Baptism of Poland as participation in the promise made to Abraham
A well-known collector of monuments of Polish literature, Bishop of Załuski, he was going on a long journey, when one of his household brought a pile of books found in some monastery into the room. The bishop, already dressed for the road, opened one of the given books. There was a letter, very old, So he took the magnifying glass and began to read : ,,965 Dobrawa ad Mesconem (read. Meskonem) income" (Dobrawa comes to Mieszko). „966 Mesco dux (read. Mêsko duks) washes " (Prince Mieszko is baptized. And the eminent bishop did not set off that day, but, sitting by the fireplace, he did not part with the book : “Here is the baptism certificate of Poland discovered”
German chronicler Thietmar (read. Titmar) he did not fail to describe this moment and raise the merits of Dobrawa in the conversion of Poland. He passes, that : “Immediately following the head (i.e.. I live) So far the members of the people have gone handicapped, and they were included in the mating robe among the sons of Christ ". This account is confirmed by the Polish chronicle of Gallus Anonymus in a short sentence : ,,The first prince of Polan Mieszko was baptized through his Christian wife”
Mieszko I, as "the builder of the Polish state, united the previously independent tribes of the Slavs in the vast area between the Odra and the Bug rivers.". At the end of his reign, he joined the land of the Vistula, Krakow and Silesia to their country. As an independent ruler, knew how to maintain political independence from the German Empire. This is also indicated by the fact of being baptized, which was of great importance for the construction of the Piast state. The Christian religion was to ensure his inner unity and open the way to Western culture for him. By accepting the faith of Christ, Poland has also become a full-fledged state with a guarantee of political independence ; Thus, the Germans lost the pretext to convert Polans by force of arms, that is, by conquest. Therefore, Mieszko was a good politician, receiving baptism from his Czech neighbors, and not from the Germans. He also freed himself from German dependence, because he arranged for the creation of the first missionary bishopric in Poland, independent of the Germans, whose diocese was all of Poland, and its first bishop, Jordan, resided in Poznań.
However, the most important thing for us, as for the followers of Christ, is the fact of Poland joining a great Christian family, which dates back to the time of Abraham, "Father of all believers". For since baptism, Poland participates in all goods related to the promise made to Abraham.
Our ancestors, although from Mieszko I they actually belonged to the Church of Christ, however, they did not understand the new faith well, they did not appreciate the graces flowing from it. They were baptized, for that was the prince's will, but their lives were far from fulfilling their daily obligations at baptism.
Proper missionary work is to deepen and strengthen faith, in introducing to the full enjoyment of the favors of the promise made to the patriarchs, began only with the arrival in Poland of St.. Wojciech. He came from the Czech Sławnik family. Having received careful upbringing in the family home, he studied at the cathedral school in Magdeburg, enjoying the loving care of Bishop Adalbert, whose name he took in the sacrament of Confirmation. When he returned to the country, received in a year 982 priestly ordination by the Prague Bishop, Detmar, who was not a zealous bishop. His death was a great experience for Wojciech, a young priest at that time. From then on, he began a severe life. He set an example of renunciation and mortification. He distributed his fortune to the poor. He was like a sincere brother to everyone, as father knew, where you need help. Everyone knew him and loved him - a pauper, slave, child. He was a real Shepherd, because he cared for the good of the faithful entrusted to him, ready to sacrifice for others. He was unyielding only then, when it was about keeping the commandments. The people wanted, to be his shepherd, therefore he chose him as Bishop of Prague. W 983 Wojciech was consecrated a bishop in the year. In his apostolic work, he wanted above all the sanctification of his dioceses, so he preached the need for improvement. When after six years of shepherding he said, that his work had been unsuccessful, left Prague and entered the Benedictine monastery on the Aventine Hill in Rome. In year 992 on Pope's order he returned to Prague, but when the relationship got worse again, he left Prague again. He knew, that in Hungary, in Poland, especially in Prussia, there are still alive people thirsting for Christ's Gospel. So he went through Hungary to Poland with his younger brother and a few monks - Benedictines. He carried out the mission of promoting and deepening the faith gradually, starting with Bolesław the Brave.
On the Gniezno hill, today known as the "Lech Hill."”, fall and winter 996/7 r. led St.. Wojciech long talks with Bolesław. Their theme was probably the development and strengthening of Christian faith and customs. This is how the writer Gołubiew presents in the multi-volume novel "Bolesław the Brave" an excerpt from such a conversation :
"Wojciech was talking… At one point, Bolko raised his right hand, he exclaimed : - No ! There was a silence, which was interrupted again by the scream of Bolesław - you want to tear my soul out of me !
I want to grub her up, that the stump of the trunk from the wilderness of paganism - Because I serve Jesus Christ ! —
On top of that, you serve - Like this… why are you running on me… ? what do you want ? - Your faith - I don't understand - You don't want to ? - Wants. - Serve God ! - With a sword ? - A little sword. - What else ? - Loving !”
Perhaps, that it was from these talks in Gniezno that two events of considerable importance emerged : establishment of the first monastery in Trzemeszno, where are St.. Wojciech brought the Benedictines, that they would deepen and strengthen the faith in Poland, and the first missionary expedition on behalf of Poland to a pagan country - to Prussia. Wojciech took it up at the beginning of the year 997. The pagans, however, were hostile from the beginning. Wojciech's translation did not help, that the purpose of his coming is their salvation, that he wants, to turn away from the statues, and they believed in the one and true God. The Prusai did not want to listen to the missionary's kind words, they even threatened him with death. St.. So Wojciech turned back, but the thought of failing his mission did not leave him alone. He undertook a second expedition, during which a whole host of Gentiles pounced on him and killed him. Companions of St.. Wojciech managed to escape and bring the sad news to the court of Chrobry. Bolesław bought the martyr's body worth its weight in gold and deposited it first in Trzemeszno, then in Gniezno.
The life of Saint Adalbert is depicted in a bas-relief on the "Gniezno Doors" (a monument of medieval art). His death was described by Stefan Żeromski in the book "Wind from the Sea".
If you are interested in the life and martyrdom of our Missionary Bishop, his contribution to the faith of Poland and Prussia, you can read any of the following novels, depicting the figure of St.. Wojciech: M. Czeska-Mączyńska "Knight of Christ", On. Grabski ,,The saga about Jarl Bronisz”.