a fé vivificou até aos extremos do último testemunho. Esta vitória através da fé e do amor trouxe-a para este lugar um homem cujo nome é Maximiliano Maria; de apelido: Kolbe; de profissão (como se escrevia nos registos do campo de concentração): sacerdote católico; de vocação: filho de São Francisco; de nascimento: filho de simples, laboriosos e devotos pais, tecelões nas proximidades de Lodz; por graça de Deus e por juízo da Igreja: beato. A vitória mediante a fé e o amor trouxe-a esse homem para este lugar, que foi construído pela negação da fé — da fé em Deus e da fé no homem — e para espezinhar radicalmente não só o amor, mas todos os sinais da dignidade humana, da humanidade. Um lugar que foi construído sobre o ódio e sobre o desprezo do homem em nome de uma ideologia louca. Um lugar que foi construído sobre a crueldade. A ele conduz uma porta sobre a qual está colocada uma insrição «Arbeit Macht frei», que tem um som sardónico, porque o seu conteúdo era radicalmente nega do por aquilo que acontecia aqui dentro. Neste lugar do terrível extermínio, que deu a morte a quatro milhões de homens de diversas nações, o padre Maximiliano, oferendo-se voluntariamente para morrer no «bunker» da fome em vez de um irmão, alcançou uma vitória espiritual semelhante à do próprio Cristo. Aquele irmão vive ainda hoje na terra polaca. Mas o Padre Maximiliano Kolbe foi o único? Ele, sem dúvida, obteve uma vitória cujo influxo imediatamente sentiram os companheiros de prisão e ainda hoje sentem a Igreja e o mundo. Certamente, porém, muitas outras vitórias semelhantes se verificaram; penso, por exemplo, na morte no forno crematório de um campo de concentração, da Carmelita Irmã Benedita da Cruz, no mundo Edith Stein, ilustre aluna de Husserl, que se tornou ornamento da filosofia alemã contemporânea, e descendia de uma família hebreia residente em Wroclaw. No lugar onde foi espezinhada de modo tão horrendo a dignidade do homem, a vitória obtida mediante a fé é o amor! Pode ainda alguém admirar-se que o Papa, nascido e educado nesta terra, o Papa que foi para a Sé de São Pedro da diocese em cujo território se encontra o campo de Oswiecim (Auschwitz), tenha iniciado a sua primeira Encíclica com as palavras «Redemptor hominis» e que a tenha dedicado no conjunto à causa do homem, à dignidade do homem, às ameaças contra ele e por fim aos seus direitos inalienáveis que tão facilmente podem ser espezinhados e aniquilados pelos seus semelhantes? Basta revestir o homem com um uniforme diferente, armá-lo com todos os meios da violência, basta impor-lhe a ideologia em que os direitos do homem são submetidos às exigências do sistema, completamente submetidos, a ponto de não existir realmente...? (...) |
| 1. „To
jest zwycięstwo nasze — wiara nasza” (por. 1 J 5, 4). Te słowa z Listu św. Jana przychodzą mi na myśl i cisną się do serca, gdy staję wraz z wami na tym miejscu, na którym dokonało się szczególne zwycięstwo człowieka przez wiarę. Przez wiarę, która rodzi miłość Boga i bliźnich: jedną miłość, miłość „największą” — taką, która gotowa jest „życie położyć za brata swego” (por. J 15, 13; 10, 11). A więc zwycięstwo przez miłość, która ożywia wiarę aż do granic ostatecznego świadectwa. To zwycięstwo przez wiarę i miłość odniósł w tym miejscu człowiek, któremu na imię Maksymilian Maria, nazwisko: Kolbe, „z zawodu” (jak pisano o nim w rejestrach obozowych): ksiądz katolicki, z powołania: syn św. Franciszka, z urodzenia: syn prostych, pracowitych, bogobojnych ludzi, włókniarzy z okolic Łodzi, z łaski Bożej i osądu Kościoła: błogosławiony. To zwycięstwo przez wiarę i miłość odniósł ów człowiek w tym miejscu, które było zbudowane na zaprzeczeniu wiary — wiary w Boga i wiary w człowieka — i na radykalnym podeptaniu już nie tylko miłości, ale wszelkich oznak człowieczeństwa, ludzkości; w tym miejscu, które było zbudowane na nienawiści i na pogardzie człowieka w imię obłąkanej ideologii; w tym miejscu, które było zbudowane na okrucieństwie. Miejsce, do którego prowadzi wciąż jeszcze brama z szyderczym napisem Arbeit macht frei, rzeczywistość bowiem była radykalnym zaprzeczeniem treści tego napisu. W tym miejscu straszliwej kaźni, która przyniosła śmierć czterem milionom ludzi z różnych narodów, o. Maksymilian Kolbe odniósł duchowe zwycięstwo, podobne do zwycięstwa samego Chrystusa, oddając się dobrowolnie na śmierć w bunkrze głodu — za brata. Ten brat żyje do dzisiaj na polskiej ziemi i jest wśród nas. Czy tylko on jeden — Maksymilian Kolbe — odniósł zwycięstwo, które odczuli natychmiast współwięźniowie i do dzisiaj odczuwa je Kościół i świat? Zapewne wiele zostało tu odniesionych podobnych zwycięstw, jak choćby — śmierć w krematorium obozowym siostry Benedykty od Krzyża, karmelitanki, w świecie Edyty Stein, z zawodu — filozof, znakomita uczennica Husserla, która stała się ozdobą współczesnej niemieckiej filozofii, a pochodziła z żydowskiej rodziny zamieszkałej we Wrocławiu. Nie chcę zatrzymać się na tych dwóch nazwiskach, gdy stawiam sobie pytanie, czy tylko on jeden, czy tylko ona jedna...? Ile tutaj odniesiono podobnych zwycięstw? Odnosili je ludzie różnych wyznań, różnych ideologii, zapewne nie tylko wierzący. Pragniemy ogarnąć uczuciem najgłębszej czci każde z tych zwycięstw, każdy przejaw człowieczeństwa, które było zaprzeczeniem systemu systematycznego zaprzeczania człowieczeństwa. Na miejscu tak straszliwego podeptania człowieczeństwa, godności ludzkiej — zwycięstwo człowieka! Czyż ktoś na świecie może się jeszcze dziwić, że papież, który tu, na tej ziemi urodził się i wychował, papież, który przyszedł na Stolicę Piotrową z Krakowa, z tej archidiecezji, na terenie której znajduje się obóz oświęcimski, że ten papież pierwszą encyklikę swego pontyfikatu zaczął od słów Redemptor hominis — i że poświęcił ją w całości sprawie człowieka, godności człowieka, zagrożeniom człowieka — prawom człowieka wreszcie! Niezbywalnym prawom, które tak łatwo mogą być podeptane i unicestwione... przez człowieka! Wystarczy ubrać go w inny mundur, uzbroić w aparat przemocy, w środki zniszczenia, wystarczy narzucić mu ideologię, w której prawa człowieka są podporządkowane wymogom systemu... podporządkowane bezwzględnie, tak że faktycznie nie istnieją. (...) |
Our Good Friend, St. Philomena
by Shawn Chapman Secular Discalced Carmelite with the Austin OCDS Community of St. Teresa Benedicta a Cruce
Austin CNM is dedicated to bringing the good news of Jesus Christ into the world through engaging new and social media, with particular focus on Catholics in the Diocese of Austin
What did Edith Stein see on her ways through Wroclaw?
Edith Stein Teresa Benedicta Roman Catholic nun family house until 1933
No 38 street former Michaelisstrasse, now Nowowiejska, Wroclaw, Poland
The 2013 view from the Edith Stein Teresa Benedicta, the Barefoot Carmelites O. C. D. nun family house until 1933
Area adjacent to St Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic church, Wroclaw, Poland -Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Str.,
The 2013 view of tenement house typical for the area
The Edith Stein's house was located on the sunny side of Michaelisstraße, now and before the Nowowiejska street
Inhabited by people of Polish ancestry Polish New Village - Polska Nowa Wies - Polnisch-Neudorf gave its name to Neudorfgasse which now is Nowowiejska again
Please note: After having given full power to Hitler, the Germans continued erasing Polish and Slavic names from maps of the world like never before, even under Fritzs and Bismarck. In Silesia, 1933-1937 they Germanized ca 1280 names and gave more than 600 new names to various geographical objects (rivers, forests, hills, etc.). The Nazi names removed adjective 'Polnisch' ('Polish'), changed the Slavic suffix-ice, -itz (e.g. Bienkowice - Benkowitz to Berendorf) or a Slavic pedigree (e.g. Lewin to Hummelstadt), and finally gave a name in honour of someone important in the German history (e.g. Krobielowice on Buechersruh and Okrzeszyce on Bismarckfeld) or even fortifiedfake science revelations on the role of Vandals in Silesia (Strachow Strachau to Silingtau, Sulistrowiczki Klein Silsterwitz to Silingtal).
Hardly any passer-by is aware that one of the first German concentration camps in Europe was the Edmund Heines frühes KZ „Privatlager“ Breslau Dürrgoy of April 28, 1933,where is now Wzgorze Gajowe, Bardzka Street, Wroclaw, Poland
| Known as a stronghold of left
wing
liberalism during the German Empire, Breslau eventually
became one of
the strongest support bases of the Nazis, who in the 1932 elections
received 44% of the city's vote, their third-highest total in all
Germany. In the course of the general election in March 1933,
the
NSDAP reached 51.7%, the absolute majority in the city. Consequently,
one of the first Nazi concentration camps, the camp Breslau Dürrgoy,
was opened in April 28, 1933. The guards were SA members who
were very
cruel to the prisoners. Among the inmates of concentration camps were
numerous social democrats, including former President of the Reichstag
of the Weimar Republic, Paul Lobe. Today in the area of the former camp is a disused landfill. |
 |
Bekannt als eine Hochburg des
linken
Flügels der Liberalismus im Kaiserreich, Breslau wurde schließlich
einer der stärksten Unterstützungsbasen der Nazis, die in den Wahlen
1932 erhielten 44% der Stadt Abstimmung ihre dritthöchste insgesamt in
ganz Deutschland.Im Zuge der Reichstagswahl März 1933 erreichte die
NSDAP mit 51,7 % die absolute Mehrheit in der Stadt. Daher eines der ersten nationalsozialistischen Konzentrationslager, das KZ Breslau-Dürrgoy, wurde am 28. April 1933 eröffnet. Die Wächter waren SA-Mitglieder, die sehr grausam zu den Häftlingen waren. Unter den KZ-Insassen befanden sich zahlreiche Sozialdemokraten, unter anderem der ehemalige Reichstagspräsident der Weimarer Republik, Paul Löbe. Heute befindet sich auf dem Gebiet des ehemaligen Lagers eine stillgelegte Mülldeponie. |
|
Edmund Heines
Heines
war zu seinen Lebzeiten eine der am meisten gefürchteten und gehassten
Figuren der nationalsozialistischen Führungsriege. In weiten Kreisen
der Bevölkerung war er aufgrund seiner Brutalität und Skrupellosigkeit
wie auch für seinen ausufernden Sadismus berüchtigt. Der Hitler-Biograf
Konrad Heiden sah in Heines ein „Scheusal“, Fritz Stern, der seine
Kindheit in „Heines’ Breslau“ verbrachte, erinnerte sich an den
Polizeichef als einen „verabscheuungswürdigen Mann“ und der britische
Journalist Sefton Delmer berichtete, dass ihn schon bei seiner ersten
Begegnung mit Heines das Gefühl beschlichen habe, einem „Killer“
gegenüberzustehen. Der Brite Stephen Henry Roberts schrieb wiederum:
„Für Edmund Heines gibt es eine Erklärung. Mörder, Schmarotzer, Sadist
und Homosexueller – nie gab es einen perverseren Burschen.“ (the German wikipedia)der blutige Herr von Breslau |
Edmund Heines
Heines
was in his lifetime one of the most feared and hated figures in the
Nazi leadership. In large parts of the population , he was notorious
for its brutality and ruthlessness as well as for its escalating
sadism. Hitler's biographer Konrad Heiden saw in Heines , a " monster "
,w Fritz Stern , who spent his childhood in " Heines 'Breslau ' ,
remembered the police chief as" a despicable man "and the British
journalist Sefton Delmer reported that it already have crept in his
first meeting with Heines feel a "killer" to face . The Briton Stephen
Henry Roberts wrote again: "For Edmund Heines, there is a declaration:
murderer, parasite, sadist and homosexual - there has never been
such a perverse fellow . "the bloody Lord of Breslau |
Edmund Heines
Heines
znany ze swej brutalności, bezwzględności i eskalującego sadyzmu
należał do hitlerowców najbardziej budzących trwogę i nienawiść.
Biograf Hitlera Konrad Heiden widział w Heinesie potwora, a Fritz
Stern, który spędził dzieciństwo w Breslau, przypominał sobie szefa
policji Heinesa jako człowieka nikczemnego, brytyjski dziennikarz
Sefton Delmer informował, że już po swoim pierwszym spotkaniu
z
Heinesem opanowało go uczucie, że ma on twarz zabójcy. Brytyjczyk
Stephen Henry Roberts napisał: "Edmunda Heinesa trzeba określić jako
mordercę, pasożyta, sadystę i homoseksualistę - nigdy jeszcze nie było
tak perwersyjnego faceta.” krwawy pan miasta Breslau |
Эдмунд Гейнес
Гейнес
был в его жизни одним из самых боялись и ненавидели фигур
нацистского руководства . В значительной части населения , он был
известен своей жестокостью и беспощадностью , а также для его
расползание садизма. Биограф Гитлера Конрад Хайден видел в
Гейнес
,"монстр" , Фриц Штерн , который провел свое детство в " " Бреслау "
Гейнес , вспомнил начальник полиции как"презренный человек "ибританский
журналист Сефтона Delmer сообщил, что он уже закрались своей первой
встрече с Гейне чувствовать себя"убийца" к лицу. Британец Стивен Генри
Робертс снова написал : «Для Эдмунд Гейнес , есть декларации.
Убийца , паразиты, и гомосексуальных садистов - там никогда не
былопорочных парень " .кровавая господь Бреслау |
Resurrection of the Lord funeral chapel which belongs to the church of the Holy Spirit of 1972, the first church built in the city after Soviet seizure of Festung Breslau in 1945
In the Nazi Breslau, exactly on the opposite side of the road there wasn't any hill but the Edmund Heines frühes KZ „Privatlager“ Breslau Dürrgoy
|
From Africa to Auschwitz: How German South West
Africa Incubated Ideas and Methods Adopted and Developed by the Nazis
in Eastern Europe The German terms Lebensraum and Konzentrationslager, both widely known because of their use by the Nazis, were not coined by the Hitler regime. These terms were minted many years earlier in reference to German South West Africa, now Namibia, during the first decade of the twentieth century, when Germans colonized the land and committed genocide against the local Herero and Nama peoples. Later use of these borrowed words suggests an important question: did Wilhelmine colonization and genocide in Namibia influence Nazi plans to conquer and settle Eastern Europe, enslave and murder millions of Slavs and exterminate Gypsies and Jews? This article argues that the German experience in Namibia was a crucial precursor to Nazi colonialism and genocide and that personal connections, literature, and public debates served as conduits for communicating colonialist and genocidal ideas and methods from the colony to Germany. Key Words: Herero • Holocaust • Konzentrationslager •
Lebensraum • Nama |
Hitler
liked the Prussian Breslau and Breslau showed him more enthusiastic
than tacit
support. Political enemies of the national socialists were persecuted
with increasing hatred, and their
institutions closed or destroyed; the Gestapo began actions against
Polish and Jewish students, Communists, Social Democrats, and
trade unionists. Arrests
were made for speaking Polish in public, and in 1938 the
Nazi-controlled police destroyed the Polish cultural centre. Many of
the city's 10,000 Jews, as well as many others seen as
'undesirable' by the Third Reich, were sent to concentration camps;
those Jews who remained were killed during the Holocaust. A network
of concentration camps and forced labour camps was established around
Breslau, to serve industrial concerns, including FAMO, Junkers and
Krupp. Tens of thousands were imprisoned there.
The Polish minority living in the area adjacent to St Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic church, including former Polish New Village district along Michaelisstraße where Edith Stein had her house, increased in number when Polish forced labourers were moved in. Many of them were taken hostage in roundups on the streets of subjugated cities in Poland. The civilians were arrested from among passers-by or inhabitants of selected city quarters that had been surrounded by German forces. Those caught in roundups were most often sent to slave labor camps in Germany, but also taken as hostages in reprisal actions, imprisoned and sent to concentration camps, or summarily executed in numerous ethnic cleansing operations
On the basis of "Poland decrees" of 8 March 1940 all Polish forced labourers in Germany, including children of 12, had to carry a so-called "Polish badge".Ein sogenanntes "Polenabzeichen", das aufgrund der "Polenerlasse" vom 8. März 1940 jeder polnische Zwangsarbeiter, darunter 12 Jahre alten Kindern, in Deutschland tragen musste.
Identification of Poles in Germany. Identifizierung der Polen in Deutschland
| In March 1940, all Polish workers in the Reich were bound yo provide each garment on the right side of the chest with the P sign. Anyone not wearing the badge, could be punished with imprisonment up to 6 weeks.* |  |
Im März 1940 wurden alle polnischen Arbeiter im Reich verpflichtet, jedes Kleidungsstück auf der rechten Brustseite mit dem P-Zeichen zu versehen. Wer das Abzeichen nicht trug, konnte dafür mit bis zu 6 Wochen Haft bestraft werden.* |
*Source: Bundesarchiv 2010, Kennzeichung und Ausgrenzung
| The Holocaust of non-Jews in
Poland is almost unknown in the west. There are no university courses
on this subject, no dedicated museums, no monuments and very few
publications in English. It is for instance, well known, that Hitler
forced Jews to wear the Star of David called by the Nazi’s,
“Schandzeichen” (“sign of infamy”). It is, however, mostly unknown that
all the close to three million Polish forced laborers deported to
Germany had also to wear a “sign of infamy”: a rhomboid of yellow
fabric framed in purple with a purple “P” in the center. In the Nazi
mythology the color yellow signified treachery, and purple indicated
sexual deviation. The Poles who had to wear that sign were not inmates
of German concentration camps; they were forced laborers, deportees to
Germany as workers, who lived and worked among the Germans but were not
allowed any social contact with them: not only any socialization but
also the use of street benches, visiting of parks, cinemas or
restaurants. Sexual relationship between Poles and Germans was called “
Rassenschande” (racial infamy), and was punishable by death for the
Polish partner. HOLOCAUST OF NON-JEWISH POLES DURING WWII, Dr. Jan Moor-Jankowski more here |
Monument to people with the "P" sign - Polish forced labourers in Germany and other civilian victims of the Second World War,
a memorial erected 1996 by those few who survived the German slavery and lived long enough after.
Can be seen aside the Nowowiejska Street quite close to where Edith Stein had her house, Wroclaw Olbin, Poland
The Wroclaw Polish mirority and Polish forced labourers deported to Wroclaw organized a heroic anti-Nazi resistamce group OLIMP
which was a unit of the Katowice chapter of Union of Armed Struggle, a precursor organization to the Polish Home Army.
In spite of acting among etremely hostile German Nazi population which was predominant in Wroclaw until Festung Breslau failed,
the Olimp group members played an important role in the global struggle against German atrocities of the Second World War.
In 1942 the Breslau Gestapo arrested 400 members of the OLIMP group and tortured them so badly that some of the members went insane as a result.
After half a year of torture and interrogations Olimp members were sent to the Gross Rosen, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Mauthausen German death camps.
Felicyta Podlak and Edward Damczyk lived through the war and afterwards married in a Wrocław church.
Monument to Polish anti-Nazi resistance group OLIMP, 1941-1942, Wroclaw, Poland
| Polska
grupa antynazistowskiego oporu OLIMP, 1941-1942, Wrocław, Poland |
Polish anti-Nazi resistance group OLIMP, 1941-1942 Wrocław, Poland |
Польская
группа антифашистского сопротивления ОЛИМП 1941-1942, Вроцлав, Польша |
Die
polnische antinazistische Widerstandsgruppe OLIMP, 1941-1942, Wrocław, Polen |
| Tablica głosi | The plate reads | Написано | Die Platte lautet |
| W
latach 1941-1942 u zbiegu ulic Sokolniczej i Zelwerowicza zbierali się
konspiracyjnie członkowie polskiego ruchu oporu Olimp. Za polski
Wrocław oddali życie Polacy spod znaku "Rodła" oraz Polacy
spod
znaku litery "P" wywiezieni na roboty przymusowe. Przyjaciele, ofiara
Waszego życia nie była daremna - Wrocław na zawsze polski |
In
the years 1941-1942 in the house on the corners of Sokolnicza and
Zelwerowicza street, members of the Polish resistance group Olimp
gathered in secrecy. Poles from Rodło and Poles with the sign of
P, deported for forced labour, gave their lives for Polish Wrocław.
Friends-your sacrifice was not in vain - Wrocław is Polish forever. |
В 1941-1942
годы в доме по
углам Sokolnicza и Zelwerowicza
улице члены польской Олимп группы
сопротивления собрались в тайне.
Поляки из Rodło и поляки со знаком П - депортированы на принудительные работы, отдали свою жизнь за польский Вроцлав. Друзья - ваша жертва не была напрасной - Вроцлав польский навсегда. |
In den Jahren 1941-1942
in dem Haus an
den Ecken Sokolnicza
und Zelwerowicza
Straße Mitglieder der polnischen Widerstandsgruppe Olimp versammelten
sich in Geheimhaltung.
Polen aus Rodło und
Polen mit dem Zeichen des
P -
deportierte zur Zwangsarbeit, gaben
ihr Leben für die
polnischen Wrocław.
Fruende - Ihr Opfer
war nicht umsonst - Wrocław ist polnisch für immer. |
Preceded by John the Blind colonialist tricks, introduced by Prussian kings annexation of Silesia, reinforced by Bismarck's Kulturkampf,
initiated by Lasalle's international-style socialism, embodied in Hitler's national socialism,
the devilish idea of totalitarism, which had found its nest in Wroclaw, has been crushed by Soviet tanks in 1945,
which brought Poles back to Wroclaw and all Polish Silesia
but postwar Polish inhabitants of the city have never accepted Lenin's international socialism - communism and its neoliberal modifications.
Polish soldier breaks the swastika with his shoe, Wroclaw, Poland
European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism
Day of remembrance for the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes
23 August
23 August was chosen to coincide with the date of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, in which the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany
agreed to divide Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania between themselves.
Poland was attacked by Germany on September 1, 1939, and invaded by Soviet Union on September 17, 1939
A notion of Ausrottung in German
and extermination in English, a well established goal of German
policy against non-Germans:
"Haut
doch die Polen, dass sie am Leben verzagen. Ich habe alles Mitgefuehl
fuer ihre Lage, aber wir koennen, wenn wir bestehn wollen, nichts
andres thun, als sie ausrotten; der Wolf kann nicht dafuer, dass er von
Gott geschaffen ist, wie er ist, und man schiesst ihn doch dafuer todt,
wenn man kann."
"Let's beat the Poles
until they despair of life. I have all pity for their situation, but we
can do nothing else, if we want to subsist, than to exterminate them;
the wolf cannot help having been made by God as it is, and yet one
shoots him dead for it when one can."
Bijcie Polaków tak długo, dopóki nie utracą wiary w sens życia. Współczuję sytuacji, w jakiej się znajdują. Jeżeli wszakże chcemy przetrwać, mamy tylko jedno wyjście - wytępić ich; wilk nic nie poradzi na to, że Bóg go stworzył jakim jest, a jednak do wilka strzela się, kiedy tylko można."
Otto von Bismarck, a letter of 26 March 1861 to his sister Malwine, written from St Petersburg, Russia, where Bismarck was Prussian Ambassador. Source: "Gesammelte Werke", XIV/I page 568, quoted in Hans Rothfels, "Bismarck, der Osten und das Reich", page 75.
Bijcie Polaków tak długo, dopóki nie utracą wiary w sens życia. Współczuję sytuacji, w jakiej się znajdują. Jeżeli wszakże chcemy przetrwać, mamy tylko jedno wyjście - wytępić ich; wilk nic nie poradzi na to, że Bóg go stworzył jakim jest, a jednak do wilka strzela się, kiedy tylko można."
Otto von Bismarck, a letter of 26 March 1861 to his sister Malwine, written from St Petersburg, Russia, where Bismarck was Prussian Ambassador. Source: "Gesammelte Werke", XIV/I page 568, quoted in Hans Rothfels, "Bismarck, der Osten und das Reich", page 75.
"Ich bitte Sie, das, was
ich Ihnen in diesem Kreise sage, wirklich nur zu hören und nie darüber
zu sprechen. Es trat an uns die Frage heran: Wie ist es mit den Frauen
und Kindern? – Ich habe mich entschlossen, auch hier eine ganz klare
Lösung zu finden. Ich hielt mich nämlich nicht für berechtigt, die
Männer auszurotten – sprich also, umzubringen oder umbringen zu lassen
– und die Rächer in Gestalt der Kinder für unsere Söhne und Enkel groß
werden zu lassen. Es mußte der schwere Entschluß gefaßt werden, dieses
Volk von der Erde verschwinden zu lassen."
"I ask you that what I tell you in this circle you will really only hear and never talk about it. The question came up to us: What do to with the women and children? – I decided to find a very clear solution also in this respect. This because I didn’t consider myself entitled to exterminate the men – that is, to kill them or to have them killed – and to let the children grow up as avengers against our sons and grandsons. The difficult decision had to be taken to make this people disappear from the earth."
Heinrich Himmler's statement at his Poznan, Poland, speech on 6 October 1943.Source: Märthesheimer/Frenzel, Im Kreuzfeuer: Der Fernsehfilm Holocaust. Eine Nation ist betroffen, Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH Frankfurt am Main 1979, pages 112 to 114. Reference of quote: Heinrich Himmler, Geheimreden 1933 bis 1945, edited by Bradley F. Smith and Agnes F. Peterson, Berlin 1974, pages 169
"I ask you that what I tell you in this circle you will really only hear and never talk about it. The question came up to us: What do to with the women and children? – I decided to find a very clear solution also in this respect. This because I didn’t consider myself entitled to exterminate the men – that is, to kill them or to have them killed – and to let the children grow up as avengers against our sons and grandsons. The difficult decision had to be taken to make this people disappear from the earth."
Heinrich Himmler's statement at his Poznan, Poland, speech on 6 October 1943.Source: Märthesheimer/Frenzel, Im Kreuzfeuer: Der Fernsehfilm Holocaust. Eine Nation ist betroffen, Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH Frankfurt am Main 1979, pages 112 to 114. Reference of quote: Heinrich Himmler, Geheimreden 1933 bis 1945, edited by Bradley F. Smith and Agnes F. Peterson, Berlin 1974, pages 169
Der Krieg würde bis zur völligen Vernichtung Polens geführt mit größter Brutalität und ohne Rücksichten.
|
vor den Oberbefehlshabern der Wehrmacht auf dem Obersalzberg 22. August 1939 "Unsere Stärke ist unsere Schnelligkeit und unsere Brutalität. Dschingis Khan hat Millionen Frauen und Kinder in den Tod gejagt, bewußt und fröhlichen Herzens. Die Geschichte sieht in ihm nur den großen Staatengründer. Was die schwache westeuropäische Zivilisation über mich behauptet, ist gleichgültig. Ich habe den Befehl gegeben – und ich lasse jeden füsilieren, der auch nur ein Wort der Kritik äußert – daß das Kriegsziel nicht im Erreichen von bestimmten Linien, sondern in der physischen Vernichtung des Gegners besteht. So habe ich, einstweilen nur im Osten, meine Totenkopfverbände bereitgestellt mit dem Befehl, unbarmherzig und mitleidslos Mann, Weib und Kind polnischer Abstammung und Sprache in den Tod zu schicken. Nur so gewinnen wir den Lebensraum, den wir brauchen. Wer redet heute noch von der Vernichtung der Armenier?" |
na odprawie dowódców formacji Wehrmacht Obersalzberg, 22. sierpnia 1939 Naszą siłą jest nasza szybkość i brutalność. Dżyngis Chan rzucił na śmierć miliony kobiet i dzieci świadomie i z lekkim sercem – historia widzi w nim tylko wielkiego założyciela państw. Nie ma znaczenia, co o mnie sądzi słaba cywilizacja zachodnioeuropejska. Wydałem rozkaz - i zastrzelę każdego, kto wyrazi choć jedno słowo krytyki - że celem wojny nie jest osiągnięcie jakiejś linii geograficznej, ale fizyczna eksterminacja wrogów. Obecnie tylko na wschodzie umieściłem oddziały SS Totenkopf (Z TRUPIĄ GŁÓWKĄ), dając im rozkaz nieugiętego i bezlitosnego zabijania kobiet i dzieci polskiego pochodzenia i polskiej mowy, bo tylko tą drogą zdobyć możemy potrzebną nam przestrzeń życiową. Kto w naszych czasach jeszcze mówi o eksterminacji Ormian? |
to the WehrmachtCommanders-in-Chief, at Obersalzberg, 22 August 1939. Our strength is our quickness and our brutality. Genghis Khan had millions of women and children hunted down and killed, deliberately and with a gay heart. History sees in him only the great founder of States. What the weak Western European civilization alleges about me, does not matter. I have given the order - and will have everyone shot who utters but one word of criticism - that the aim of {translator: this} war does not consist in reaching certain {translator: geographical} lines, but in the enemies' physical elimination. Thus, for the time being only in the east, I put ready my Death's Head units, with the order to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of the Polish race or language. Only thus will we gain the living space that we need. Who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians? |
Wroclaw is a city regained by non-Jewish survivors of the Holocaust done by German and Russian genocidal states which planned,
as Hitler put it: "to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of the Polish race or language".
This is why in Wroclaw there are so many monuments commemorating Victims of the Holocaust, persecuted and murdered by the Germans and Russians.
On
June 14, 1940, the Germans transferred 728 Poles from the Tarnow prison
to Auschwitz Concentration Camp. There were already 30 German convicts,
with camp numbers 1 to 30, in Auschwitz. This first cadre of trusties,
capos, and block supervisors soon earned notoriety for their cruelty
towards the Polish political prisoners. German
Concentration Camp Auschwitz
The first Auschwitz prisoner was Polish student Stanisław Ryniak, camp number 31. Tombstone of ing. Stanislaw Ryniak in the Wroclaw Osobowice Cemetery.
Pierwszym więźniem Auschwitz był polski student Stanisław Ryniak, numer obozowy 31. Nagrobek inż. arch. Stanisława Ryniaka na Cmentarzu Osobowickim we Wrocławiu.
Der erste Auschwitz-Häftling war polnischer Student Stanisław Ryniak, Lagernummer 31. Grabstein des ing. Stanislaw Ryniak in Wroclaw Osobowice Friedhof.
Первым заключенным Аушвица польский студент Станислав Рыняк, лагерное число 31, . Надгробие инж. Станислава Рыняка в кладбище Вроцлав Особовице.
Lapanka - captured civilians on the streets in Warsaw
Nazi Crimes Against Ethnic Poles
The Poles are married to Freedom forever - Polacy pośłubieni Wolności na zawsze - Поляки в браке к свободе навсегда - Die Polen sind zur Freiheit für immer verheiratet
A huge (1.5 m, 5 feet diameter), made of black steel, Wedding Ring of Polish National Hero Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki in Wroclaw's Freedom Square
Ogromna (o półtorametrowej średnicy, wykonana z czarnej stali Obrączka ślubna polskiego bohatera narodowego rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiegowe Wrocławiu na Placu Wolności
Огромное (1,5 м в диаметре), изготовлено из черной стали, обручальное кольцо польского национального героя ротмистра Витольда Пилецкого во Вроцлаве площадь Свободы
Ein groß (1,5 m Durchmesser), gemacht auf schwarzen Stahl Hochzeits-Ring des polnischen Nationalheld Rittmeister Witold Pilecki in Wroclaw auf dem Freiheitsplatz
The wedding ring is a symbol of fidelity, oath and strength of faith in one's own ideals, a sign of the toughest test (Jerzy Kalina, ingenious sculptor)
Obrączka jest symbolem wierności, przysięgi i siły wiary we własne ideały, znakiem najwyższej próby (Jerzy Kalina. genialny rzeźbiarz)
Кольцо является символом верности, клятвы и силы веры в своих собственных идеалов, знаком самой жесткой проверки (Ежи Калина, гениальный скульптор)
Der Ehering ist ein Symbol der Treue, Eid und Kraft des Glaubens in der eigenen Ideale und das Zeichen der härtesten Prüfung (Jerzy Kalina, geniale Bildhauer)
| Rotmistrz
Witold Pilecki (1901 - 1948) |
Cavalry
Captain Witold Pilecki (1901 - 1948) |
ротмистр Витольд Пилецкий (1901 - 1948) |
Rittmeister Witold Pilecki (1901 - 1948) |
| Napis głosi | The insciption reads | Написано | Die Platte lautet |
| Jeden
z najodważniejszych ludzi świata, oficer Wojska Polskiego i obywatel
ziemski, uczestnik wojny polsko-bolszewickiej 1920r. oraz
wojny
1939r., współzałożyciel Tajnej Armii Polskiej, oficer Związku Walki
Zbrojnej / Armii Krajowej. W 1940r. przygotował i wykonał plan przedostania siędo niemieckiego obozu koncentracyhjnego KL Auschwitz. Dobrowolny więzień i organizator obozowej konspiracji, autor przekazywanych na Zachód pierwszych relacji o masowej zagładzie więźniów Auschwitz i o holokauście. Po ucieczce z obozu w 1943r. Służył w organizacji “NIE” (NIEPODLEGŁOŚĆ), uczestnik Powstania Warszawskiego, żołnierz Korpusu Polskiego we Włoszech. Jesienią 1945r. Powrócił do Krajum by dokumentować sowiecką okupację Polski. W 1947r. Aresztowany, skazany na karę śmierci przez władze komunistyczne. Został stracony 25 V 1948r. W Warszawie i pochowany w nieznanym miejscu, W 2006r. Pośmiertnie odznaczony Orderem Orła Białego. Wierny Polsce i idei wolności oddał życie w walce z dwoma totalitaryzmami XX wieku. ***
Wewnątrz
pomnika-obrączki widnieje fragment listu rotm. Pileckiego: "BO
CHOĆBY MI PRZYSZŁO POSTRADAĆ ME ŻYCIE - TAK WOLĘ -
NIŻ ŻYĆ,
A MIEĆ W SERCU RANĘ"List wysłany z więzienia w 1947r. adresatem był Józef Różański znany także jako Josek Goldberg, jeden z najbardziej okrutnych i najbardziej bestalskich masowych morderców reżimu stalinowskiego. |
He
was one of the bravest men of this world, an officer of the Polish
Army, a member of the landed gentry, a participant in the Polish-Soviet
war in 1920 and the Second World War in 1939, the co-founderof the
Tajna Armia Polska (Secret Polish Army). In 1940 he arrangedad executed
a plan to infiltratethe German concentration camp Auschwitz. He was a
deliberate prisoner, the organiser of resistance conspiracy in the
campand the author of the first messages sent to the West about the
genocide of prisoners and the holocaust. After his escape from the campin 1943, he served in the “NIE” (“NO”, “INDEPENDENCE”) organization. participated in the Warsaw Uprising and was a soldier in the Polish II Corpsin Italy. In autumn of 1945 he returned to his country in order to document the Soviet occupation of Poland. In 1947 he was arrested by the communist authorities and sentenced to death. He was executed on the 25th of May 1948 and buried at an unknown location. In 2006 he was posthumously bestowed the Order of the White Eagle. Loyal to Poland and the idea of freedom, he gave his life battling two totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Inscribed on the wedding band, is a fragment of a letter by capt. Pilecki: "FOR EVEN IF I WERE TO LOSE MY LIFE, I PREFER IT TO LIVING WITH A WOUNDED HEART" ***
Letter
sent from prison in 1947. The addressee of the letter was Joseph
Rozanski also known as Yozek Goldberg, one of the most brutal
and
bestial mass murderers of the Stalin regime. |
Он
был одним из самых храбрых мужчин этого мира , офицер польской армии ,
члена поместного дворянства , и участника советско-польской войны в
1920 году и второй мировой войны в 1939 году , со- founderof Секретной
Армии Польша ( Польский секретная армия ) . В 1940 году он выполнил
план arrangedad этот infiltratethe немецкий концлагерь Освенцим . Он
был преднамеренным заключенный , организатор сопротивления заговора в
campand автор первых сообщений, отправляемых на Западе о геноциде
заключенных и Холокоста. После побега из Campin в 1943 году , он служил в "NO" ( "НЕТ" , "независимость" ) организации. Участвовал в Варшавском восстании и был солдатом в Польский II Corpsin Италии. Осенью 1945 г. он вернулся , что его страна для того, чтобы документировать советской оккупации Польши. В 1947 году он был арестован коммунистическими властями и приговорен к смертной казни . Он был казнен 25 мая 1948 года и похоронен в неизвестном месте . В 2006 году он был посмертно удостоен орденом Белого Орла . Верные Польше и идеи свободы , он отдал свою жизнь боролся два тоталитарных режимов 20-го века . Включен в обручальное кольцо , является фрагментом письме Кап . Пилецкий : «ЗА ДАЖЕ ЕСЛИ БЫ Я ПОТЕРЯТЬ МОЕЙ ЖИЗНИ, Я ПРЕДПОЧИТАЮ, ЧТОБЫ ЭТО ЖИВУ С РАНЕНОЕ СЕРДЦЕ" (Google translated) ***
Письмо
отправлено из тюрьмы в 1947 году., адресатом письма был Йосеф Розанский
также известный, как Йосек Голдберг, один из самых жестоких и самых
зверских массовых убийц сталинского режима. |
Er
war einer der mutigsten Männer dieser Welt, ein Offizier der polnischen
Armee , ein Mitglied des Landadels und Teilnehmer an der
polnisch-sowjetischen Krieg 1920 und dem Zweiten Weltkrieg im Jahr 1939
, der Co- founderof der Secret Army Polen (Polnisch Secret Army ) . Im
Jahr 1940 führte er einen Plan arrangedad dieses infiltratethe
deutschen Konzentrationslager Auschwitz . Er war eine bewusste
Gefangener , der Organisator des Widerstands Verschwörung in der
campand der Autor von den ersten Nachrichten in den Westen geschickt
über den Völkermord von Gefangenen und den Holocaust. Nach seiner Flucht aus dem campin 1943 diente er in der "NO " ("NEIN" , "Unabhängigkeit" ) Organisation. im Warschauer Aufstand teil und war ein Soldat in der polnischen II Corpsin Italien . Im Herbst 1945 kehrte er , dass sein Land in Ordnung, die die sowjetische Besetzung Polens zu dokumentieren. Im Jahr 1947 wurde er von den kommunistischen Behörden verhaftet und zum Tode verurteilt. Er wurde am 25. Mai 1948 durchgeführt und an einem unbekannten Ort begraben. 2006 wurde er posthum verliehen dem Orden des Weißen Adlers . Loyal zu Polen und der Idee der Freiheit , gab er sein Leben kämpfenden beiden totalitären Regime des 20. Jahrhunderts. Auf der Hochzeitsband eingeschrieben , ist ein Fragment eines Briefes an capt . Pilecki : "DENN AUCH , WENN ICH MEIN LEBEN VERLIERE , ZIEHE ICH ES LEBEN MIT EINER VERWUNDETES HERZ " (Google translated) ***
Brief
aus dem Gefängnis im Jahr 1947 gesendet. Der Adressat des Briefes war
Joseph Rozanski auch als Yozek Goldberg bekannt , einer der brutalsten
und bestialischen Massenmörder des Stalin-Regimes. |
Terrifying post-Prussian police, courts and prison complex in Wroclaw, against this background the World's first monument to the victims of Stalinism
Zastraszający popruski kompleks policyjno-sądowo-więzienny we Wrocławiu, na jego tle pierwszy na świecie pomnik ofiar stalinizmu
Furcht einflößende ehemaligen preußischen Polizei-, Gerichts- und Gefängniskomplex in Wroclaw, vor diesem Hintergrund die weltweit erste Denkmal für die Opfer des Stalinismus
Ужасающий бывший пруссккй, полицейскй, судебный и тюремный комплекс в городе Вроцлав, на этом фоне, первый в мире памятник жертвам сталинизма
Victims of the communist terror 1945 - 1956 at the Damned Soldiers (Polish: Żołnierze Wyklęci) gravesite in the Wroclaw Osobowice Cemetery.
A peaceful protest against promoting the Stalinist NKVD murderer Bauman (now professor) by Wroclaw Mayor Dutkiewicz, the Mayor's Office in the Wroclaw Market Square, July 4. 2013
The manifestants demand an equivalent of Nuremberg trials for communist activists (colloquial: komuna), Dutkiewicz's odd answer to is: "No room for Polish nationalist mob in Wroclaw".
Actually, totalitarian and authoritarian regimes in Wroclaw need brutal enforcement to be re-installed in the city characterised by the spirit of the place which is Catholic personalism embodied in Wroclaw raised Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Roman Catholic Barefoot Carmelites' nun, Virgin and Martyr, née Edith Stein.
Pope Francis TWITTER @PONTIFEX 01/27/2015 Auschwitz cries out with the pain of immense suffering and pleads for a future of respect, peace and encounter among peoples. |
Polska młodzież: Bóg Honor Ojczyzna kontra dyktatura totalitarna, tablica rozdzielająca w centrum Wrocławia.
Polish youth: God, Honour, Fatherland versus totalitarian dictatorship, separating board, Wroclaw city centre, Poland.
Fine art photography by Zbigniew Halat
|
The Greatest Freedom in the World is the Freedom to be a Saint “Man can be virtuous only in a society where it is possible for him to be vicious. Man can be a patriot only in a country where it is possible to be a traitor. One can be a saint only in a Church where it is possible to be a devil… No crowns of merit rest suspended over those who do not fight… Therefore, God chose to make it possible for us to revolt against His will… Do you know what Hell is? Hell is the eternal guarantee of human freedom. Man with a clinched fist can raise it eternally in the air and say “Non serviam!”… Those who understand freedom then realize that the greatest peace comes from the obedience to His will, and the greatest freedom that there is in this world is the freedom to be a SAINT.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1954 Here is the best talk on human freedom you will ever experience (Christian values versus communist totalitarian slavery) |
So well educated person as Edith Stein was had to know the past of the area she had her family house.
The church of St Michael the Archangel founded 1123 by the Polabian Slavs leader Prince Jaksa and Polish ruler Boleslaw Wrymouth winner over the German invaders
in 1139 became the western part of the founded by Peter Wlastowic Wroclaw Olbin Abbey of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, later dedicated to Saint Vincent.
The monastery was founded for the Benedictine Monks, who soon proved to be unfaithfull followers of the Rule of Saint Benedict, and in 1193 were replaced by
the Norbertines of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians.
The
present neogothic church of St Michael the Archangel of
1862-1871
was preceded by nearby chapel of 1100, followed by prince Jaksa
foundation of 1123, which in 1139 became
western part of Most Holy
Virgin Mary Abbey in
Wroclaw Olbin founded between
1123 and 1139 by Polish magnate Peter Wlastowic, heir of the indigenous
Slavic tribe of Slezans. After
1145
when Peter Wlastowic managed to get a relic of st Vincent, the abbey's
dedication had been changed and in the next centuries the Saint Vincent Abbey
in Wroclaw Olbin grew into an important centre on the the religious,
cultural and scientific map of medieval Europe.
Thomas de Wratislavia (i.e. Thomas of Wroclaw) worked and died here in 1378. Thomas de Wratislavia, OPraem i.e. premonstratensian. norbertine, aka Thomas Wratislaviensis, Thomas of Tilbury, Thomas von Neumarkt (1297-1378) was auxiliary bishop of Wroclaw, titular bishop of Sarepta. At the Collegiate Church of St. Vincent Abbey he built a chapel, which was to serve as his grave and was dedicated to Sts. Thomas The Apostle and Thomas of Canterbury as well as Eleven Thousand Virgins. He was a medical epidemiologist too, renown for his achievements in successful employing of available and humanitarian measures against leprosy and plague, an author of comprehensive medical treatises: Thomae de Wratislavia Practica medicinalis, Mihi competi also known as the Silesian Canon of Medicine of Avicenna, Nolli errare, Alphabetum medicinalis, Thomae de Wratislavia Herbarium.
In 1529 religious haters within one month, starting on October 14th, under false pretences of Turkish invasion of Silesia (the Turks never entered Silesia), demolished the Roman Catholic complex famous of its importance and beauty. The day of October 14th is being commemorated from a position of persecuted Roman Catholics in Wroclaw and all Silesia. The Lutheran demolishers' fury was so bad that only a few architectural details were saved. One of them is the tympanum of Prince Jaxa from the St Michael the Archangel church which was purposely ruined together with whole complex of Saint Vincent Abbey.
Opactwo Swietego Wincentego - Saint Vincent Abbey - Sankt Vinzenz Abtei, Wroclaw Olbin, Poland, 1139-1529, October 14
Prince Jaxa was a famous ruler of the West Slavic Sprevjane (Sprevani) tribe in Kopanica (present day Koepenik, borough of Berlin), and the leader of Slavic revolt 1150-1157 against atrocities of the German crusaders. The Germans were under the command of Albert the Bear, infamous for his brutality and ruthlesness during wars aimed at extermination of Polabian Slavs. His horrible deeds were appreciated in Germany so well that after 800 years Hitler made Albert the Bear (German: Albrecht der Bär) the patron of the Nazi party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP). Not only pagan and Christian Western Slavs joined the Jaxa's rebellion, but even numerous German colonists and knights who couldn't stand exploitation imposed by Albrecht der Bär, who soon became the first Margrave of Brandenburg (since 1157). Prince Jaxa represented native West Slavic population beween Laba (the Elbe) and Odra (the Oder) rivers, peoples who were conquered and almost totally exterminated by the Germans in their Drive to the East (in German: Drang nach Osten).
Prince Jaxa was a founder of the St Michael the Archangel church in Wroclaw Olbin which that time was Peter Wlastowic family property, inherited after the clan of Swans from the Slezans tribe, owners of Sleza Mt (Prince Jaxa's wifr Agathya was daughter of Peter Wlastowic). There was another very prominent contributor to the construction, too. This was Prince Boleslaw the Curly son of Boleslaus III Wrymouth, sole ruler of whole Poland, famous for stopping invasion of the Römisch-deutscher Kaiser Heinrich V at the Battle of Hundsfeld (Wroclaw Psie Pole) on 24 August 1109 where the German Imperial forces were defeated. While the territory of Brandenburg is callled "land of Slavic graves", the Jaxa's foundation in its present shape of the church of St Michael the Archangel is a call from beyond he grave not for justice as it is too late, but at least for memory of first nations who suffered their holocaust in this part of Europe. If not victorious Prince Boleslaw Wrymouth, Silesia and all Poland would share the fate of Brandenburg, the Polish elites would be immediatelly exterminated and the rest of the nation turned to slaves and totally Germanized. After the defeat at the Battle of Wroclaw Psie Pole (the dog's field in Polish) of the year 1109, the Germans had to change their far reaching strategy and use dinastic diplomacy and clandestine operations to seize Silesia, leaving openly aggressive military actions in hands of the Teutonic Knights (The Order of Brothers of the German House) who soon after being invited to Poland in the year 1230 became a major threat to the host country and its neighbours, finally transforming to Lutheran Prussia, the evil spirit of Europe as it was concluded by Konrad Adenauer in 1919 ("Preußen war in den Augen seiner Gegner der böse Geist Europas und eine Stütze des aggressiven Militarismus" Konrad Adenauer, Februar 1919 im Kölner Rathaus).
The foundation tympanum of Prince Jaxa (second half of the 12th century), a ruler of native Slavic population of what is now Berlin and surroundings
from the first St Michael the Archangel church (replacing wooden chapel of 1110). This was the beginning of St Vincent Abbey, Wroclaw Olbin, Poland.
Nowadays, the Jaxa tympanum heavily damaged can be seen in the City Museum of Architecture.
Below is a (clumsy as Frankenstein wrote) drawing from a 18th century collection which was published by Jerzy Frankenstein before the WW2
in "Działalność budowlana rodu Łabędziów na Śląsku i Kujawach w XII W., Biuletyn Sztuki i Kultury, Year III, Warszawa 1934/35, pp. 345-364).
In the middle: The Saviour enthroned, Byzantine style - Janua sum vite per me qui cumquevenite
(Ja jestem krzewem winnym, który przyszedł przez drzwi, I am the vine, who had come through the door). Above Alpha Omega, Agape (Łaski, Grace)
The Bible is open at: Ego sum qui sum (Jestem kim jestem, I am who I am)
Ad hunc Boleslaus dux fert sua dona capellae quae fert Jacxo Domino suscipe templa pius
approx.: Prince Boleslaw brings his gift to Lord in support the church of pious Jaxa
Boleslaw the Curly with his son Leszek (Lestek) by his first wife Viacheslava, daughter of St. Vsevolod - Gavril Mstislavich Rurikovich Prince of Novgorod and Pskov (Всеволод Мстиславич (князь новгородский). Boleslaw the Curly's father was Boleslaw III Wrymouth victorius duke of Poland from the royal house of Piasts, defender against German invasion of Poland. Jaxa and his wife Agafya, daughter of Peter Wlastowic and great-great-granddaughter of Saint Vladimir the Great (Володимир I Великий, Великий князь Київської Русі), the Baptiser of Rus (Cвятий рівноапостольний князь Володимир, хреститель Русі) and great-great-great-granddaughter of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Romanos II Porphyrogeneta. (Αυτοκράτορας του Βυζαντίου Ρωμανός Β΄ Πορφυρογέννητος)
King David playing the zither for queen Bathsheba and her maid - Król Dawid gra na cytrze królowej Betszebie i jej dwórce - König David spielt die Zither für Königin Bethsheba und ihre Zofe
St. Hedwig of Silesia and St. Bartholomew’s minor basilica in Trzebnica, the convent and the convent complex of the Borromean Sisters
Bazylika mniejsza pw. św. Jadwigi Śląskiej i św Bartłomieja w Trzebnicy, klasztor i kompleks klasztorny Sióstr Boromeuszek.
St. Hedwig von Schlesien und St. Bartholomäus-Basilika minor in Trebnitz, das Kloster und das Kloster Komplex der Borromäischen Schwestern
1 Samuel 16
SPECULATIO VERITATIS
Latin: speculatio derived from speculum - a mirror, specere - to look at
Latin: speculatio veritatis; English: the search for truth the quest for truth, thus speculation: ideas or guesses about something that is not known;
Polish: poszukiwanie prawdy; German: die Erforschung der Wahrheit
młoda kobieta sukcesem zakończyła poszukiwanie prawdy (speculatio veritatis) i depcze przerażonego mężczyznę, który jest symbolem kłamstwa
young woman has successfully completed the search for truth (speculatio veritatis) and tramples panicked man who is the symbol of lies
junge Frau hat erfolgreich die Suche nach der Wahrheit abgeschlossen (speculatio veritatis) und trampelt in Panik versetzt Mann, der das Symbol der Lüge ist
Slask Polska Silesia Poland Slezsko Polsko Schlesien Polen
the European Cross of Peace by Austrian artist Helmut Strobl, Olbin sq., Wroclaw, Poland
W ręce Twoje powierzam ducha mojego: Ty mnie wybawiłeś, Panie, Boże wierny! Psalm 31:5
Into your hands I commit my spirit; for you have redeemed me, LORD God of truth. Psalm 31:5
In deine Hände befehle ich meinen Geist; du hast mich erlöst, HERR, du treuer Gott. Psalm 31:5
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י פָּדִ֖יתָה אֹותִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃ Psalm 31:5
Marysia Sokołowska recytuje Psalm 31:5 przed Europejskim Krzyżem Pokoju dedykowanym Św.Teresie Benedykcie od Krzyża, Edycie Stein słuchaj/pobierz (avi, 8 MB)
Marysia Sokołowska recytuje Psalm 31:5 - W ręce Twoje powierzam ducha mojego: Ty mnie wybawiłeś, Panie, Boże wierny!
Misusing the vocation and martyrdom of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross must be avoided. What is Christ's peace?
Thomas de Wratislavia (i.e. Thomas of Wroclaw) worked and died here in 1378. Thomas de Wratislavia, OPraem i.e. premonstratensian. norbertine, aka Thomas Wratislaviensis, Thomas of Tilbury, Thomas von Neumarkt (1297-1378) was auxiliary bishop of Wroclaw, titular bishop of Sarepta. At the Collegiate Church of St. Vincent Abbey he built a chapel, which was to serve as his grave and was dedicated to Sts. Thomas The Apostle and Thomas of Canterbury as well as Eleven Thousand Virgins. He was a medical epidemiologist too, renown for his achievements in successful employing of available and humanitarian measures against leprosy and plague, an author of comprehensive medical treatises: Thomae de Wratislavia Practica medicinalis, Mihi competi also known as the Silesian Canon of Medicine of Avicenna, Nolli errare, Alphabetum medicinalis, Thomae de Wratislavia Herbarium.
In 1529 religious haters within one month, starting on October 14th, under false pretences of Turkish invasion of Silesia (the Turks never entered Silesia), demolished the Roman Catholic complex famous of its importance and beauty. The day of October 14th is being commemorated from a position of persecuted Roman Catholics in Wroclaw and all Silesia. The Lutheran demolishers' fury was so bad that only a few architectural details were saved. One of them is the tympanum of Prince Jaxa from the St Michael the Archangel church which was purposely ruined together with whole complex of Saint Vincent Abbey.
Opactwo Swietego Wincentego - Saint Vincent Abbey - Sankt Vinzenz Abtei, Wroclaw Olbin, Poland, 1139-1529, October 14
Prince Jaxa was a famous ruler of the West Slavic Sprevjane (Sprevani) tribe in Kopanica (present day Koepenik, borough of Berlin), and the leader of Slavic revolt 1150-1157 against atrocities of the German crusaders. The Germans were under the command of Albert the Bear, infamous for his brutality and ruthlesness during wars aimed at extermination of Polabian Slavs. His horrible deeds were appreciated in Germany so well that after 800 years Hitler made Albert the Bear (German: Albrecht der Bär) the patron of the Nazi party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP). Not only pagan and Christian Western Slavs joined the Jaxa's rebellion, but even numerous German colonists and knights who couldn't stand exploitation imposed by Albrecht der Bär, who soon became the first Margrave of Brandenburg (since 1157). Prince Jaxa represented native West Slavic population beween Laba (the Elbe) and Odra (the Oder) rivers, peoples who were conquered and almost totally exterminated by the Germans in their Drive to the East (in German: Drang nach Osten).
Prince Jaxa was a founder of the St Michael the Archangel church in Wroclaw Olbin which that time was Peter Wlastowic family property, inherited after the clan of Swans from the Slezans tribe, owners of Sleza Mt (Prince Jaxa's wifr Agathya was daughter of Peter Wlastowic). There was another very prominent contributor to the construction, too. This was Prince Boleslaw the Curly son of Boleslaus III Wrymouth, sole ruler of whole Poland, famous for stopping invasion of the Römisch-deutscher Kaiser Heinrich V at the Battle of Hundsfeld (Wroclaw Psie Pole) on 24 August 1109 where the German Imperial forces were defeated. While the territory of Brandenburg is callled "land of Slavic graves", the Jaxa's foundation in its present shape of the church of St Michael the Archangel is a call from beyond he grave not for justice as it is too late, but at least for memory of first nations who suffered their holocaust in this part of Europe. If not victorious Prince Boleslaw Wrymouth, Silesia and all Poland would share the fate of Brandenburg, the Polish elites would be immediatelly exterminated and the rest of the nation turned to slaves and totally Germanized. After the defeat at the Battle of Wroclaw Psie Pole (the dog's field in Polish) of the year 1109, the Germans had to change their far reaching strategy and use dinastic diplomacy and clandestine operations to seize Silesia, leaving openly aggressive military actions in hands of the Teutonic Knights (The Order of Brothers of the German House) who soon after being invited to Poland in the year 1230 became a major threat to the host country and its neighbours, finally transforming to Lutheran Prussia, the evil spirit of Europe as it was concluded by Konrad Adenauer in 1919 ("Preußen war in den Augen seiner Gegner der böse Geist Europas und eine Stütze des aggressiven Militarismus" Konrad Adenauer, Februar 1919 im Kölner Rathaus).
The foundation tympanum of Prince Jaxa (second half of the 12th century), a ruler of native Slavic population of what is now Berlin and surroundings
from the first St Michael the Archangel church (replacing wooden chapel of 1110). This was the beginning of St Vincent Abbey, Wroclaw Olbin, Poland.
Nowadays, the Jaxa tympanum heavily damaged can be seen in the City Museum of Architecture.
Below is a (clumsy as Frankenstein wrote) drawing from a 18th century collection which was published by Jerzy Frankenstein before the WW2
in "Działalność budowlana rodu Łabędziów na Śląsku i Kujawach w XII W., Biuletyn Sztuki i Kultury, Year III, Warszawa 1934/35, pp. 345-364).
In the middle: The Saviour enthroned, Byzantine style - Janua sum vite per me qui cumquevenite
(Ja jestem krzewem winnym, który przyszedł przez drzwi, I am the vine, who had come through the door). Above Alpha Omega, Agape (Łaski, Grace)
The Bible is open at: Ego sum qui sum (Jestem kim jestem, I am who I am)
Ad hunc Boleslaus dux fert sua dona capellae quae fert Jacxo Domino suscipe templa pius
approx.: Prince Boleslaw brings his gift to Lord in support the church of pious Jaxa
Boleslaw the Curly with his son Leszek (Lestek) by his first wife Viacheslava, daughter of St. Vsevolod - Gavril Mstislavich Rurikovich Prince of Novgorod and Pskov (Всеволод Мстиславич (князь новгородский). Boleslaw the Curly's father was Boleslaw III Wrymouth victorius duke of Poland from the royal house of Piasts, defender against German invasion of Poland. Jaxa and his wife Agafya, daughter of Peter Wlastowic and great-great-granddaughter of Saint Vladimir the Great (Володимир I Великий, Великий князь Київської Русі), the Baptiser of Rus (Cвятий рівноапостольний князь Володимир, хреститель Русі) and great-great-great-granddaughter of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Romanos II Porphyrogeneta. (Αυτοκράτορας του Βυζαντίου Ρωμανός Β΄ Πορφυρογέννητος)
Sanctuary
of St. Jadwiga in Trzebnica, north of
Wroclaw, in Silesia, Poland, was a
convent for Cistercian nuns founded in
1203. The abbey, the first
female convent in Silesia, was established by the Silesian Piast duke
Henry I the Bearded and his wife Saint Hedwig of Andechs (Polish:
Święta Jadwiga Śląska). At the Protestant Reformation, most of
the
nuns were Poles, as were the majority until during the eighteenth
century. In 1742, in the aftermath of the First Silesian War and the
Treaty of Breslau, Trebnitz found itself under the governance of
Protestant Prussia and started to suffer from political discrimination.
On 11 November 1810, the abbey was suppressed and secularized by order
of King Frederick William III. The building, was sold later
and
turned into a cloth factory. In 1889, the ruined abbey was bought by
Knights Hospitaller and later by female order of Sisters of St. Charles
Borromeo as a hospital conducted by the sisters.
'The King David's Zither Concert for queen Bathsheba and her maid' tympanum of 1240 is a unique for its beauty masterpiece of romanesque art in Polish Silesia.
It was discovered in 1935, and looks very fresh and impressive although all polychromy and encrusted details in colour like eyes, vanished.
'The King David's Zither Concert for queen Bathsheba and her maid' tympanum of 1240 is a unique for its beauty masterpiece of romanesque art in Polish Silesia.
It was discovered in 1935, and looks very fresh and impressive although all polychromy and encrusted details in colour like eyes, vanished.
King David playing the zither for queen Bathsheba and her maid - Król Dawid gra na cytrze królowej Betszebie i jej dwórce - König David spielt die Zither für Königin Bethsheba und ihre Zofe
St. Hedwig of Silesia and St. Bartholomew’s minor basilica in Trzebnica, the convent and the convent complex of the Borromean Sisters
Bazylika mniejsza pw. św. Jadwigi Śląskiej i św Bartłomieja w Trzebnicy, klasztor i kompleks klasztorny Sióstr Boromeuszek.
St. Hedwig von Schlesien und St. Bartholomäus-Basilika minor in Trebnitz, das Kloster und das Kloster Komplex der Borromäischen Schwestern
1 Samuel 16
7But
the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for
I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them.
People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(...) 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with
beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 13 So
as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive
oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of
the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel
returned to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the
Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.
15 Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God
is troubling you. 16 Let us find a good musician to play the zither
whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing
music, and you will soon be well again.” 17 “All right,” Saul said.
“Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”(...) 21
So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very
much, and David became his armor bearer. (...) 23 And whenever the
tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp.
Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
Why queen Bathsheba was filled with depression and fear we know from 2 Samuel 11, 12 , but before discovering the David's Tympanum from Trzebnica we weren't aware that David was comforting with his zither music his wife, Bathsheba: 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him
Spirit
of the Zither by the Carmelite Nun of LuçonWhy queen Bathsheba was filled with depression and fear we know from 2 Samuel 11, 12 , but before discovering the David's Tympanum from Trzebnica we weren't aware that David was comforting with his zither music his wife, Bathsheba: 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him
SPECULATIO VERITATIS
Latin: speculatio derived from speculum - a mirror, specere - to look at
Latin: speculatio veritatis; English: the search for truth the quest for truth, thus speculation: ideas or guesses about something that is not known;
Polish: poszukiwanie prawdy; German: die Erforschung der Wahrheit
młoda kobieta sukcesem zakończyła poszukiwanie prawdy (speculatio veritatis) i depcze przerażonego mężczyznę, który jest symbolem kłamstwa
young woman has successfully completed the search for truth (speculatio veritatis) and tramples panicked man who is the symbol of lies
junge Frau hat erfolgreich die Suche nach der Wahrheit abgeschlossen (speculatio veritatis) und trampelt in Panik versetzt Mann, der das Symbol der Lüge ist
Slask Polska Silesia Poland Slezsko Polsko Schlesien Polen
Allegory
of Truth at the cardinal's Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt tomb, the work
of Domenico Guidi, a student of Bernini. Chapel
of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Wroclaw Cathedral, Poland, was built
1682-1700 as the mausoleum of
Bishop of Wroclaw Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt. Alegoria Prawdy przy
grobowcu kardynała Fryderyka von Hessen-Darmstadt, dzieło wykonał
Domenico Guidi, którego nauczycielem był Bernini. Kaplica św.
Elżbiety Węgierskiej w Katedrze Wrocławskiej powstala w latach 1682-1700
jako mauzoleum biskupa wrocławskiego Fryderyka von Hessen-Darmstadt.
Allegorie der
Wahrheit an des
Kardinals Friedrich
von Hesse-Darmstadt Grab, das
Werk von Domenico Guidi, ein
Schüler von
Bernini.
Kapelle
der Heiligen Elisabeth von Ungarn im Dom zu Wroclaw, Polen, aus den
Jahren 1682-1700 wurde als Stiftung des Breslauer
Bischofs Friedrich von Hessen-Darmstadt als sein Mausoleum errichtet.
Dedicated
to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross,the European Cross of Peace by Austrian artist Helmut Strobl, Olbin sq., Wroclaw, Poland
W ręce Twoje powierzam ducha mojego: Ty mnie wybawiłeś, Panie, Boże wierny! Psalm 31:5
Into your hands I commit my spirit; for you have redeemed me, LORD God of truth. Psalm 31:5
In deine Hände befehle ich meinen Geist; du hast mich erlöst, HERR, du treuer Gott. Psalm 31:5
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י פָּדִ֖יתָה אֹותִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃ Psalm 31:5
Marysia Sokołowska recytuje Psalm 31:5 przed Europejskim Krzyżem Pokoju dedykowanym Św.Teresie Benedykcie od Krzyża, Edycie Stein słuchaj/pobierz (avi, 8 MB)
Marysia Sokołowska recytuje Psalm 31:5 - W ręce Twoje powierzam ducha mojego: Ty mnie wybawiłeś, Panie, Boże wierny!
Misusing the vocation and martyrdom of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross must be avoided. What is Christ's peace?
|
Jesus Causes Division 49“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. 53‘Father will be divided against son
and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’” 54Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 56You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. 57“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 58When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 59And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.” |
|
POPE FRANCIS Saint
Peter's Square Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning! In today’s liturgy we listen to these words from the Letter to the Hebrews: “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:1-2). We must give special emphasis to this affirmation in this Year of Faith. Let us too, throughout this Year, keep our gaze fixed on Jesus because faith, which is our “yes” to the filial relationship with God, comes from him, comes from Jesus. He is the only mediator of this relationship between us and our Father who is in heaven. Jesus is the Son and we are sons in him. This Sunday, however, the word of God also contains a word of Jesus which alarms us and must be explained, for otherwise it could give rise to misunderstanding. Jesus says to his disciples: “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Lk 12:51). What does this mean? It means that faith is not a decorative or ornamental element; living faith does not mean decorating life with a little religion, as if it were a cake and we were decorating it with cream. No, this is not faith. Faith means choosing God as the criterion and basis of life, and God is not empty, God is not neutral, God is always positive, God is love, and love is positive! After Jesus has come into the world it is impossible to act as if we do not know God, or as if he were something that is abstract, empty, a purely nominal reference. No, God has a real face, he has a name: God is mercy, God is faithfulness, he is life which is given to us all. For this reason Jesus says “I came to bring division”. It is not that Jesus wishes to split people up. On the contrary Jesus is our peace, he is our reconciliation! But this peace is not the peace of the tomb, it is not neutrality, Jesus does not bring neutrality, this peace is not a compromise at all costs. Following Jesus entails giving up evil and selfishness and choosing good, truth and justice, even when this demands sacrifice and the renunciation of our own interests. And this indeed divides; as we know, it even cuts the closest ties. However, be careful: it is not Jesus who creates division! He establishes the criterion: whether to live for ourselves or to live for God and for others; to be served or to serve; to obey one’s own ego or to obey God. It is in this sense that Jesus is a “sign that is spoken against” (Lk 2:34). This word of the Gospel does not therefore authorize the use of force to spread the faith. It is exactly the opposite: the Christian’s real force is the force of truth and of love, which involves renouncing all forms of violence. Faith and violence are incompatible! Instead, faith and strength go together. Christians are not violent; they are strong. And with what kind of strength? That of meekness, the strength of meekness, the strength of love. Dear friends, even among Jesus’ relatives there were some who at a certain point did not share his way of life and preaching, as the Gospel tells us (cf. Mk 3:20-21). His Mother, however, always followed him faithfully, keeping the eyes of her heart fixed on Jesus, the Son of the Most High, and on his mystery. And in the end, thanks to Mary’s faith, Jesus’ relatives became part of the first Christian community (cf. Acts 1:14). Let us ask Mary to help us too to keep our gaze firmly fixed on Jesus and to follow him always, even when it costs what it may. After the Angelus Remember this: following Jesus is not neutral, following Jesus means being involved, because faith is not a superficial decoration, it is a strength of the soul! Dear brothers and sisters, I greet you all with affection, Romans and pilgrims: families, parish groups, young people.... I would like to ask you for a prayer for the victims of the ferry that sank in the Philippines, and also for the families... what great suffering! Let us also continue to pray for peace in Egypt. All together: Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! Everyone (he repeats with the people): Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! I greet the Polish folk group who have come from Edmonton, Canada. I address a special greeting to the youth from Brembilla — I see you! I can see you well! — near Bergamo, and I bless the torch that you will carry from Rome on foot to your town. And I also greet the young people from Altamura. I wish you all a good Sunday and a good lunch! Goodbye! |
| In Wroclaw, Poland, the capital of Polish Silesia proud of its Roman Catholic past, present and future |
| God reveals His will and manifests His power with the brilliance of the Bible |
Having had
lost their Saint Vincent Abbey, the Norbertines were moved to St. James
church which on
June 3, 1530 was by them rededicated to St.
Vincent of Saragossa, the patron
saint of their
monastery demolished in 1529
by religious haters.
After Prussia's seizure of Silesia, when king
Frederick II
of Prussia violated the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 and invaded Silesia
on 16 December 1740, using the Treaty of Brieg of 1537 under which the
Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg were to inherit the Duchy of Brieg as a
pretext, the secularization order of 1810 expropriated the Norbertines
and st Vincent's was made into a parish church. The two centuries long
Prussian occupation of Silesia ended in 1945.
