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Maciej Jasiński illustrations
Krzysztof Wyrzykowski He did not fight with a weapon in his hand and he did not defeat his opponents in duels. What’s more - from a human point of view - he lost. He died, murdered by those who were on the side of violence and evil. So how can he be considered a comic-book hero? - someone will ask. And yet, in my opinion - and I’m sure in the opinion of the majority of us – Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, like only a few people can be, deserves to be called a hero. An unwavering man who, in the face of harrasment, persecution and torture, remained faithful. Faithful to himself and to what he believed in. He was a hero of the spirit. Something that we tend to forget about in our materialistic, electronic and pragmatic world. We deny its existence, fascinated only with „here and now”. He was a hero of something that you can not touch or see, but - as Popiełuszko’s example teaches – can inexplicably decide the fate of not only the individual, but also the entire nation. „Overcome evil with good” – preached the chaplain of „Solidarity”, echoing not only St. Paul and the “Polish Pope”, John Paul II, but also with what Marianna Popiełuszko taught him from when he was only little. A mother who was able to forgive her son’s murderers. Honorary Citizen of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Piotr Całbecki Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
ISBN 978-83-949231-6-7