The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-06-28
Unprecedented Interview

United States to pray for Poland.
Knowing full we'll of the Rus
sian troops still stationed in
Poland, and of 120 Soviet divi-
sions flanking Poland both TO the
East and West, he said simply:
MAY those who live in peace
and quiet not forget TO pray to
the Lord for those people who
are fighting the holy battle of
the Lord ON the ramparts OF
Christianity"
In the course of his written
answer To the NC's other ques-
tions, the Primate revealed that
as part of Poland's nine-year
novena in preparation for the
millenial celebrations in 1866,
the Sunday sermon Will be
preached on the same topic in
every parish in the country each
week. And each year during the
novena, an additional point of the
overall program for a spiritual
renascence will be brought into
force.
The nine points of the pro-
gram are the pledges made by
the Polish people to their ma
tional patron, Our La dy OF
Czestochowa, during the Polish
Marian Year which closed May 5.
The points themselves have run
through the Cardinals address
es to his own people as a fugue.
Here is an English translation
of the Primate's written answers
to the questions put to him:
QUESTION: What program
of action will you follow on
your return to Poland?
REPLY: The vows of Jasna
Cora of August 26, 1856, have
become the program of the splrl'
tual and religious life of the
whole nation. They were there.
fore renewed on May 5. 1857, in
all the parishes of Poland. Hence
forth, they will be renewed In
every parish on the feast of the
| Queen of Poland, May 3, and al
Jasna Cora on the feast of the
Madonna of Jasna Cora, August
| 26.
The Latin text of the vows OF
Jasna Cora, presented to the Holy
Father by the Primate of Poland
on May Ia Of this year, has now
become the program of the no
vena work to be pu. into effect
in the teaching of catechism by
the secular priests and Religious
throughout Poland. This work
will be the nations preparation
for the millennial celebrations
of the baptism of Poland (96t
ADD. The program was pre-
pared during the Bishops con
ference and its execution en-
trusted to special departments Of
the various episcopal curiae. A
special committee for the ex
ecution of the vows has beer
organized at Jasna Cora and il
in charge of coordination.
The program consists of a sc
quence of nine appeals, each o.
which will be put into execution
year by year for nine consecutive
years. This will be the founda
tion of "The National Noven;
for the Millennium of Christi
anity in Poland"
The principal points of the pro
gram are as follows:
/. The common struggle of tn
whole nation for the preservs
ton of faith in God, the Cros
and the Gospel, for fidelity t
the Holy Church and to its ST.
preme Pastor and to the Chri:
tian fatherland.
2. Common care for the pre-;
ervation of the nation in sanct
flying grace, free of serious sir
3. Common vigilance for tn
home and for the protection o
every life conceived.
4. Defense of the institution O
marriage in society, of the dig
nifty of womanhood and the hal
mony of the family.
5. The education of youth i
the spirit of the Gospel accordin
to Christian customs and ance:
tral traditions.
6. Common activity so that al
! the sons of the Polish natiol
may live in the spirit of socis
justice and brotherly love.
z. The combat against nations
vices.
8. The acquisition of nationa
, virtues,