It-Tnax -il Appostlu Is-Sena tal-Fidi A Martyr's Letter Extraordinary ...

On May 1 Pope Benedict XVI beatified the most famous one-time parishioner of the
Salesians, Karol Wojtyla from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in the Debniki - Krakow,
Poland. The world now knows him as Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Hajja Salesjana
Extraordinary Salesian
Parishioner
By Michael Mendl, SDB
In August 1938, 18-year-old Karol and his
father moved from their native Wadowice
into tiny quarters at 10 Tyniecka St. in Krakow,
a three-minute walk around the corner from
St. Stanislaus Church at 6 Konfederacka St.,
where Karol attended Mass daily at 6:00 a.m.
Karol would be counted as a parishioner until
1944, well into his seminary years.
Pope John Paul himself wrote in Gift
and Mystery, “I cannot fail to mention one
particular place … from [which] I really
received much during that period. The place
was my parish, dedicated to Saint Stanislaus
Kostka…. I believe that the presence of the
Salesians played an important role in the
formation of my vocation” (G&M, p. 23).
The Pope spoke further of his vocation
when he travelled to Turin in September
1988. At the end of the beatification Mass
of Bl. Laura Vicuna, he thanked Providence
for the gift of Don Bosco and then added
some very personal remarks: “I bring my
own gratitude because I also lived for five
or six years in a Salesian parish. And when I
find myself here at Colle Don Bosco…, when
I look at the imposing facade of this great
church, it brings to my mind that of another
church: the parish church of St. Stanislaus
Kostka in Krakow. ..And so I too come here
in pilgrimage with all of you to give thanks
for the part played by St. John Bosco, his
spiritual Family, and his charism in my life”
(Acts of the General Council, n. 328, p. 19).
John Paul also notes the “special devotion
there to Mary, Help of Christians.” It was
precisely in front of the image of Mary Help of
Christians venerated in the church in Debniki
that young Karol came to the decision to
devote himself entirely to the service of
the Lord and his Church. Germany launched
World War II in Europe by invading Poland on
Sept. 1, 1939. In the first year of the German
29